Bold claim: Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars aren’t the end for the Avengers—quite the opposite—the franchise is getting reshaped for faster, broader storytelling while still delivering blockbuster team-ups. Here’s a thorough, beginner-friendly rewrite of the December 2025 Q&A overview, expanded with clear explanations and inviting discussion about the future of the MCU.
Alex Perez returns with another Patreon/Discord Q&A, tackling questions from the Cosmic Circus community about Avengers: Doomsday, Secret Wars, and what could come next for the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond these two films. This first part covers casting thoughts, story directions, and how the MCU might reorganize its superhero lineups after the anticipated epic climaxes.
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Questions and answers below have been lightly edited for brevity, grammar, and spelling.
laser_gum: Hello Alex and Lizzie, thank you for continuing these Q&As. Will Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars be the last two Avengers movies?
Alex Perez: No. The Avengers brand will be reimagined after Secret Wars. Disney and Marvel recognize the enduring value of the Avengers title because these films perform exceptionally at the box office. The challenge is shortening the wait time between installments, since coordinating 70+ involved actors and schedules takes substantial planning.
Beyond using Avengers movies for grand, world-ending team-ups, they’ll also feature more grounded Avengers adventures with a real group, similar to The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).
Second, development on the next Avengers storyline is already underway. A long-running rumor points to another cosmic arc with various possibilities. One early idea involved a massive team-up film linked to Judgement Day, bringing in the Eternals, Celestials, and the Horde. A newer plan envisions a smaller-scale narrative with Annihilus and the Annihilation Wave as the central antagonists, introduced in a forthcoming Disney+ project as secondary threats to the Nova Corps. The villains from that show may include high-ranking members of the Annihilation Wave’s forces, such as Admiral Salo or his lieutenants like Eradica, Extirpia, or Extermina.
Xekshek: Hi Alex, always grateful for these updates. Can you tease Sentry’s role in Doomsday? It feels like a Sentry vs. Doom confrontation is likely.
Alex Perez: Sentry is essentially a calm, relaxed presence within the movie. He isn’t activated until a critical moment involving Yelena puts someone in danger, which then triggers Sentry’s true power.
Vinny: Thanks for the Q&A. Could you clarify Doctor Strange’s role in Avengers: Doomsday and how he fits into the overall plot?
Alex Perez: Doctor Strange will team with Clea to investigate incursions and work on solutions to prevent the multiverse from collapsing.
Vinny: One question I have is why James Rhodes (Rhodey) or Clint Barton aren’t on Sam’s Avengers roster. Are they planned for Doomsday or Secret Wars?
Alex Perez: Rhodey is in recovery following the events of Secret Invasion, and Marvel is still processing the fallout. Clint has retired, and it’s unclear whether they’ll return in future installments.
Vexster: Hi! From the Disney promo material for Doomsday, the teams shown look like the main squads. Will these be the primary Avengers teams, or is a clearer lineup still to be revealed?
Alex Perez: Yes, those teams will be central, but there isn’t a fixed, single core Avengers lineup yet.
megandcheese: Happy holidays! I’ve noticed Bucky Barnes is consistently high on Doomsday cast lists. Is he stepping into a larger role, or is this about Sebastian Stan’s star power?
Alex Perez: Stan will be a core figure, serving as a pivotal mediator between the Avengers and the Thunderbolts.
eme: Happy holidays! Will Peggy Carter participate in the Doomsday action, or stay on the sidelines?
Alex Perez: Hayley Atwell will actively participate in Doomsday’s action sequences.
eme: Is Steve Rogers’ role in Doomsday substantial, or more of a cameo?
Alex Perez: His role is fairly significant; the story involves Doom targeting him.
chance3225: After filming, can you share Shuri’s role and importance in Doomsday, and how she enters the plot?
Alex Perez: Shuri will work to persuade Namor and the Atlanteans to join the fight against Doom.
walker (or rayne): Will the Beyonders appear in Doomsday, perhaps shaping Doom’s motives, or will Loki fill that narrative function?
Alex Perez: Loki takes precedence here; the Beyonders aren’t part of this movie.
walker (or rayne): What about Deadpool—what will his presence look like in the next two Avengers films? Cameos or a meaningful role in Doomsday and Secret Wars?
Alex Perez: Expect cameos to have narrative relevance. Some appearances will reflect the incursions’ effects on their universes and involve a call to action from a higher authority.
After Avengers: Secret Wars
icast05: Any chance variants introduced in Doomsday or Secret Wars carry over into the post-SW 616 timeline?
Alex Perez: It’s a nuanced situation. If the post-Secret Wars 616 timeline represents the “original” version, determining whether those characters are variants or the core versions can be tricky.
qncycharles: Will Steve Rogers’ story be retold to set up the new MCU timeline?
Alex Perez: There’s no indication that Steve’s arc will be retold for the reset.
chance3225: Who would you pick for the post-Secret Wars Avengers lineup?
Alex Perez: Captain America (Sam Wilson), The Falcon (Danny Ramirez), The Vision, Captain Marvel, Shang-Chi, Black Panther, Ant-Man, and Hulk.
FanOfNuance: Beyond Doomsday, which upcoming projects are most important to setting up Secret Wars? Could there be post-Secret Wars films that are actually prequels?
Alex Perez: Spider-Man: Brand New Day and VisionQuest are key setups.
FootlongSlinky: Which villains were considered for future Avengers movies?
Alex Perez: Celestials and Mephisto are strong contenders (Mephisto is being saved for Midnight Sons). The Masters of Evil also came up, potentially including Zemo and The Leader.
daofeiboy: By the time Secret Wars ends and the MCU reboots, will there be multiple established Avengers teams (West Coast Avengers, Young Avengers, the Great Lakes, etc.)?
Alex Perez: Young Avengers is definite. The others are less certain, though crossovers and new formations could emerge.
That wraps up Part 1 of Alex Perez’s December 2025 Q&A. Part 2 will drop in a few days. In the meantime, consider joining The Cosmic Circus Patreon for access to a private Discord, the next Q&A, and additional perks while supporting the site, YouTube channel, and podcasts.
What do you want to see after Avengers: Secret Wars? Share your thoughts on social media @mycosmiccircus on X, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, or at TheCosmicCircus.com on Bluesky. You can also explore past Alex Perez Q&As with our Discord here: https://thecosmiccircus.com/tag/the-cosmiccircus-discord/
