Will ‘Secret Wars’ Be the Final ‘Avengers’ Movie Ever

Marvel enthusiasts have long viewed ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ as the ultimate conclusion for the franchise, and it’s easy to understand why. This film marks the fortieth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and serves as the concluding chapter of Phase Six and The Multiverse Saga, which certainly sounds definitive on the surface.

However, in Marvel terminology, “final” often carries a different connotation. Currently slated for release on December 17, 2027, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars‘ appears to signal the end of a chapter rather than the demise of the Avengers team itself.

To grasp why many believe this could be the last ‘Avengers‘ film, one must consider what the movie is set to conclude. It acts as a sequel to ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and is the fourth and final installment of Phase Six, wrapping up the Multiverse Saga.

This film ties together a vast narrative that encompasses nearly every project since ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ It serves as a sequel to ‘The Avengers,’ ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ which is why many fans interpret it as a series finale rather than just another installment.

The creative team behind the scenes is also treating this as a significant farewell for this era. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a screenplay by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, the same team that guided the franchise through ‘Endgame,’ the film is set to carry substantial weight. Robert Downey Jr. is returning to reprise his role as Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, signaling Marvel’s intent to conclude this saga with maximum impact.

Yet, the notion of ‘Secret Wars’ being the last Avengers film quickly unravels when considering Kevin Feige’s statements about what lies ahead. He has been quite clear that this is not the end.

During a roundtable in Shanghai, Feige indicated that ‘Secret Wars’ will mark a new beginning, establishing a streamlined, single universe that audiences can more easily follow, while still introducing numerous new elements. This doesn’t sound like a studio planning to close its doors.

Feige has also confirmed that Marvel has a roadmap extending decades into the future. Reports suggest that he has hinted at ideas to sustain the franchise through 2042, contingent on audience support. He has begun using specific terms for the next phase, referring to it as “The Mutant Saga,” which aligns with fan predictions about what will follow the Multiverse Saga.

Marvel is even using a specific comic run as its inspiration. Feige has pointed to Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 ‘Secret Wars’ comic as a blueprint for the studio’s plans in the post-‘Secret Wars’ era of the MCU.

One project that demonstrates the franchise’s continuity after ‘Secret Wars’ is the X-Men reboot. Feige has directly addressed this in comments about the future timeline, stating, “I can’t wait for all of you to see ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ we have a movie after that called ‘Avengers: Secret Wars,’ and after that the mutants are coming and the X-Men are coming and that’s been a dream of mine.”

This reboot already has a director attached, with reports confirming that following the events of 2027’s ‘Avengers: Secret Wars,’ Marvel will recast its mutants for the upcoming ‘X-Men’ movie directed by Jake Schreier.

Feige has also hinted at a full slate of projects that will build on the momentum generated by ‘Secret Wars.’ Reports indicate that his post-‘Secret Wars’ plans include projects centered on the X-Men, Black Panther, Shang-Chi, around five Spider-Man movies, and a rumored Ghost Rider reboot. None of this suggests a studio planning to retire its flagship team.

In conclusion, the evidence suggests that ‘Secret Wars’ will mark the end of an era rather than the end of the franchise. It will conclude the Multiverse Saga and the specific Avengers lineup established since ‘Endgame,’ but Marvel has made it clear that Phase 7 is on the horizon, with mutants playing a central role, and plans extending well beyond 2027.

While it remains uncertain whether the team that emerges afterward will still carry the ‘Avengers’ name in the same manner, Feige has described the post-‘Secret Wars’ landscape as something that will feel both familiar and entirely new. What is clear is that Marvel has no intention of dimming the lights after this film.

So, if ‘Secret Wars’ is indeed the end of an era rather than the end of the Avengers as a whole, which mutant do you think should lead whatever this new team becomes?