The Marvel Cinematic Universe is approaching one of its biggest turning points ever. As the Multiverse Saga races toward its conclusion with Avengers: Secret Wars, attention is already shifting to what comes next—and according to the latest industry reports, Marvel Studios may already have a clear roadmap for the next era of storytelling.

Recent reports citing industry insider Alex Perez of The Cosmic Circus suggest that Marvel Studios is prioritizing several major sequels and franchise continuations for the post-Avengers: Secret Wars era, which is expected to begin with Phase 7 and beyond.

While Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed these reported priorities, the claims have been widely covered and originate from Perez’s Q&A sessions. If accurate, they indicate that Marvel intends to build its next chapter around some of the MCU’s most successful and beloved characters, providing stability after the franchise’s biggest crossover event.

Rather than immediately introducing an entirely new lineup of heroes, the reported strategy appears to lean heavily on proven fan favourites before launching the MCU’s next overarching saga.

Marvel’s Reported Post-Secret Wars Phase 7 Strategy Explained

According to the reports, Avengers: Secret Wars—currently slated for release in December 2027—will serve as the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga.

Once that chapter closes, Marvel is reportedly expected to focus on established franchises with strong audience support. The projects highlighted as priorities include:

Project	Current Status	Reported Importance
Spider-Man 5	Planned as part of Tom Holland’s new trilogy	Major Phase 7 priority
Thunderbolts Sequel (New Avengers)	Reportedly prioritised following the first film	Key team-up franchise
Black Panther 3	Active development	Ryan Coogler returning
Shang-Chi 2	Still in development	Expected major continuation
X-Men Reboot	Reportedly a major studio focus	New era of mutants
Blade	Still in development after delays	Remains on Marvel’s radar
Midnight Sons	Reportedly being considered	Horror-focused MCU expansion
Untitled Avengers Film	Reportedly discussed	Possible Russo Brothers involvement

One notable point from the reports is that Doctor Strange 3 is reportedly on the back burner for the time being.

Although none of these plans have been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, they collectively paint a picture of where the MCU may be heading after the Multiverse Saga reaches its finale.

Spider-Man 5 Reportedly Becomes One of Marvel’s Biggest Priorities After Secret Wars

Among the projects reportedly receiving the highest level of attention is Spider-Man’s future.

Tom Holland’s next appearance begins with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, scheduled for release on July 31, 2026 and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton.

The film is positioned as the beginning of Holland’s second MCU Spider-Man trilogy, making it one of Marvel’s most significant long-term investments.

Given Spider-Man’s consistent box-office success, reports suggest the character will continue playing a prominent role after Secret Wars, with Spider-Man 5 already viewed internally as one of Marvel’s major priorities for the next phase of storytelling.

The continued emphasis on Spider-Man would hardly be surprising considering the character remains one of the studio’s strongest global draws across both North American and international markets.

Thunderbolts Sequel Reportedly Set to Continue the New Avengers Story

Another project reportedly climbing Marvel’s priority list is a sequel to Thunderbolts.

The first film, released in 2025, earned strong critical and audience reception, posting 88% from critics and 93% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes despite delivering only modest box-office results.

One of the movie’s biggest surprises came during its credits, where the team was rebranded as the New Avengers, signalling a potentially much larger future within the MCU.

Several cast members—including Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova—are expected to return in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Meanwhile, director Jake Schreier has already been tapped to helm Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot, adding further momentum to speculation that the New Avengers storyline remains central to Marvel’s future plans.

Black Panther 3 Development Continues with Ryan Coogler Returning

The future of Wakanda also appears to remain firmly in Marvel’s long-term strategy.

According to the reports, Black Panther 3 is actively in development with Ryan Coogler returning to both write and direct the next instalment.

Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington is also attached to a role in the film, adding considerable excitement around the project despite limited official details.

Current expectations place the movie’s release sometime around 2028 or later, although no official release date has been announced.

The reported continuation reflects the enormous cultural and commercial success achieved by both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making the franchise one of Marvel’s strongest pillars heading into the next saga.

