When your movie calendar needs its own documentary series. Tom’s Guide just dropped their comprehensive breakdown of upcoming MCU movies, and honestly, it reads like a business plan that got attacked by a multiverse. We’re talking about a studio that’s simultaneously announcing new projects while quietly shelving others, classic Marvel move.
The Confirmed Lineup
Upcoming MCU movies currently locked in include The Fantastic Four: First Steps (already out), Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 2026), and the two Avengers films wrapping up the Multiverse Saga. What’s interesting is how Marvel’s positioning these releases.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day officially started filming in Glasgow, with Tom Holland sporting a new suit design that features raised webbing. The cast includes Jon Bernthal as Punisher, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, and Michael Mando finally returning as Scorpion after eight years
The Streaming Strategy
Disney+ shows are becoming crucial connective tissue for upcoming MCU movies. Marvel Zombies arrives September 2025 as a four-episode miniseries with a TV-MA rating finally, some mature Marvel content that doesn’t have to worry about selling Happy Meals.
Wonder Man in December 2025 brings Yahya Abdul-Mateen II into the fold as Simon Williams, a character with comic history as both villain and hero. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, because apparently Marvel loves their callback casting.
The Uncertainty Principle
Here’s where Tom’s Guide gets brutally honest about upcoming MCU movies: several announced projects exist in a weird limbo state. Blade got removed from the release calendar entirely, though Kevin Feige insists they’re still committed to the project.
Vision Quest is supposedly coming in 2026 with Paul Bettany returning, but details remain scarce. Multiple endings are reportedly being tested, including potential returns for Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness.
The Business Reality
Marvel’s reducing their output from the post-Endgame content flood. They’re targeting one to three films per year, focusing on quality over quantity—revolutionary concept, right? This explains why projects like Nova, Strange Academy, and Terror, Inc. got “paused”.
The upcoming MCU movies slate reflects this new conservative approach. They’d rather have fewer guaranteed hits than risk another Eternals or The Marvels situation.
The Reset Preparation
Everything builds toward Secret Wars serving as a soft reset for the franchise. The multiverse storyline allows Marvel to bring back popular characters while introducing new versions, basically having their cake and eating it too.
Also Read: Upcoming Marvel Movies Release Timeline – Beyond the Multiverse