Everything We’re Looking Forward to in MCU Phase 6

The days of searching for Thanos Easter eggs in Marvel movies are gone, but plenty is coming down the road. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is entering its sixth phase, charting a new long-term trajectory that could wrap in more characters than we ever imagined. Check out everything about Phase Six to get excited for upcoming premieres.

When Does Marvel Phase 6 Start?

Marvel fans don’t have to wait for Phase Six to start. The era began when “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hit theaters on July 25. The film earned $370 million from global ticket sales during its first two weeks, which was more than critics expected it to get. Fans are ready for a fresh start that pulls our favorite heroes together on screen again. The film’s success could be a good omen if Marvel’s writers don’t encounter creative problems or studio challenges like the original Fantastic Four movies.

What to Expect from the MCU Phase 6 Timeline

The future is full of Marvel movie theater content, which doesn’t include any gaming plans or full cast announcements. We’re looking forward to a film and streaming timeline that will keep us on our toes through 2027.

July 25, 2025: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”

We’ve already seen the latest edition of “The Fantastic Four,” so we know the MCU is off to a good start. The timeline change reminded us of “Captain America: The First Avenger” and that classic first episode of “WandaVision.” The writers may get more creative freedom in this phase, so you might get similar surprises that make former superhero movie tropes feel like yesterday’s news.

August 1, 2025: “Eyes of Wakanda”

The animated “Eyes of Wakanda” expands the history behind Black Panther’s corner of the MCU. Disney+ subscribers will watch Wakandan warriors who lived long before the titular character as they try to keep vibranium from leaving their hidden kingdom. The show will have animation like we haven’t seen in any other Marvel production, which will likely make waves alongside the writing and all-star cast.

October 3, 2025: “Marvel Zombies”

You’re not crazy if you feel like you already saw “Marvel Zombies.” The comic-accurate timeline debuted in “What If…?” season one as a one-off episode. Fans loved the iconic comic storyline brought to life on screen, so now we’re getting a four-episode show in October. We can’t wait to hear our favorite actors return to voice their zombified characters, like David Harbour, Paul Rudd and Simu Liu.

December 2025: “Wonder Man”

“Wonder Man” will be a live-action Disney+ show about how Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) stars in a Marvel-universe Hollywood production of “Wonder Man” while getting real superpowers. We’ll probably see plenty of tongue-in-cheek references to the process of making movies and starring as a superhero. Longtime Marvel fans will also love seeing Travor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) back to guide Simon Williams through becoming a big star.

2026: “The Punisher”

We recently saw Frank Castle in the first season of “Daredevil: Born Again” and won’t have to wait long until he’s back on our screens. The Punisher is getting his own Disney+ special. Marvel hasn’t released many details about what we can expect, but the special will likely pick back up where we last saw Castle, which, for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, wasn’t in a very cheery situation.

March 2026: “Daredevil: Born Again” Season 2

Matt Murdock found his Marvel groove at the end of season 1, so it’s no surprise that we’re getting a second season of “Daredevil: Born Again.” While we don’t know what the numerous episodes will cover, you can expect more characters to return from previous Netflix franchises. Some people expect Krysten Ritter’s Jessica Jones to appear, even as rumors swirl that there’s no season three down the pipeline.

2026: “Vision Quest”

We haven’t seen Vision flying around since the “WandaVision” finale, but White Vision — also established in that episode — will return in “Vision Quest.” The Disney+ series finished filming in July and will provide greater insight into Vision as a character. There’s no telling if or how the episodes will tie into the MCU’s greater timeline, but we’re happy to have more time with Vision’s complex character regardless.

July 31, 2026: “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”

While you play as Peter Parker in Marvel Rivals, Marvel Studios is working hard on the next Tom Holland film. All we know about “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is that it’s in production and full of potential. Some fans theorize that we could see a Venom symbiote appear as a nod to “Spider-Man 3” (2007). We just want to know how Peter Parker is doing after the timeline erasure of his last epic movie. 

December 18, 2026: “Avengers: Doomsday”

Marvel is crossing multiverses again with “Avengers: Doomsday.” All anyone knows is that the cast announcement trailer has over 13 million views and includes enough studio chairs to fill a movie theater. And is Robert Downey Jr. back as Doctor Doom? We don’t know why, but we’re already seated.

December 17, 2027: “Avengers: Secret Wars”

We have no information on “Avengers: Secret Wars,” other than that it’s part of Phase Six. The film could be part of a multi-arc “Avengers” movie plotline or become even bigger than “Doomsday.” You’ll have to watch for announcements during 2026 to know for sure.

What Is the MCU Phase 6 Budget?

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel’s head of streaming, recently said the studio would cut the streaming budget for Phase Six. Marvel executives want to put more money into the movies, potentially shifting their luck from previous years of poor film reception.

The studio doesn’t create one big budget per phase — at least, not that fans can find. Instead, industry experts get estimates for each film. The MCU Phase 6 timeline doesn’t have official film budgets for everything yet, either.

Internet rumors swear that “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” had a $200 million budget, but there’s no confirmation. If we estimate that each of the other four films will have the same budget, which leaves room for the “Avengers” films to get even more of an investment, the MCU Phase 6 budget could have a lowball budget of $1 billion.

We’ll have to add the more expensive movie costs and the streaming investments when the announcements happen to understand a more accurate picture. Try to imagine enough cash to cover the face of the earth, and you’ll probably be close.

Things We’re Looking Forward to the Most

There are many things to look forward to with the current MCU phase. We thought it couldn’t get better than hearing “Flame on!” again, but Robert Downey Jr.’s return and another Tom Holland “Spider-Man” film make it hard to choose. And if Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool makes more appearances, that’ll be the icing on the superhero cake.

There are also tons of Disney+ shows coming out, which will keep us satisfied with plenty of lore and internet drama between new movies. Which ones will have the most shocking post-credit scenes? We’ll be waiting until the last second of every premier to find out.

Marvel’s Future Looks Bright

MCU fans have incredible features to watch in the coming years. If you thought “Endgame” was as big as it could get, you’re about to have your mind blown. Prep your favorite theater snacks and prepare to fight for opening night tickets by marking your calendar now.