It is that time of the year once again. San Diego Comic-Con is finally here, and Marvel is set to make a big impression by hosting its iconic Hall H panel, where many unexpected surprises have been revealed in the past. Superhero fans initially believed that this event would mark the long-awaited release of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer, but the footage was surprisingly dropped earlier than anticipated. This raises the question: What surprises will the studio reveal when it takes over the SDCC stage?
For the first time in decades, general audiences are (mostly) in the dark regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe's future. After the release of Avengers: Secret Wars, we'll head into uncharted territory with very few confirmed projects. So, what announcements could Marvel make regarding the end of the Multiverse Saga and what comes after it? Well, let's break down 10 different possibilities.
A new look at Avengers: Doomsday
Avengers: Doomsday is not only shaping up to be the biggest MCU project to date, but also the most ambitious superhero movie ever created. As such, it would be a shock if the film didn't have any sort of presence at SDCC. After all, fans have already spotted Avengers: Doomsday promotional banners near the San Diego Convention Center, signaling that we'll get a new look at Earth's Mightiest Heroes' upcoming adventure.
Insider James Mack has given a detailed breakdown of a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer that's presumed to be unveiled at SDCC. Furthermore, there's also a chance that Marvel decides to showcase an entire sequence from the movie (which could be the very same footage that leaked not too long ago). The stars of Avengers: Doomsday could also take over the stage and introduce attendees to the film's new trailer and perhaps unveil new tidbits of information along the way.
Perhaps the most unlikely prediction is that Marvel will host a second "cast announcement" for Avengers: Doomsday. Since the film is not too far away, the superhero giant will likely want to hold its cards close to its chest for the time being. That said, there is a possibility that some unexpected Marvel returns will be announced at SDCC, but we'll dive deeper into that later.
The debut of the VisionQuest trailer
There might be more to VisionQuest than meets the eye. The upcoming Disney+ series will not only act as the culmination of the WandaVision trilogy but also the last live-action Marvel project before the release of Avengers: Doomsday. Does that mean Wanda Maximoff could make an unexpected comeback? Will there be a shocking connection to the next MCU crossover? No one is exactly sure what to expect from Vision's upcoming adventure, which is why Marvel could finally decide to pull back the curtain and release a trailer.
It's important to remember that the first VisionQuest trailer was showcased exclusively for attendees at New York Comic Con last year, so Marvel could simply release that very same footage at SDCC and generate a lot of excitement along the way. It would be a win-win scenario since the studio wouldn't have to do anything it hasn't done before... and fans would get their first look at Ruaridh Mollica's Speed. It's a victory no matter how you see it.
Of course, there's a very real possibility that Marvel won't showcase any of its upcoming Disney+ shows this week, especially considering that D23 is set to take place from August 14 to 16. The upcoming Disney Fan Event would be ideal to reveal the superhero projects that will take over the small screen, while SDCC could be dedicated entirely to films. However, anything could happen at this time of year, which is why a VisionQuest trailer isn't completely out of the question.
The X-Men cast announcement
There are many rumors about what the next MCU phase will be about, and they all seem to agree that mutants are bound to steal the spotlight. We know that variants of the X-Men from the Fox era will be instrumental to the events of Avengers: Doomsday, but a new generation of heroes should take a step forward afterward.
It has been heavily reported that Sadie Sink will portray the role of Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and that Marvel is eyeing Patrick Wilson to play Professor X in the MCU. With so many questions up in the air, it could be the perfect time for Marvel to put all speculation to rest and finally unveil the actors who will join the biggest ongoing superhero franchise as one of the most popular groups of heroes ever created.
A new X-Men movie by Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier is confirmed to be in the works, with multiple sources indicating that it could be released as early as 2028. With so little time left, it wouldn't be far-fetched to assume that Marvel could make the most of SDCC and announce its new X-Men cast before production on the movie starts.
The confirmation that Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man will appear in Avengers: Doomsday
This seems like a very unlikely scenario, but let me explain. Back in May, it was reported that Hasbro is planning to unveil its first wave of Avengers: Doomsday Marvel Legends figures at SDCC. The lineup of toys will include Thor, Doctor Doom, Steve Rogers... and Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man. Now, it would be very unusual for such big news to be broken by Hasbro (although it wouldn't be the first time a toy company let a surprise slip). As such, it is very likely that Marvel plans to reveal the return of the legendary Spider-Man actor in Avengers: Doomsday during its Hall H panel.
The culmination of the Multiverse Saga will mark the last time heroes from different universes will be able to jump into action on the big screen. It isn't far-fetched to assume Marvel will capitalize on this opportunity by bringing back previous iterations of the wall-crawler, and perhaps other unexpected characters such as Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider. Of course, the most likely scenario is that Disney will try to keep the surprise under wraps until the release date, but it never hurts to dream.
A Blade movie announcement
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently revealed that he feels like a big failure for not being able to get the Blade movie off the ground. What made this quote all the more interesting is that he never suggested the project is still alive and well, prompting many fans to fear that Mahershala Ali won't get the chance to suit up as the vampire hunter on the big screen. However, stranger things have happened.
