For anyone wondering if after a challenging few years, Marvel Studios could chart a path that would instantly earn back the trust of fans, the studio’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con seems to suggest the answer is a resounding yes.
In a shocking surprise (even by Marvel standards), Robert Downey Jr. was announced as returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, one of the most feared and complicated characters in Marvel lore. He will be joined on this journey by The Russo Bros., the filmmakers who were behind Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which was the zenith of Marvel Studios’ grand universe and stands as the No. 2 grossing movie of all time.
It was the culmination of a panel that started on a celebratory note, kicking off with a choir sporting Deadpool red and Wolverine yellow singing “Like a Prayer,” the hit Madonna song that was integral to Deadpool & Wolverine‘s marketing campaign, and which was featured in a bloody sequence in the new movie.
Comic-Con is almost always a high watermark of the year for the studio, which is the undisputed champion when it comes to tantalizing fans with a mix of universe-shaking news and exclusive footage. But this year was particularly sweet, given that director Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine is in the midst of a record-breaking weekend for an R-rated film. Studio boss Kevin Feige boasted the movie has pushed the Marvel Cinematic Universe — already the highest grossing franchise in history — past the $30 billion mark.
Marvel was last at Comic-Con two years ago, where among its announcements were Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. Several real-world events, including the dual writers and actors strikes, as well as Marvel cutting ties with Kang Dynasty star Jonathan Majors following his conviction for harassment and assault against an ex-girlfriend, necessitated the studio to rethink Kang Dynasty. Thus, it is now Avengers: Doomsday, to star Downey.
Read on for a rundown of what was shown.
AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY and AVENGERS: SECRET WARS
Marvel pulled off a multi-verse melting miracle by revealing, in a very theatrical and ceremonious way, that Downey would return to Marvel for a pair of films as the villain Victor Von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom. Avengers: Doomsday will bow in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars opens in May 2027. The old band is getting back together, with the Russo Bros. to direct after helming Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame and two Captain America movies.
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Anticipation was high for The Fantastic Four movie, which was revealed to be called The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Filmmaker Matt Shakman said onstage that shooting was beginning next week, but he teased it would be inspired by a retro-future version of New York. He also showed off a 1960s-style science film that teased the team’s origins while showing the humanity and personality of the characters.
It was implied that the cast was in London getting ready for the shoot, but in true Marvel fashion, the studio was pulling a fast one. Soon onto the stage came Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/The Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing).
“We are all collectively going to bring an essence that is a family,” said Quinn. “Rather than thinking about what individually we are going to bring, it’s a team sport. We are going to work very hard to bring a feeling of family to this film.”
Among the revelations was a look at the Fantasticar, which in the comics is their flying vehicle. A model version flew across the stage as it was to “fly” the cast to London for their shoot.
The Fantastic Four are already in the zeitgeist, thanks to a special tie-in, the multi-verse spanning Deadpool & Wolverine. The movie opens July 25, 2025.
THUNDERBOLTS*
David Harbour got laughs by showing up in full costume as Red Guardian, his Soviet-era Black Widow character. In whiny fashion, he asked his castmates why they didn’t dress up, after he sent an email telling them that was the plan.
The film stars an assortment of Marvel’s villains and anti-heroes, led by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova and also featuring stars Sebastian Stan, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Filmmaker Jake Schreier brought the first footage to the panel, which revealed that Louis-Dreyfus’ character is the one bringing together the team. One curiosity: the film’s title features an asterisk at the end, but Feige declined to reveal what it meant. (At CinemaCon in April, Feige suggested it would become clear by the end of the movie.)
That segment was light on details, with the actors not being able to say too much about their characters’ arcs. That inability to give proper answers was something even Russell acknowledged. “I just say ‘I don’t’ know’ and you get pure joy,” the actor said, looking at Feige.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD
Though director Julius Onah was not able to attend due to COVID-19, MCU newcomer Giancarlo Esposito joined the cast on stage and answered the questions that Marvel fans have wondered since his casting in May: what villain would he be playing? The answer turned out to be the King of the Serpent Society, Seth Voelker, AKA Sidewinder. The panel showed off footage that pointed to a political thriller — “This is bullshit, sir,” Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson says to which Harrison Ford, playing President Thunderbolt Ross, responds to growling, “This is politics.” The reel then went into action mode. But it was the room-shaking sounds of his transformation into the raging Red Hulk, that had audiences cheering.
“I wanted a piece of the action,” Ford said of joining MCU, who exhausted himself running after a very excitable Mackie around the stage.
Brave New World marks a high point for Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson, whom he has played for more than ten years in the MCU. After co-headlining the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Wilson leads this film as the new Captain America, who must navigate his a rocky relationship with the President. It bows on Feb. 14, 2025, with Mackie, Tim Blake Nelson and Danny Ramirez also joining onstage.
While Marvel is done for Comic-Con, they will have more reveals at next months D23 Expo, where they are expected to talk about the TV side of things, which was not present at Comic-Con.