On Wednesday, Disney unveiled an exciting addition to the Marvel Studios calendar with the announcement of an untitled movie slated for release on December 15, 2028. This film will mark the fourth feature from Marvel Studios scheduled for that year, following previously announced releases in February, May, and November of 2028.
If all four films adhere to their respective dates—a certainty that remains far from guaranteed—it would represent a bold move for the studio. This comes after Disney CEO Bob Iger's candid admission earlier this year about Marvel "losing a little focus by making too much."
During an investor call in May, Iger reflected on the studio's strategy, stating, "We all know that in our zeal to flood our streaming platform with more content, we turned to all of our creative engines, including Marvel, and had them produce a lot more. Over time, we've learned that quantity does not necessarily beget quality. Frankly, we've admitted to ourselves that we lost a little focus by making too much. By consolidating somewhat and having Marvel focus more on their films, we believe that will result in better quality."
However, whether Marvel will indeed release four films in 2028 remains uncertain. Disney has a history of holding onto release dates for feature projects long past when those films could realistically meet those dates, ensuring availability for other company films. For instance, Marvel's "Blade" was removed from its November 2025 release date only after Disney was ready to replace it with 20th Century Studios' "Predator: Badlands."
Looking ahead, Marvel has significantly streamlined its feature slate for 2026 and 2027. Following the premiere of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" in July, the studio plans to release just two films in 2026—"Spider-Man: Brand New Day," a co-production with Sony Pictures, in July, and "Avengers: Doomsday" in December—and two more in 2027—an untitled project in July and "Avengers: Secret Wars" in December.
"Secret Wars" is set to conclude the Multiverse Saga, paving the way for Marvel to shift its focus to characters acquired in Disney's 2019 acquisition of 20th Century Fox, particularly the X-Men. Jake Schreier, director of "Thunderbolts," has been tapped to helm the MCU's first mutant movie, which is expected to include appearances by actors from Fox's "X-Men" franchise, such as Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, who will feature in "Doomsday." Among other Marvel projects currently in development that could potentially open in 2028 are the aforementioned "Blade," "Black Panther 3," and a sequel to "Fantastic Four."
