The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is poised for an exciting new chapter as directors Anthony and Joe Russo have provided insights into the upcoming films, *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*. In a recent interview with Brazilian outlet Omelete, the Russo brothers described these films as a "new beginning" that will set the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU.

Joe Russo emphasized the completion of a 20-movie arc with *Avengers: Infinity War* and *Avengers: Endgame*, highlighting the unique opportunity to now craft a narrative that serves as a foundation for future developments. "The greatest thing that ever happened is we got to get immersed in a 20 movie arc and see an ending to that arc," he said. "What's compelling about these two new Avengers movies is they're a beginning. It's a new beginning. We told an ending story [with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame] and now we're going to tell a beginning story. Who knows where we’ll go from there?"

Anthony Russo shared the journey back to the MCU, noting that a fresh creative idea sparked their return. "We didn’t know what our road forward was in the MCU after we finished Endgame," he explained. "What happened was, a creative idea just came to us and that ended up feeling like the right idea. It motivated us to do it again. We feel like we have something fresh, we feel like we have a story that’s important and needs to be told. We have an amazing group of collaborators again, some old and some new. We’re very excited."

Joe Russo also discussed the challenges of *Doomsday*, describing it as a "difficult" film due to its role in reviving the theatrical experience post-pandemic. Interestingly, the Russos revealed that Marvel producer Kevin Feige suggested bringing back Robert Downey Jr. for *Doomsday*. "That conversation was had a while ago, and Robert tried to talk us into doing it and we said no," Joe said. "We just didn’t have a story, we didn’t have a way in, so we were resistant for a while. And then one day, [Endgame writer] Steve McFeely called us and said, ‘I have an idea.’"

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Joe Russo concluded the interview by emphasizing the importance of complex villains. "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories," he said. "That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."

*Avengers: Doomsday* is slated for release on May 1, 2026, followed by *Secret Wars* on May 2027. Fans will have to wait patiently to see what the Russo brothers have in store.

Meanwhile, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has hinted at the integration of X-Men characters into the MCU's upcoming films. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, Feige mentioned that fans would encounter "some X-Men players that you might recognize" in the near future. He also teased that *Secret Wars* would pave the way for a new era dominated by mutants and the X-Men.

"When we were preparing for Avengers: Endgame years ago, it was a question of getting to the grand finale of our narrative, and then we had to start all over again after that,” Feige said. “This time, on the road to Secret Wars, we already know very well what the story is going to be until then and afterwards. The X-Men are an important part of that future."

It appears that Phase 7 will be heavily influenced by the X-Men, with Storm already making an appearance in *What If...? Season 3*, marking her debut in the broader MCU.

Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule, scheduled for February 18, May 5, and November 10, 2028. Speculation is rife that one of these films could be an X-Men movie, further cementing their role in the MCU's future.