Destin Daniel Cretton Reportedly in Line to Direct AVENGERS 7 After SECRET WARS
Marvel Studios seems to be quietly shaping the post Avengers: Secret Wars era, and a familiar filmmaker may be stepping into one of the MCU’s biggest directing gigs.
A new report suggests that Destin Daniel Cretton (Spider-Man: Brand New Day) is being eyed to helm the next Avengers film following Secret Wars, potentially marking a major creative shift for the franchise as Marvel prepares for its next long term plan.
Back in 2012, Marvel Studios took a huge gamble when they brought together heroes from multiple solo franchises in The Avengers. No studio had attempted anything quite like it, and Joss Whedon’s film became a massive success that redefined blockbuster storytelling.
Whedon returned for Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. While it didn’t receive the same level of praise, it was another major hit and ultimately his final MCU project.
Marvel then turned to the Russo Brothers, who had already proven their strength with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War. They went on to deliver Avengers: Infinity War in 2018 and the historic Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which remains one of the biggest films ever released.
With the Russos shifting their focus to AGBO and new filmmaking ventures, Marvel tapped Destin Daniel Cretton, director of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, to helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Plans changed when Kevin Feige moved away from Kang the Conqueror and toward Doctor Doom as the next overarching threat. That pivot brought the Russos back for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
According to scooper @MyTimeToShineH, Marvel may still owe Cretton an Avengers installment after the collapse of The Kang Dynasty. The report states,
"If Spider-Man: Brand New Day delivers, Kevin Feige plans for Destin Daniel Cretton to direct the next Avengers movie after Secret Wars."
If accurate, Cretton stepping in for Avengers 7 makes a lot of sense. Not only did Feige originally choose him to guide the next era before the Doom pivot, but Marvel may see him as the right filmmaker to establish the tone of the MCU’s rebooted future.
However, this also implies that Cretton’s focus might shift away from Spider-Man 5 and Shang-Chi 2, both of which he is connected to.
The MCU after Secret Wars is expected to look radically different. With timelines resetting and new versions of characters entering the picture, Marvel is prepping for what Feige has called a long form strategic plan.
Earlier this year, Feige revealed that Marvel Studios has a "seven-year plan" that stretches "to 2032." He explained that the studio intends to "reset singular timelines" after Secret Wars and rebuild the MCU from that point forward.
Despite his contract being up in 2027, Feige expressed strong confidence in continuing to lead Marvel into the next decade, saying:
"Do I want to be making big movies for big audiences in ten or 15 years from now? Yes, that’s all I want to do. Marvel is great way to do that."
If Cretton really is being considered for Avengers 7, then Marvel likely wants a filmmaker who can establish the tone of this reboot from day one. A fresh world, new continuity, and potential new takes on characters like the X-Men offer a wide open field for creative reinvention.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives on December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. Both films are expected to bring the current MCU to a close while setting up the rebooted universe that would lead into Avengers 7.