# Production of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars
The production of *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars* covers the development, filming, and release scheduling of two linked [Marvel Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-studios) superhero films directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, in which [Robert Downey Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-downey-jr) returns to the [Marvel Cinematic Universe](https://www.edgepedia.org/marvel-cinematic-universe) as the villain Doctor Doom. The two films share directors and writers and are produced together, though unlike *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018) and *Avengers: Endgame* (2019) they were not filmed back-to-back.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release dates | *Avengers: Doomsday* opens December 18, 2026; *Avengers: Secret Wars* follows on December 17, 2027[1](https://movies.disney.com/avengers-doomsday) • [2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/) |
| Delay | Doomsday moved from May 1, 2026 to December 18, 2026; Secret Wars moved from May 7, 2027 to December of that year[3](https://www.screendaily.com/news/disney-moves-avengers-5-and-6-openings-from-may-to-december/5205435.article) |
| Directors | Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, returning after *Infinity War* and *Endgame*[4](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/) |
| Doomsday crew | Written by Stephen McFeely; produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Jonathan Schwartz[1](https://movies.disney.com/avengers-doomsday) |
| Doomsday filming | Principal photography ran April 28 to September 19, 2025, based at Pinewood Studios[2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/) |
| Villain | Robert Downey Jr. plays Victor von Doom, a new role after ten films as Tony Stark/Iron Man[4](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/) |
| Crossover | The film brings the Avengers and the X-Men together in a Marvel Studios film for the first time[5](https://apnews.com/article/654f2c37aa97031320ac26b6dc89881b) |
## Development and announcement
**A villain swap reshaped the films.** The two Avengers projects were announced as *Avengers: The Kang Dynasty* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*, but at [San Diego Comic-Con](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-diego-comic-con) 2024 Marvel confirmed Anthony and Joe Russo as directors, retitled the fifth film *Avengers: Doomsday*, and revealed that Robert Downey Jr. would return as Victor von Doom in a brand-new role[2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/) • [6](https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/). Downey had previously starred in ten films as Tony Stark/[Iron Man](https://www.edgepedia.org/iron-man)[4](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/). Marvel Studios president [Kevin Feige](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-feige) has said he had long wanted to adapt the Secret Wars storyline from the comics[6](https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/).
The writing team combines *Endgame* screenwriter Stephen McFeely, credited as writer on *Doomsday*[1](https://movies.disney.com/avengers-doomsday), with Loki writer Michael Waldron, who remains attached to both films as co-writer[7](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/everything-we-know-about-avengers-doomsday). [Spider-Man: Brand New Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/spider-man-brand-new-day) writers Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers also left that production to work on the two Avengers films[8](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/avengers-doomsday-spider-man-brand-new-day-writers-chris-mckenna-erik-sommers/).
The pair are produced together in the manner of *Infinity War* and *Endgame*, which the Russos also directed, though the brothers decided against filming them back-to-back as they had those two films[2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/).
## Filming Avengers: Doomsday
**Production began with a cast reveal.** On March 26, 2025, Marvel Studios announced that production had begun on *Doomsday* and revealed much of the cast in a multi-hour global livestream in which the camera panned slowly across chairs bearing the actors' names[4](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/) • [9](https://thatnerdshow.com/digitalmagazine/marchapril2025issue.pdf). The announced ensemble includes [Chris Hemsworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-hemsworth), Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, and Downey[4](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/).
[Principal photography](https://www.edgepedia.org/principal-photography) ran from April 28 to September 19, 2025, based at [Pinewood Studios](https://www.edgepedia.org/pinewood-studios)[2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/). The return to Britain marked the first time an Avengers film had shot there since *Avengers: Age of Ultron* a decade earlier; *Infinity War* and *Endgame* had been filmed at Trilith Studios in Atlanta[10](https://www.movistarplus.es/comunicacion/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RESUMEN-DE-MEDIOS-11-2-2025.pdf). Chris Evans, listed in the film's cast as [Captain America](https://www.edgepedia.org/captain-america)[1](https://movies.disney.com/avengers-doomsday), appeared in footage shown at CinemaCon in April 2026; he said he had agreed to return only if there was a good reason, and Doctor Doom was a good reason[5](https://apnews.com/article/654f2c37aa97031320ac26b6dc89881b).
**Post-production ran long.** By September 2026 the Russos were finishing *Doomsday* work, scoring and editing, while, in their words, "soft prepping" *Secret Wars*[11](https://apnews.com/article/14faf22afc4c7f7759a7be19a9b9afb7). Joe Russo said the pair would be working on *Doomsday* "until probably they rip it out of our hands in November"[12](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/the-russo-brothers-say-secret-wars-is-officially-in-pre-production-but-admit-theyre-still-working-on-avengers-doomsday/). Reshoots were reportedly still under way just under four months before release, and post-production concerns, given the film's timeframe and scope, are cited as a factor in the delay decision[13](https://www.9to5marvel.com/avengers-doomsday-reshoots-still-going-secret-wars-starts-september/) • [7](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/everything-we-know-about-avengers-doomsday).
## Release delays
Disney originally scheduled the films for May 2026 and May 2027. In 2025 it moved *Doomsday* from May 1, 2026 to December 18, 2026, and *Secret Wars* from May 7, 2027 to December of that year[3](https://www.screendaily.com/news/disney-moves-avengers-5-and-6-openings-from-may-to-december/5205435.article). Marvel's official date for *Secret Wars* is December 17, 2027[2](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/).
