Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warshave been delayed from their original release dates, though several reasons explain why this was the case. Initially,Avengers: Doomsday’s release datewas set for August 01, 2025. Thestory ofAvengers: Secret Warswas then set to hit theaters around a year later on June 18, 2025.
In May 2025, it was reported thatAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warshad been delayed, only around a month after the former began production. Now,Avengers: Doomsdayis expected to be released worldwide on July 01, 2025, whileAvengers: Secret Warswill come a year after that on July 31, 2025. For many reasons, these delays do not come as much of a shock. Several factors have likely contributed to Marvel Studios' decision, with the delays hopefully alleviating some problems that could have faced the gargantuanupcoming Marvel movies.
6Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars Need More Time To Produce
There Was Simply Not Enough Time To Meet The Original Release Dates
The first, and perhaps most simple, reason as to whyAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warswere delayed is to lengthen the production timeline. Movies of this scale often need a lot of time to film and then an equally large period to finalize post-production.Avengers: Infinity War,for example, began filming in January 2017, meaning the film had around 16 months to be finalized.Avengers: Endgamethen started filming in August 2017, giving that film just under two years in full production.
Avengers: Doomsday, on the other hand, began filming in late April 2025, meaning the film would have had a few days more than a year to film and complete post-production. Given that thecast list forAvengers: Doomsdayis much larger than that ofInfinityWartoo, this timeline would simply not have been possible. In giving that film an extra seven months to prepare,Marvel Studios has ensuredAvengers: Doomsdaywill have the appropriate amount of time dedicated to production. The extra year will then solidify the same forAvengers: Secret Wars.
5Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars Delays Can Help Marvel Avoid CGI Issues
Marvel Has Struggled With CGI In Recent Years
Stemming from the last point, the delays toAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warswill help Marvel streamline the studio’s post-production process. As I alluded to, givingAvengers: Doomsdaya year to shoot and finalize post-production would have been far too short, even if filming wraps in six months as the studio expects it to. This would give the VFX workers of the film only six months to completely finish what needs to be done and, given the issues Marvel Studios has faced since 2019 regarding CGI quality, this would not be feasible.
With the new release dates, however,Avengers: Doomsday’s post-production process will surely benefit. IfAvengers: Doomsdaydoes wrap in six months as the Russos indicated toCollider, this would allow post-production to last from October 2025 to December 2026, rather than October 2025 to May 2026. While it remains to be seen if the previous issues of Marvel changing too much in post rather than planning things out efficiently have changed, the longer timeline should benefitAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsregardless.
4December Is Traditionally A Release Month For Huge Releases
December Has Held Some Big Box Office Hitters In The Past
$2 billion movies at the box office are rare, with only seven in history achieving this feat. Of those that did, four of them released in December withAvengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame,andNe Zha 2beingthe only outliers.Titanic, Avatar, Star Wars: The Force Awakens,andAvatar: The Way of Waterwere all released in December of their respective years and proved to be massive box office hits. The biggest post-EndgameMCU release isSpider-Man: No Way Homewhich fell just shy of $2 billion and was also released in December.
Between theAvengersandAvatarfranchises, Disney has December locked down in 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2029, adding to the reason for the delays toDoomsdayandSecret Wars.
For this reason, it makes sense forAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsto try and capitalize on this. While there will be stiff competition for both movies, be itDune 3for the former orThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumfor the latter,December has proven to be a strong month for big-budget franchise films. With that in mind, it is hard to argue with Marvel’s choice to pick December as the month to release its two upcomingAvengersprojects.
3Disney Can Space Out Its MCU Releases More
The MCU’s Quality Over Quantity Mandate Will Benefit
In recent years, Bob Iger’s return as the Disney CEO has seen a mandate for quality over quantity pushed on Marvel after its messy Phase 4. According to Iger himself, as reported byTHR, 2025’sThunderbolts*was the first of many upcoming Marvel films that fit this format. In delayingAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, Marvel has further outlined its commitment to that.
Rather than have two MCU movies within two months of each other in 2026, givenSpider-Man: Brand New Day’s release dateof July 2026, the post-2025 release schedule looks much less quantity-focused for Marvel.Spider-Man 4will be the only MCU movie of that year, allowing a year gap between that and 2025’sThe Fantastic Four: First Stepson one side and a 15-month gap between that andAvengers: Doomsdayon the other. With no other MCU movies confirmed for 2027 either,Avengers: Secret Warsremains the singular focus (for now).
2Disney Avoids A Conflict Between Marvel & Star Wars
Both Franchises Can Coexist Happily
One of the factors that contributed specifically toAvengers: Doomsday’s delay is beneficial to Disney as a whole. If the movie was released on August 11, 2025, as was the initial plan, it would clash with another of Disney’s big franchise properties set to release on May 22 of that year:The Mandalorian and Grogu. The last time aStar Warsand MCU movie went head-to-head at the box office was in May 2018, withSolo: A Star Wars Storybecoming an infamous flop when faced up againstAvengers: Infinity War.
The Mandalorian & Grogucan be released happily in May 2026 knowing its sister franchise will not burden it at all…
When Marvel Studios announcedDoomsday’s May 2026 release, many feared the worst forThe Mandalorian and Grogu. Now, though, there is no issue.The Mandalorian & Grogucan be released happily in May 2026 knowing its sister franchise will not burden it at all. Seven months later,Avengers: Doomsdaycan do the same, resolving any potential conflict that would have arisen if the MCU movie had not been delayed.
1The Avengers Delays Will Give Marvel More Time To Polish The Scripts
Which May Or May Not Be Finished
The final major reason that explains whyAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warswere delayed links to the scripts of both films. When the former began shooting in April 2025, several reports claimed that the script for the film had not yet been finalized. This was supported by several actors cast inAvengers: Doomsday, such as those involved inThunderbolts*, insisting they had not yet read a full script despite shooting beginning.
If this is the case forAvengers: Doomsday, which is currently filming, it must meanAvengers: Secret Wars’script is not even close to being finished. This could cause issues with those on set not having a clear, defined vision for the film’s story, as well as actors who need to prepare for their roles. That said, now that both films have been delayed, there is a much better chance of Marvel ironing out the kinks of both scripts and allowingAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsto have much more streamlined production processes.
