No Avengers 7 after all? Here's what's really behind the rumours about Marvel's December 2028 plan

Marvel fans have been speculating about the future of the "Avengers" series for months. Following the official announcement of "Avengers: Doomsday" for December 2026 and "Avengers: Secret Wars" for December 2027, it seemed clear to many that Avengers 7 would follow in December 2028! However, the latest insider information is dampening these expectations considerably.

No Avengers 7 in December 2028?

However, the idea of "Avengers 7" was not entirely far-fetched. After all, Disney has reserved another Marvel film for December 2028 – and since both "Doomsday" and "Secret Wars" are set to be released during the Christmas season, another "Avengers" film seemed quite logical. But it is precisely this assumption that is now being called into question. There were rumors that Marvel Studios was considering splitting "Secret Wars" into two films – which would have effectively meant a seventh "Avengers" film. Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman, for example, reported on such considerations. According to him, the studio wanted to wait and see how successful "Doomsday" would be before officially announcing a possible split.

But now, well-connected Hollywood reporter Jeff Sneider has contradicted these speculations. In his newsletter, he stated that there are currently no serious plans to split "Avengers: Secret Wars". Although an extra-long film had been discussed, there were no concrete preparations for two separate films. A split film would also mean that the dramaturgy, suspense arc, and scene structure would have to be completely reworked. In addition, there would be new marketing campaigns and promo tours – with a cast whose schedules are already filled years in advance.

Financial risks for Marvel

Another decisive factor is the stars' pay. According to reports, Marvel is said to have invested more than $100 million in Robert Downey Jr.'s return – including a possible profit share. Subsequent negotiations would entail enormous costs. Particularly problematic: if "Doomsday" were to be a huge success, Marvel would find itself in a very poor negotiating position.

"Doomsday" is already conceived as a kind of two-parter together with "Secret Wars" – comparable to "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame". And let's not forget: both "Infinity War" and "Endgame" broke the $1 billion mark worldwide. "Endgame" even ranks second among the most successful films of all time. At this point, however, it must be said that, with the exception of "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "Deadpool & Wolverine", no other MCU film has been able to match these enormous box office results. On the contrary, titles such as "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" and "The Marvels" were outright flops. So Marvel's financial situation is completely different from what it was a few years ago.

So what will happen in December 2028 instead?

The question remains: Why did Disney reserve a Marvel release date for December 2028 in the first place? One possibility would be to introduce completely new characters for the next MCU phase. The X-Men in particular are considered central building blocks for the studio's future. A reboot is already in the works. However, rumors suggest that it could launch in May 2028.

The Fantastic Four are also expected to play a major role in the upcoming phase. Nevertheless, an additional fourth MCU movie in the same year seems unlikely. Disney had announced that it would limit Marvel productions to a maximum of three films per year in the future. In fact, Marvel releases are already planned for February, May, and November 2028. Another film in December would completely throw this new model out the window. It is therefore quite conceivable that the December date was strategically blocked – for example, to keep the competition at bay.

Competitive pressure and strategic planning

It's no secret that even big studios use their release dates tactically. December 2026 will see a duel between "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Dune: Part 3", also known as "Dunesday." Whether Marvel actually plans to cancel one of the 2028 dates depending on the success of "Doomsday" remains to be seen. However, there are many indications that there are currently no concrete plans for "Avengers 7".

Conclusion: The future of the Avengers remains open

Even if a seventh "Avengers" movie is likely to come one day, a release in December 2028 seems unlikely at this point. Instead, Marvel is apparently banking on "Doomsday" and "Secret Wars" as an epic two-parter to build on past mega-successes. For fans, this means patience. The next generation of Avengers will come – but probably not as soon as many had hoped.