It would be an understatement to say that anticipation is at an all-time high for Earth's Mightiest Heroes to make an explosive comeback in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. But while all eyes are set on these two epic crossovers, there are even more stories awaiting behind them. The Marvel Cinematic Universe shows no signs of slowing down, and fans wonder what their next phase will be about. Could we finally get stand-alone projects centered on the X-Men? Will the supernatural take over as the Midnight Suns steal the spotlight? Will we ever see The Eternals 2? (Yeah, I might've gotten carried away with that last one.)
The third phase of the MCU will kick-start after Avengers: Secret Wars, and so far, we have no clue what its overarching narrative will look like or who will get to be a part of it. After all, many are expected to bite the dust once Doom arrives and the Multiverse collapses — especially those who've been around since the first years of the MCU. But if you're worried your favorite hero might not be around for long, then we might've good news for you. Disney is reportedly working on a long-awaited sequel starring a beloved Marvel veteran, and we couldn't be any more excited.
Marvel is reportedly working on Thor 5
According to renowned superhero insider, MyTimeToShineHello, Marvel is working on Thor 5, which is slated to be released after Avengers: Secret Wars. Furthermore, Taika Waititi wouldn't be behind the director's chair, and Chris Hemsworth is campaigning for Extraction director Sam Hargrave to take his place.
For starters, this would indirectly confirm that the God of Thunder won't be one of Doom's victims. Yes, there's always the possibility that this is another "Black Widow" scenario and Thor dies in a big crossover (as it was previously reported), only for him to have a stand-alone movie set in the past. That being said, it would seem unlikely for Marvel to follow this direction yet again with another original Avenger.
There are many aspects of Thor's mythology that fans hope to see adapted in live-action. Many theorized that Avengers: Doomsday would be the perfect project to open the door for a Thor Corps adaptation down the line, with Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman's Jane Foster at the center of the ensemble. On a similar note, fans have been wanting to see the God of Thunder cross paths with Beta Ray Bill, who we know lives and breathes in the MCU as revealed by a sculpture of him in the Grandmaster's Grand Arena on Sakaar.
Many stories can still be adapted in Thor's saga, and we hope they come our way, considering his last live-action adaptation failed to be electrifying. It isn't really a secret that Thor: Love and Thunder is considered amongst the worst MCU movies ever made (right up there with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania). However, we know that the character is capable of reaching unprecedented heights, as proven by his trilogy-capper, Thor: Ragnarok. Given his status as one of the original Avengers, we'd say the God of Thunder is definitely worthy of one last adventure that's celebrated by fans.
The post-credits scene of Thor: Love and Thunder hinted that the Odinsons would be at odds with Hercules himself. However, with Taika Waititi reportedly out of the picture, it remains unclear whether this plan will be followed up on. On a personal note, I believe the best course of action moving forward is dropping the themes and stories of Love and Thunder in favor of a more tonally serious arc that serves as a perfect farewell for the beloved hero
Hopefully, it won't be long before we find out what the MCU has in store for one of its biggest characters, and with a little bit of luck, it will be something amazing.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on May 1, 2026.