X-Men, Blade & Doomsday: Kevin Feige Gives Major MCU Update

With the flops of "Thunderbolts" and "Captain America: Brave New World", Marvel has faced some major setbacks this year. But Marvel President Kevin Feige remains determined and shared a promising update on the future of the MCU during a press conference. The goal is a seven-year plan extending through 2032, which aims to redefine the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As reported by Deadline, a reboot is even being considered.

Phase Six: The Fantastic Four as a New Foundation

Particular attention is currently being paid to the Fantastic Four, who can finally be fully integrated into the MCU thanks to the acquisition of 20th Century Fox. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is not only set to kick off Phase 6 of the MCU, but is also expected to mark Marvel's most successful U.S. opening of the year so far. Feige emphasizes the importance of the team:

"Why Fantastic Four? Because it's Marvel's first family. It's in the history of our characters; they deserve to be A-listers. They were A-listers in the comics."

While previous attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen – especially Josh Trank's 2015 reboot – failed miserably, Feige is now promising a completely fresh vision. The movie is designed to stand on its own, without requiring viewers to have prior knowledge of the Avengers or other MCU films. Early reviews already confirm this. Speaking of which: If you are curious about our take on the new blockbuster, feel free to check out our film review!

Doctor Doom Instead of Kang: The New Major Villain

Another decisive step is the realignment of the upcoming "Avengers" epic. Originally, Kang the Conqueror was planned as the central antagonist of the new "Avengers" saga. But following the legal issues surrounding actor Jonathan Majors and general uncertainty about Kang's relevance, Feige decided to take things in a different direction:

"Even before what had happened to the actor, we had started to realize that Kang wasn't Thanos. There was only one character that could be that because he was that in the comics for decades and decades, and because of the Fox acquisition, we finally had it, and that's Dr. Doom."

Doom will play a key role in "Avengers: Doomsday" and the future development of the MCU. He will be portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., who formerly played Iron Man.

Blade, X-Men and the Balance Between Quality and Quantity

The future of the new "Blade" project with Mahershala Ali, however, remains uncertain. Multiple director changes and creative disagreements have stalled production. Feige stressed that the focus is deliberately on quality instead of making a lackluster movie. The final version is now set to take place in the modern day – earlier ideas for historical settings have been scrapped.

Meanwhile, Marvel is preparing the reintroduction of the X-Men into the MCU. Early cameos – such as Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" – have already whetted the appetite for more. In the long term, Feige aims to establish the X-Men as their own pillar within the MCU and promises that new actors will definitely be cast for the roles. After the flood of films and Disney+ series, Marvel plans to release fewer but higher-quality projects – a maximum of three per year. The flop of "The Marvels", whose connection to the series "Ms. Marvel" confused many moviegoers, has taught the studios that less complexity often means more.

Reset After Secret Wars and Future Plans

What will definitely cause a stir: Marvel is planning a soft reboot of the MCU after "Avengers: Secret Wars". Singular timelines will be reset to allow for new casting opportunities for iconic roles like Iron Man and Captain America. Feige aims to make this a gradual transition.

Darker tones in the MCU are not ruled out going forward either. The gigantic success of "Deadpool & Wolverine", which became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time with 1.33 billion dollars at the box office, has opened the door for more productions with higher age ratings. It also remains to be seen how intense the Punisher's appearance in "Spider-Man 4: Brand New Day" will be.

Marvel's Way Forward

Despite the current crises, Feige remains confident that the MCU will continue to be relevant in the coming years. With the introduction of new heroes like the Fantastic Four and the return of legendary villains like Doctor Doom, he aims to both rejuvenate the universe and strengthen its roots. Fewer films, but with a stronger focus on quality and iconic characters – that's the guiding principle.

Whether Feige himself will continue to lead Marvel until 2032 remains to be seen. His current contract runs for another two years. However, he assures that he still wants to keep producing big blockbusters for a global audience. One thing is certain: The expectations for the MCU remain huge. And with the newly launched DCU under James Gunn, there is also a serious competitor.