Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed that the 2027 film Avengers: Secret Wars will serve as a reset for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), rather than a complete reboot. Positioned as a fresh start following decades of interconnected stories, this event will reshape the shared universe while preserving continuity. As the MCU approaches its 20-year anniversary since Iron Man’s debut in 2008, Secret Wars aims to open new pathways, including the formal introduction of mutants.
The Story Origins of Secret Wars and Its Role in Marvel’s Multiverse
The original Secret Wars event, written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Esad Ribic in 2015, began with a cataclysmic multiverse incursion where only two universes remained: Earth-616, Marvel’s primary universe, and Earth-1610, the Ultimate Universe. This convergence led to a collision that destroyed both worlds, as depicted in the opening line,
“The multiverse is dying. Only two universes remain. Today, earths collide.”
The story gathered heroes and villains across different realities—including Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy, Illuminati, and Doctor Doom—culminating in the creation of Battleworld, a patchwork world formed by Doctor Doom’s wielding of cosmic powers.
At the end of the comic series, Reed Richards defeated Doctor Doom and restored the multiverse, paving the way for some characters presumed dead to return. This historic event was marked with an epitaph that read:
“The Marvel Universe 1961 — 2015. The Ultimate Universe 2000 — 2005.”
MCU’s Phase 6 Begins With Fantastic Four and Builds Toward Secret Wars
The new phase for the MCU launches with Fantastic Four: First Steps, premiering exclusively in theaters on July 25. This phase will progress through major releases including Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July 2026, Avengers: Doomsday in December 2026, and ultimately Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027. Feige indicated that, like the 2019 Avengers: Endgame marked the end of several storylines and beloved characters such as Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff, Secret Wars signals “beginnings” rather than just endings.
We’re utilizing [Secret Wars] not just to round out the stories we’ve been telling post-Endgame, just as importantly — and you can look at the Secret Wars comics for where that takes you — it very, very much sets us up for the future,
Feige explained.
Endgame, literally, was about endings. Secret Wars is about beginnings.
—Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President
Resetting the Universe, Not Erasing Its Past
Feige emphasized that Secret Wars will act as a reset of the MCU’s timeline rather than an outright remake. This approach allows key teams like the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Captain America, and Iron Man to coexist within the same continuity for the first time. This resembles previous Marvel publishing shifts such as the “All-New All-Different Marvel” era, when characters from different universes like Old Man Logan and Miles Morales entered the primary Marvel comic world alongside new heroic identities and storylines.
Reboot is a scary word,
Feige remarked, adding,
Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline—we’re thinking along those lines.
Mutants and X-Men Integration Explained
Feige revealed that the integration of mutants and the X-Men into the MCU will be a major focus following this reset. Confirming earlier reports, he explained that the upcoming X-Men reboot directed by Jake Schreier will recast the mutant characters, signaling a fresh take distinct from the Fox X-Men films.
X-Men is where that will happen next,
Feige confirmed, indicating this will be the entry point for Marvel’s mutants into the MCU timeline after sending off previous versions of iconic characters like Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Cyclops (James Marsden), Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), and Beast (Kelsey Grammer) during the lead-ups to Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Potential Recasts of MCU Iconic Roles
In addition to mutants’ arrival, Feige suggested that some legendary roles might be recast in the post-Secret Wars MCU, comparing this to other long-standing franchises. He noted that while Robert Downey Jr. provided a definitive portrayal of Iron Man, future actors could inhabit the role in new ways, similar to how characters like James Bond or Superman have been interpreted repeatedly over decades.
I think it’s hard for anybody to do that when an actor has done such a great role. ‘How are they going to ever replace Sean Connery [as James Bond],’ right?
—Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios President
Anticipated Impact and Future MCU Direction
As the MCU expands beyond 37 films and nears two decades of storytelling, Avengers: Secret Wars promises to be a watershed moment that redefines its narrative architecture. By resetting the timeline, Marvel opens the door for fresh stories, characters, and creative visions while honoring its past. The integration of mutants, along with established franchises like the Fantastic Four and Avengers, will likely attract new audiences and deepen existing fans’ engagement.
The reset strategy suggests Marvel is carefully balancing continuity and innovation, aiming to maintain coherence in its cinematic universe while revitalizing its roster and adventures for future phases. This will also pave the way for unexpected character dynamics and new storytelling possibilities.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Kevin Feige leaving Marvel?
A. There is no verified information indicating that Feige is leaving Marvel Studios. The rumors appear to be false. Speculation about his exit began when an X account called MCU Source posted “breaking” news about a leadership change at Marvel Studios after the Multiverse Saga.
