After trades had revealed that Joe and Anthony Russo would be making a grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios took to the stage of Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con yesterday evening to confirm the sibling directors will be handling both “Avengers: Doomsday,” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.”

This news comes as the studio has now officially pivoted from Jonathan Majors’ Kang The Conqueror as the main villain of the next “Avengers” film, with Doctor Doom filling that role. Something that might have been telegraphed with “Deadpool & Wolverine” marketing featuring a “Secret Wars” comic book with Doom and The Beyonder on the cover in the void sequence.

Although, it’s not entirely clear if Kang won’t appear in the films after this pivot to Doom with a quick recasting. We’ll keep our fingers crossed, longshot aside, that Marvel can land Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington (“Training Day,” “Gladiator II”) to play the Kang Prime variant in a brief or minimized part.

The Russos were behind “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” They are replacing previous “Avengers 5” director Destin Daniel Cretton (“Shang-Chi”), who exited the project to focus on the “Wonder Man” series and his sequel to “Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings.”

Screenwriter Stephen McFeely (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Avengers: Endgame”) is also being tasked to pen the two movies, seemingly without writing partner Christopher Markus.

We’re still waiting on the final lineup for the film after Kevin Feige has suggested recently that it won’t have “everyone.” Disney has slated “Avengers: Doomsday” for May 1, 2026, and then The Multiverse Saga is expected to conclude with “Avengers: Secret Wars” on May 7, 2027.

SOURCE: MARVEL STUDIOS