The Infinity Saga marked a turning point in superhero cinema. The formula Marvel implemented in its cinematic universe created some of the biggest box office hits in history. However, everything has an end, even the unprecedented success of the MCU.
After some resounding failures at the box office and with critics, such as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, plus the Jonathan Majors scandal, the MCU has been stumbling. Despite these setbacks, the company’s top brass insisted on pushing forward with the Multiverse Saga, the series of films they hoped could match the success of its predecessors.
When the dust from the multiple course corrections finally settled, Marvel was able to present Phases Five and Six of its cinematic universe. However, this generated more doubts than certainty among fans, who began to predict the end of the Marvel formula.
Recently, Brad Winderbaum, head of TV, Streaming, and Animation at Marvel Studios, confirmed fans’ worst fears. The executive stated that the Multiverse Saga will end in 2027 with Avengers: Secret Wars, hinting at the possible end of the MCU.
The end of the MCU as we know it
In an interview with ScreenRant, Winderbaum said, “I think Secret Wars is going to be an amazing culmination to the saga. I think it’s going to make the journey feel like it was worthwhile.”
Winderbaum’s statements seem to confirm fans’ speculations. Ever since Marvelannounced its slate for Phases Five and Six of the MCU, the fanbase noticed that Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars would be released within a year of each other, just like Infinity War and Endgame, which marked the end of the Infinity Saga.
The issue is that several of the films in Phase Six are scheduled to be released after Secret Wars, which opened the possibility of a hypothetical Phase Seven that would extend the Multiverse Saga. Winderbaum’s words seem to shut down that possibility.
What’s next for the MCU
Although there is no official confirmation, fans and specialized media speculate that the next big saga of the MCU could involve the X-Men and mutants, marking the end of the MCU as we know it.
Until a few years ago, Marvel had no access to the X-Men mythology because it had sold the rights to 20th Century Fox. Now that Marvel Studios has regained the licenses to its characters, fans have clamored for the mutants to be included in future projects.
Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, heard the fans loud and clear. The premiere of Deadpool & Wolverine seems to confirm that the mutants will fully enter the MCU, making the dream of millions of fans across the Multiverse come true.