Avengers franchise directors Joe and Anthony Russo insist they’re wasting no time with the highly anticipated sequels, Doomsday and Secret Wars. The acclaimed filmmaking duo confirm that the upcoming movies will be shot back-to-back ahead of their releases in the next two years.
Speaking with Deadline, the Russos shared that Doomsday and Secret Wars will be “fairly” shot back-to-back in London, with Doomsday beginning principal photography in April, a month later than reported. While Joe suggested “we may or may not survive” when the back-to-back shoots are done, he and his brother are “excited” about getting to work with the cast. “It’s all in London, we’re shooting them fairly back-to-back, it’s a lot of work again, we may or may not survive, we’ll see. But we’re very excited about it,” he said. “We found a way into the story that we think is gonna be challenging for audiences, it’s challenging for us to execute. And it’s really exciting for us, it gets us out of bed to do it.”
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As for those who will feature in Doomsday and Secret Wars other than the characters that have been announced, the Russos are staying quiet on that front. Asked about whether X-Men or Deadpool & Wolverine characters will feature, Joe said, “Who knows? I don’t know. I don’t know who we’re gonna see. I still don’t know.” Anthony jokingly added, “If you close your eyes and use your imagination, you can see anyone you want. Whoever tickles your fancy.”
I don’t know who we’re gonna see.
Doomsday and Secret Wars will center around the returning Robert Downey Jr‘s big bad, Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom, with his supervillain replacing Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror after Marvel fired Majors in late 2023. Several names have been confirmed for the upcoming Avengers sequels, including Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange) and the core members of The Fantastic Four, played by Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing). Meanwhile, Chris Evans, who featured as a pre-MCU Johnny Storm in Deadpool & Wolverine and previously portrayed Captain America, is reportedly involved in the Avengers sequels in a mystery role.
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Speculation keeps mounting regarding who else will appear in Doomsday and Secret Wars. Many expect Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine to show up, though both are staying mum about any potential participation. Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Letitia Wright’s Shuri, the MCU’s Black Panther, could also feature. Mackie’s Captain America is expected to lead the new-look Avengers in the upcoming sequels, something Captain America: Brave New World has hinted at.
Robert Downey Jr. Is the New Doctor Doom
After The Kang Dynasty was scrapped, the Russos reportedly ditched Michael Waldron’s initial script and started over. The brothers, who helmed the last two Avengers entries, Infinity War and Endgame, have teased a story for the next two sequels that will better them.
Doomsday opens in theaters on May 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Secret Wars makes its theatrical premiere on May 7, 2027.
Source: Deadline
