Principal photography for Avengers: Secret Wars, the sequel to Avengers: Doomsday, has reportedly been delayed from October 2026 to January 2027. This shift, if confirmed, could jeopardize the film's planned December 17, 2027 release date. Multiple sources, including MCU leakers Daniel Richtman, Alex P., and Apocalyptic Horseman, have indicated the delay. Disney has not yet issued an official statement.
This latest reported setback follows a series of previously announced postponements for Avengers: Secret Wars. The film was initially slated to begin filming in mid-2026, then moved to August, and subsequently later in 2026. The current delay pushes the start of production even further back.
Avengers: Secret Wars is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters approximately one year after Avengers: Doomsday, which is set for a December 18, 2026 release. The extensive post-production and visual effects work required for these large-scale Marvel films means that a delayed start to filming could create a tight turnaround for its intended release. For comparison, Avengers: Doomsday filmed from April to September 2025, concluding its principal photography about 15 months before its premiere. If Secret Wars follows a similar production schedule, a January 2027 start would mean filming concludes around June 2027, leaving roughly six months before its scheduled theatrical debut.
While compressed timelines have been managed for past Marvel productions, such as Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Fantastic Four: First Steps, the sheer scope of Secret Wars may present a unique challenge. The previous delays for both Doomsday and Secret Wars saw them move from May 2026 and May 2027 release dates to their current December slots.
Potential Reasons for the Delay
One speculated reason for the delay is that Disney may be waiting to assess the box office performance and audience reception of Avengers: Doomsday before committing to the final stages of Secret Wars' production. Unlike the earlier paired Avengers films, Infinity War and Endgame, the planning for Doomsday and Secret Wars has reportedly been less structured. Directors the Russo Brothers notably began work on Doomsday with an incomplete script. Despite the strong box office performance of films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the success of the upcoming Avengers duo is widely seen as crucial for the future trajectory of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.