It has been reported that Mahershala Ali's Blade will make his debut in Avengers: Secret Wars, which would open the door for his return in a solo movie soon after. There are rumors that Marvel intends to create new solo projects based on supernatural characters in anticipation of a Midnight Sons film, so it would be fitting if Blade was also part of those plans. And speaking of big superhero crossovers...
The reveal of a Midnight Sons film
Very little is officially known about what Marvel has in store for its next Saga, but the superhero giant will likely shine the spotlight on mutants, cosmic heroes, and supernatural characters. The latter were introduced throughout the events of the Multiverse Saga, with Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and Mephisto slowly taking over the small screen. While they have been nowhere to be seen after their debuts, Marvel could simply be waiting for the best moment to have them join forces in a big crossover project.
Moon Knight actor Oscar Isaac confirmed that there have been talks behind the scenes to make the Midnight Sons movie a reality. With that in mind, Disney could decide to make the news official at SDCC, giving fans something to look forward to after the release of Avengers: Secret Wars. Granted, this type of announcement would be more fitting for next year's edition of SDCC after Avengers: Doomsday has been released. However, Marvel used to unveil years' worth of projects in a single event, and we could watch a similar scenario unfold once again.
Confirmation of the Defenders' return in Daredevil: Born Again season 3
One of Marvel's worst-kept secrets is that the Defenders will assemble once more during the events of Daredevil: Born Again season 3. Pictures taken from the show's set showcase Luke Cage, Danny Rand, and Jessica Jones joining forces once again, while set videos have also revealed the return of Elodie Yung's Elektra. The whole world knows a street-level crossover of epic proportions is coming our way, and all that's left is for Marvel to acknowledge the situation.
As is the case with VisionQuest, there's a chance that Marvel will try to hold onto the big TV surprises for D23. That being said, the superhero giant could bring together the actors behind these iconic characters to take over SDCC's stage. If the cat is out of the bag, Disney could then state that more news about Daredevil: Born Again season 3 will come during D23. That would build excitement toward the company's next big event, while also giving us a small taste of what's to come in the street-level corner of the MCU.
Nova movie reveal
Back in 2024, Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, confirmed that a Nova Disney+ series was in the works. Unfortunately, two years have gone by, and we have yet to see any concrete piece of evidence that indicates the project is actually coming our way. On the bright side, there might be a really good reason for all the (very unnerving) silence.
Deadline has reported that Nova has been reworked into a theatrical film, with Loki showrunner Michael Waldron set to write the script and potentially direct. If a script hasn't been set in stone just yet, it means the movie is still a long way off. However, that hasn't stopped Marvel from announcing projects in the past, so there could be a chance Nova will finally be unveiled at SDCC.
The (official) confirmation that Deadpool 4, Black Panther 3, and Shang-Chi 2 are coming
Marvel hasn't technically revealed that Deadpool 4, Shang-Chi 2, and Black Panther 3 are coming our way... but we know these projects are definitely happening. Recently, Ryan Reynolds opened up about the Merc with a Mouth's upcoming adventure, while Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton has stated that he's working on a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. To top things off, director Ryan Coogler revealed that Black Panther 3 is the next movie on his slate.
Since these three projects are still in the early stages of development, we have no idea when they could hit theaters. That's why Marvel could make the most of SDCC by giving us a release window as well as a general idea of what the story behind these anticipated sequels will be about.
Granted, it is important to keep in mind that Shang-Chi and Shuri's Black Panther are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, with rumors indicating that Deadpool will also join them. As such, Disney could decide to hold off on any information about their respective sequels until after Earth's Mightiest Heroes' next adventure hits theaters and general audiences learn more about the arc of these beloved characters. However, since no one is expecting Shang-Chi, Black Panther, or Deadpool to die at the end of the Multiverse Saga, it wouldn't hurt to announce new installments in their standalone franchises either.
The reveal of The Fantastic Four 2 or Doctor Strange 3
Disney now finds itself in a pretty interesting position in which movies like The Fantastic Four 2 and Doctor Strange 3 haven't been officially announced by anyone working in the MCU, and yet these projects have been confirmed all the same by other sources such as Variety.
After a streak of uneven projects, it seems like Marvel wants to go back to what works and develop more sequels in the franchises of already-established characters rather than introduce multiple new heroes on the big screen. After all, this strategy was what helped launch Phase One of the MCU in the first place, so its success can certainly be replicated.
The Fantastic Four have always been some of Marvel's most iconic characters in the comic book world, while Doctor Strange is an instrumental part of the MCU, as he was the one to come up with the plan to defeat Thanos... and has also been causing a lot of chaos throughout the multiverse. As such, it is all but confirmed that we'll see more of these heroes in the upcoming years, and the only thing missing is for Marvel to tell us when that's going to happen. Fortunately, that could finally change at SDCC.
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