Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has revealed his disappointment following the cancellation of the planned Avengers: Kang Dynasty film. Cretton, who was initially set to direct the MCU project announced in 2022, admitted his sadness when the film did not proceed as intended, a situation complicated by Jonathan Majors' departure from the role of Kang the Conqueror and the subsequent shift in the MCU's future villain to Doctor Doom.
In a July 2026 interview with IndieWire, Cretton described the period as "a weird time in the industry, altogether," noting that the industry strikes were ongoing as he contemplated the film's fate. "When that wound up falling through… yeah, I was sad," he stated. He expressed a personal philosophy of not becoming too attached to outcomes beyond his control, but acknowledged the emotional impact of the cancellation.
Following the shelving of Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige offered Cretton the opportunity to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This swift transition was a relief for Cretton, who had concerns about his professional relationship with Feige potentially being affected by the change in direction. "When [Avengers: The Kang Dynasty] wasn’t going to happen, I was a little bit scared that my relationship with Kevin maybe was going to change," he said. "But it didn’t at all. On the day that wasn’t going to work out, we were talking about what could work out. And Spidey was mentioned, but it wasn’t like an offer by any means."
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently tracking for a significant box office debut, with projections ranging from $180 to $230 million. Early reviews have been largely positive, with IGN awarding the film a 7 out of 10. The MCU's future slate includes Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. While details remain scarce, a San Diego Comic-Con presentation offered attendees a brief, comic-accurate clip depicting Doctor Doom assembling an army of Sentinels. Further information on Doomsday and the franchise's trajectory is anticipated at the upcoming D23 event.