## Avengers: Secret Wars
*Secret Wars* entered pre-production while *Doomsday* was still being finished[11](https://apnews.com/article/14faf22afc4c7f7759a7be19a9b9afb7). A late September principal-photography start was reported[13](https://www.9to5marvel.com/avengers-doomsday-reshoots-still-going-secret-wars-starts-september/), followed by an industry report that filming had been delayed to January 2027[14](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/a-new-marvel-rumor-suggests-avengers-secret-wars-could-lose-its-december-2027-release-date-slot-and-a-filming-delay-could-be-the-reason-why). Industry observers noted the schedule pressure: *Doomsday* wrapped filming in September 2025, with additional photography in early 2026, ahead of its December 2026 release, and star [Anthony Mackie](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthony-mackie) said he would not finish his *Secret Wars* filming until after his run in a 2027 Broadway production of *Macbeth*, which ends in July 2027[15](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/avengers-secret-wars-star-says-hes-not-finishing-filming-until-next-summer-making-that-release-date-seem-more-unlikely-than-ever/). The Russos have said the film will draw inspiration from both of Marvel's Secret Wars comic storylines, which include the destruction of the Prime Marvel Universe ([Earth-616](https://www.edgepedia.org/earth-616)) and [Doctor Doom](https://www.edgepedia.org/doctor-doom) reconstructing Battleworld[16](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/avengers-secret-wars-hub).
## Marketing and tie-ins
**Disney built a long runway to release.** Footage featuring Chris Evans's Captain America return was shown at CinemaCon in April 2026, with Downey introducing the first trailer[5](https://apnews.com/article/654f2c37aa97031320ac26b6dc89881b). Feige then arranged a limited theatrical re-release of *Avengers: Endgame* on September 25, 2026, with new end-credits footage set in the *Doomsday* story, positioning it as a lead-in to the new film, which "picks up where 'Endgame' left off"[17](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-comic-con-2026/) • [18](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/upcoming-marvel-mcu-movie-tv-show-release-dates). The re-release grossed $26 million over its opening weekend domestically and another $60 million overseas[19](https://apnews.com/article/5fedc5f84142d1a36fe28ae22f738c47). Disney also announced a creative partnership with [Dude Perfect](https://www.edgepedia.org/dude-perfect) that includes Avengers-themed content tied to the film's release[20](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/dude-perfect-creative-partnership/).
## References
1. [Avengers: Doomsday, Disney Movies](https://movies.disney.com/avengers-doomsday)
2. [Production Timeline, Avengers: Doomsday Guide](https://avengers-doomsday.org/timeline/)
3. [Disney moves 'Avengers' 5 and 6 openings from May to December, Screen](https://www.screendaily.com/news/disney-moves-avengers-5-and-6-openings-from-may-to-december/5205435.article)
4. [Marvel Studios Announces 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast, The Walt Disney Company](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-avengers-doomsday-cast/)
5. ['Avengers: Doomsday' footage, 'Mandalorian' opening unveiled at CinemaCon, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/654f2c37aa97031320ac26b6dc89881b)
6. [All the Future MCU Movies Announced in Marvel's Major Revamp, Time](https://time.com/7004392/marvel-cinematic-universe-future-movies-what-to-know/)
7. [Avengers: Doomsday: Release date, plot, cast, and everything else we know, Space.com](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/everything-we-know-about-avengers-doomsday)
8. [Avengers: Doomsday Enlists Spider-Man: Brand New Day Writers, TheWrap](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/avengers-doomsday-spider-man-brand-new-day-writers-chris-mckenna-erik-sommers/)
9. [That Nerd Show digital magazine, March/April 2025 issue](https://thatnerdshow.com/digitalmagazine/marchapril2025issue.pdf)
10. [Media summary noting Avengers: Doomsday shooting in England, Movistar Plus](https://www.movistarplus.es/comunicacion/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/RESUMEN-DE-MEDIOS-11-2-2025.pdf)
11. ['Avengers: Doomsday' Fall Movie Preview: Russo brothers, maestros of ensembles, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/14faf22afc4c7f7759a7be19a9b9afb7)
12. [The Russo brothers say Secret Wars is officially in pre-production, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/the-russo-brothers-say-secret-wars-is-officially-in-pre-production-but-admit-theyre-still-working-on-avengers-doomsday/)
13. [Avengers Doomsday reshoots still going, Secret Wars starts September, 9to5Marvel](https://www.9to5marvel.com/avengers-doomsday-reshoots-still-going-secret-wars-starts-september/)
14. [A new Marvel rumor suggests Avengers: Secret Wars could lose its December 2027 release date slot, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/a-new-marvel-rumor-suggests-avengers-secret-wars-could-lose-its-december-2027-release-date-slot-and-a-filming-delay-could-be-the-reason-why)
15. [Avengers: Secret Wars star says he's not finishing filming until next summer, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/marvel-movies/avengers-secret-wars-star-says-hes-not-finishing-filming-until-next-summer-making-that-release-date-seem-more-unlikely-than-ever/)
16. [Avengers: Secret Wars: release date, likely cast, and everything else we know, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/avengers-secret-wars-hub)
17. [Marvel Studios Stuns San Diego Comic-Con with 'Avengers: Doomsday,' 'Ghost Rider,' and 'Black Panther 3' Reveals, The Walt Disney Company](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/marvel-studios-comic-con-2026/)
18. [Every upcoming Marvel movie and TV show coming to the MCU, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/news/upcoming-marvel-mcu-movie-tv-show-release-dates)
19. ['Avengers: Endgame' retakes box office crown, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/5fedc5f84142d1a36fe28ae22f738c47)
20. [Disney and Dude Perfect Announce Company-Wide Creative Partnership, The Walt Disney Company](https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/dude-perfect-creative-partnership/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film franchises and series (overviews)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license