During a recent post-SDCC interview with Collider, directors Joe and Anthony Russo confirmed that they are currently busy putting the finishing touches on Avengers: Doomsday while continuing pre-production on Secret Wars.
"We're deep into finishing the movie, into finishing Doomsday," said Anthony. "All of the grace notes, the music, working with Alan Silvestri, sound mix, creating Alan's incredible original music. Wait until you experience what he's cooked up for Doom. That, and then we're prepping. We're prepping Secret Wars. So, it's a complicated time in our lives, but thrilling."
When asked if he wanted to reveal exactly when cameras roll on Secret Wars, Russo said: "Soon. So soon it makes us sweat a little bit."
Well, the Russos weren't exaggerating, because production is now underway in the UK.
We're not sure if filming has officially commenced just yet (several outlets believe it is, though nothing has been confirmed), but according to a report from Filmbase, the shoot is already on a five-week hiatus, with production set to resume towards the end of September.
Though plot details are still under wraps, Secret Wars is set to feature the most extensive lineup of MCU characters yet. If a recent Doomsday leak is to be believed, the end of the movie will lay the groundwork for Battleworld.
The Cosmic Circus' Alex Perez recently shared the following (rumored) details.
"Aside from a literal handful of heroes and villains, practically everyone will be under Doom’s control, living in a more medieval version of what Wanda did in Westview. Literally think WandaVision meets 'What If...? The Avengers Assembled in 1602,' and that’s the introductory premise to Secret Wars."
"Aside from that, there is something plotwise that Doom does in the movie that has only ever been done in the MCU by two other people up until now, and it points to Wanda being the one who grants him this ability."
Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars were hit with significant delays last year, with Doomsday now set to arrive in theaters on December 18, 2026, and Secret Wars positioned for December 17, 2027.
Both movies will be directed by the Russo brothers, who also make their MCU return after helming Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
"Universes collide and the Multiverse Saga begins its final chapter in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday. Beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and ultimately face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered. This epic film will lay the foundation for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe."
Doomsday will star:
Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Sebastian Stan as Bucky, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, James Marsden as Cyclops, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
Along with Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, and, of course, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.