History of Avengers: Doomsday in Timeline

Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film and the 39th film in the MCU, produced by Marvel Studios and AGBO. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and written by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely, the film features a large ensemble cast including both returning and new actors in the MCU, starring Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, and Robert Downey Jr., among others. The Avengers, along with the Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and X-Men, must unite to confront a significant threat: Doctor Doom. This necessitates a large team of heroes to face such a formidable foe.

1984: Original Secret Wars comic book crossover event released.

In 1984, the first Secret Wars comic book crossover event written by Jim Shooter was released and served as inspiration for a potential Secret Wars film, which Anthony and Joe Russo expressed interest in directing.

2001: Inspiration for The Kang Dynasty storyline

In 2001, The Kang Dynasty was inspired by a comic book storyline written by Kurt Busiek in which Kang the Conqueror travels through time to enslave humanity.

2010: Inspiration From Doomwar Comic Book

Based on the cast members announced in the livestream in March 2025, Devin Meenan of /Film believed the film could also include elements of the 2010 limited series Doomwar, written by Jonathan Maberry.

2012: Inspiration From Avengers vs. X-Men Comic Book

Based on the cast members announced in the livestream in March 2025, Devin Meenan of /Film believed the film could be adapting elements from the 2012 comic book crossover event "Avengers vs. X-Men" written by Bendis, Matt Fraction, Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, and Hickman.

2015: Second Secret Wars comic book crossover event released.

In 2015, the second Secret Wars comic book crossover event written by Jonathan Hickman was released and served as inspiration for a potential Secret Wars film, which Anthony and Joe Russo expressed interest in directing.

2017: Reference to Game of Thrones stunt

In March 2025, Marvel's livestream stunt was likened to the release date reveal for the seventh season of Game of Thrones in 2017.

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2018: Avengers: Infinity War release

In 2018, Avengers: Infinity War was released, which Anthony and Joe Russo directed and expressed interest in directing a Secret Wars film based on the 1984–85 and 2015-16 comic book crossover events. Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely said they would return to write such a film if the Russo brothers were directing it.

2019: Avengers: Endgame release

In 2019, Avengers: Endgame was released, preceding Avengers: Doomsday as the fifth installment in the Avengers film series and the 39th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

July 2022: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars announced at SDCC

At San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) in July 2022, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced the films Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, to be released on May 2, 2025, and November 7, 2025, respectively.

July 2022: Announcement of The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars

In July 2022, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars were announced as the conclusion of the MCU's Phase Six and "The Multiverse Saga". Destin Daniel Cretton was hired to direct The Kang Dynasty, and Jonathan Majors was set to reprise his role as Kang the Conqueror.

March 2023: Majors's arrest and assault allegations

In March 2023, Jonathan Majors was arrested, and subsequent assault allegations emerged, leading to reports and speculation about his future in the MCU.

November 2023: Cretton Departs and Waldron Replaces Loveness

In November 2023, Cretton departed from directing The Kang Dynasty, and Waldron replaced Loveness as writer. Marvel was considering moving away from the Kang storyline, partially due to Majors's legal issues.

November 2023: Cretton Stepped Down

In November 2023, Cretton stepped down as director of The Kang Dynasty, partially due to schedule delays, and Waldron was set to rewrite the film.

2023: Citadel Release

In 2023, Citadel was released and production designer Gavin Bocquet and cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel reteamed with the Russo brothers after working on the television series Citadel.

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2023: Writers Guild of America Strike

The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike contributed to the delay of the film's release date, which was pushed back to December 2026.

February 2024: Rewrites to Minimize Kang's Role

By February 2024, both Avengers 5 and Secret Wars were being rewritten to minimize Kang's role or remove him entirely following Majors's firing.

March 2024: Shawn Levy Top Choice to Direct Avengers 5

By mid-March 2024, Shawn Levy became the studio's top choice to direct Avengers 5, after he directed the MCU film Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), but there were potential scheduling issues with his other projects.

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April 2024: Alan Silvestri Indicates Possible MCU Return

In April 2024, Alan Silvestri indicated that he could be composing the music for an upcoming MCU project after previously doing so for Infinity War, Endgame, and other MCU films.

July 2024: Doomsday Subtitle, Russo Brothers Return, and Downey Casting Announced at SDCC

In July 2024, the Doomsday subtitle, the return of the Russo brothers, and the casting of Downey as Doctor Doom were all announced at Marvel Studios' SDCC panel, leading to mixed responses from fans and speculation about Downey's role.

July 2024: Russo Brothers Return and Downey Cast as Doctor Doom

In July 2024, the return of the Russo brothers as directors and McFeely as writer, the casting of Downey as the new villain Doctor Doom, and the new subtitle Doomsday were all announced.

March 2025: Cast Members Revealed

In March 2025, Marvel announced 26 cast members for the film alongside Downey. Many of those actors returned from previous MCU media, while some were reprising their roles from 20th Century Fox's X-Men film series.

March 2025: Marvel Airs Livestream Revealing Cast

In March 2025, coinciding with the start of production, Marvel aired a livestream revealing 26 cast members, accompanied by music and an appearance by Downey. The livestream became a highly viewed pop cultural event, trending on social media and generating Internet memes.

April 2025: Filming Begins

In April 2025, filming for Avengers: Doomsday began at Pinewood Studios in England with a large cast consisting mainly of actors from previous MCU media and other Marvel films. Location filming is taking place in England and Bahrain.

April 28, 2025: Principal Photography Begins

On April 28, 2025, principal photography for Doomsday began at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, under the working title Apple Pie 1.

May 2, 2025: Original release date for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

May 2, 2025 was the original release date for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, as announced at San Diego Comic Con in July 2022. Destin Daniel Cretton was hired to direct The Kang Dynasty, with Jeff Loveness writing the script, and Michael Waldron set to write Secret Wars.

May 2025: Release Date Delayed

In May 2025, Disney delayed the release date to December 18, 2026, to allow more time for production to be completed. Location filming was taking place in Bahrain by the end of the month, and is also set to occur at Windsor Great Park in June and August.

November 7, 2025: Original release date for Avengers: Secret Wars

November 7, 2025, was the original release date for Avengers: Secret Wars, as announced at San Diego Comic Con in July 2022. Michael Waldron was set to write Secret Wars.

2025: Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and X-Men Team Up

In 2025, fourteen months after the events of Thunderbolts*, the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the "original" X-Men team up to face Doctor Doom.

May 2026: Original Release Date for The Kang Dynasty

May 1, 2026, was the original release date for The Kang Dynasty which was pushed back in part due to the scripts not being ready before the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

December 2026: Scheduled Release Date

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in the United States on December 18, 2026, as part of Phase Six of the MCU.

May 2027: Original Release Date for Secret Wars

May 7, 2027, was the original release date for Secret Wars, which was pushed back in part due to the scripts not being ready before the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.