Avengers 5 is shaping up to be the most ambitious Marvel Studios film ever made. Reports indicate Marvel is working to assemble a roster of over 60 MCU characters for the untitled ensemble blockbuster — a dramatic leap in scale from any previous Avengers installment.
Shawn Levy in Talks to Direct Avengers 5
Shawn Levy, who directed Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, is reportedly in active negotiations to helm Avengers 5. This comes after Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton departed the project in November 2023, stepping away to focus on other Marvel ventures including Wonder Man and Shang-Chi 2.
Levy's script — written by Michael Waldron, head writer on Loki Season 1 and screenwriter of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness — has already been submitted to the director as part of the negotiation process.
A More Balanced, Ensemble-Driven MCU Film
Marvel insiders describe Avengers 5 as an "ensemble feature" and one of the biggest productions in Marvel history. Unlike the first four Avengers films, which centered on a core six — Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and Hawkeye — this installment aims for a more balanced superhero line-up across a much larger roster.
Characters expected to appear include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Karen Gillan as Nebula, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
Release Dates and the Kang Pivot
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige first announced the dual Avengers slate at San Diego Comic-Con 2022. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars were positioned as the concluding films of the Multiverse Saga in Phase Six, initially planned for May and November 2025 respectively. Both have since been delayed.
The now-untitled Avengers 5 is currently slated for May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars to follow on May 7, 2027.
Jonathan Majors Firing Reshapes the Story
The storyline itself has undergone significant revision following the termination of Jonathan Majors, who portrayed Kang the Conqueror. Majors was fired by Marvel after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment. As a result, Marvel Studios has moved away from the Kang-centric arc that was central to both Loki and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, pivoting toward a new direction for the Multiverse Saga's climax.
