While most are pretty convinced they know how Avengers: Doomsday will end—with Doctor Doom sitting on his throne on Battleworld—next December's Avengers: Secret Wars is a bit more of a mystery.
Jonathan Hickman's Secret Wars will almost certainly serve as the basis for the movie. However, that was so specific to the comics (Miles Morales, Molecule Man, and Valeria Richards all played key roles, for example), it's hard to imagine it translating directly to the screen without some massive changes.
So, it's something of a mystery to us, as is who will lead the cast. It's previously been reported that, outside of Deadpool and Wolverine, we may see the last of 20th Century Fox's X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday. That makes sense, especially as it allows some breathing space between that team's return and what we'll see in 2028's reboot.
Well, @MyTimeToShineH has just dropped a bombshell. According to the scooper, despite rumours to the contrary, Avengers: Secret Wars will include the returns of Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto.
There's no word on what's planned for the characters, but this may tie into rumours about Marvel Studios saving the likes of Storm and Jean Grey for the Multiverse Saga finale in December 2027.
Asked if he'll retire after Avengers: Doomsday, Stewart previously said, "As any actor my age will tell you, there are fewer and fewer available roles as we get older. That being said, I still continue to receive interesting offers, and I love being challenged by new work. I can't imagine ever officially 'retiring.' I'll always and forever be an actor."
McKellen, meanwhile, hasn't shied away from sharing details about the Master of Magnetism's return, teasing, "[I] destroyed New Jersey the other day," while looking back at his time on set.
The confirmed (or semi-confirmed, at least) cast of Avengers: Secret Wars includes Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Paul Bettany (The Vision), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter).
Also appearing are Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Human Torch), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing), Sadie Sink (Jean Grey), and Noah Jupe.
The Russo Brothers direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars from a screenplay by Stephen McFeely, with whom they previously collaborated on the Avengers and Captain America franchises. Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron has also been enlisted to refine the story, alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive on December 17, 2027.