Marvel's next two Avengers films delayed
Marvel has struggled to recapture the critical and commercial success of the last Avengers film, Endgame, since its release back in 2019. But expectations are high for Doomsday and Secret Wars, notably due to the return of Robert Downey Jr.
Friday 23 May 2025 04:12, UK
The Avengers will be reassembling later than planned.
Disney has announced a delay for the next two instalments in the blockbuster Marvel superhero franchise, the first of which is now well over a year away.
Avengers: Doomsday, which will see Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr return to the series as villain Doctor Doom, has been pushed from 1 May to 18 December 2026.
Its follow-up, Secret Wars, will release on 17 December 2027. It had been due on 2 May that year.
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The films have had a troubled production, having undergone extensive reworking after one of the intended stars, Jonathan Majors, was convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Both are being directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo, who helmed the previous two Avengers films - 2018's Infinity War and 2019's Endgame.
The latter is the second-highest grossing film of all time, taking $2.8bn (£2.1bn) at the box office.
No Marvel film has come close to that level of success since, with subsequent releases - from sequels to Thor and Black Panther, to fresher entries like Eternals and Thunderbolts - proving divisive.
Next up is The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July, when it goes up against a new Superman film from rival studio DC.