Shang-Chi 2 Remains in Active Development Despite Delays

Fans have waited several years for news surrounding Shang-Chi’s return, and recent reports indicate that the sequel remains very much alive.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton has confirmed that Shang-Chi 2 continues to be in development.

Like many major Hollywood productions, the project has experienced delays, which reports attribute to broader industry-wide scheduling changes following COVID and multiple shifts to Marvel’s release slate.

Despite those delays, the sequel remains an active project.

Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi is already expected to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, providing audiences with another opportunity to see the character before his standalone sequel eventually arrives.

At present, Marvel has not announced an official title, expanded cast list, or release date for Shang-Chi 2.

Reports Also Highlight X-Men, Blade, Midnight Sons and Another Avengers Film

Beyond the headline sequels, Alex Perez reportedly mentioned several additional projects that remain part of Marvel’s broader long-term vision.

Among them is Marvel’s highly anticipated X-Men reboot, which many fans expect to become one of the defining franchises of the MCU’s next era.

Also reportedly remaining in development is Blade, starring Mahershala Ali. Although the project has experienced numerous production delays, it continues to be part of Marvel’s reported plans.

Perez also referenced Midnight Sons, a supernatural team-up expected to introduce a darker horror angle into the MCU.

In addition, reports mention another untitled Avengers film that could potentially involve the Russo Brothers, although no official confirmation has been provided regarding the filmmakers or storyline.

Interestingly, Doctor Strange 3 is reportedly not among Marvel’s immediate priorities and is said to be on the back burner for now.

Could Secret Wars Reset the Entire MCU?

Perhaps the biggest long-term implication discussed in these reports involves what happens after Avengers: Secret Wars itself.

The post-Secret Wars MCU is reportedly expected to feature a refreshed or “reset” version of Earth-616.

Such a reset could allow Marvel Studios to integrate major franchises—including the X-Men and Fantastic Four—more naturally into the primary MCU timeline moving forward.

While fans have long speculated about this possibility, the reported strategy suggests Marvel may use Secret Wars as the foundation for launching an entirely new era of interconnected storytelling without abandoning its most successful existing heroes.

Current MCU Timeline Leading Into Phase 7

Before Marvel reaches that next chapter, several major releases remain on the schedule.

Timeline	Project
2025	The Fantastic Four: First Steps
2025	Thunderbolts
July 31, 2026	Spider-Man: Brand New Day
2026	Avengers: Doomsday
December 2027	Avengers: Secret Wars (End of the Multiverse Saga)

These films are expected to bridge the current Multiverse Saga into whatever comes next for Marvel Studios.

Why These Sequels Could Shape the MCU’s Next Decade

Taken together, the reported priorities suggest Marvel intends to build Phase 7 around a balanced mix of storytelling styles.

Spider-Man would continue delivering grounded, street-level adventures, while Shang-Chi offers martial arts-driven action and mythology. The New Avengers could provide the franchise’s next major team-up series, while Black Panther continues expanding one of Marvel’s most critically acclaimed and culturally significant universes.

Combined with the eventual arrival of the X-Men and Fantastic Four within a refreshed MCU timeline, these projects could form the backbone of Marvel’s next decade of storytelling.

It is important to remember, however, that every project beyond officially announced films—including Spider-Man: Brand New Day and the upcoming Avengers movies—remains based on insider reporting rather than official Marvel confirmation.

Production schedules, creative decisions, release dates, and even entire slates can change due to box-office performance, creative shifts, or broader industry developments.

Alex Perez is often credited with an estimated 86–89% accuracy rate regarding Marvel leaks, making his reports closely watched within the fan community. Even so, none of these reported priorities should be considered final until Marvel Studios officially unveils its post-Secret Wars roadmap.

For now, these reports offer perhaps the clearest indication yet of Marvel’s apparent strategy: lean on proven blockbuster franchises while carefully laying the groundwork for the MCU’s next great saga after the Multiverse finally comes to an end.