The superhero release calendar is filling back up. Here is what Marvel and DC have dated through the decade's end.
Marvel Studios and DC Studios have a combined eight sequel movies set for theatrical release over the next few years, mapping out a superhero slate that stretches from 2026 into the end of the decade. While Marvel Studios is reaching a cinematic climax near the end of its Multiverse Saga, DC Studios remains early in its release plans under co-CEO James Gunn, having unveiled only a handful of films and television projects so far. Most of the eight movies already have firm release dates, while a couple sit early enough in development that production has not yet begun.
The nearest title is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, arriving July 31, 2026, with Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker for his fourth solo Spider-Man film in the MCU. The cast also includes Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Michael Mando, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo, and the story finds Peter navigating a world that no longer knows he exists while a fresh wave of villains and heroes is introduced. Footage shown at CinemaCon 2026 highlighted Peter's reunion with MJ and Ned Leeds, teasing a subplot in which Ned sets out to uncover Spider-Man's identity.
Marvel then escalates dramatically with Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026, billed as potentially the biggest superhero movie in history. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU, this time as Doctor Doom, leading a roster that pulls dozens of stars from across Marvel Studios and past Marvel films into a battle for the survival of the multiverse. Four trailers have already been released, centered on Steve Rogers, Thor, the X-Men, the Wakandans, and the Fantastic Four. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film is being built as one of the most expansive crossovers in comic book movie history.
The 2027 calendar is the most crowded stretch. Sony Animation completes its trilogy with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse on June 18, starring Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld. On the DC side, James Gunn writes and directs Man of Tomorrow, the official sequel to 2025's Superman, on July 9, with David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Brosnahan, and Lars Eidinger as Brainiac in a story that forces Superman and Lex Luthor into an unlikely partnership. The year continues with The Batman Part II on October 1, returning Robert Pattinson under director Matt Reeves alongside new additions Scarlett Johansson and Sebastian Stan.
Marvel closes out 2027, and the Multiverse Saga itself, with Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17. Again directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film brings back Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, and its cast is expected to feature even more big names than Doomsday does. Plot details remain unclear, but the story is expected to resemble its comic inspiration, in which countless heroes are thrown into Battleworld after it is created by Doom and the Beyonder. The film is anticipated to tie closely to the events of Doomsday, serving as the capstone of Marvel's current era.
Two further Marvel sequels sit later and looser on the calendar. Black Panther 3 is in early development with Ryan Coogler writing and directing, with many expecting a July 28, 2028 release; Letitia Wright's Shuri and Winston Duke's M'Baku are expected to return, and Oscar winner Denzel Washington has confirmed he will play an undisclosed role. Shang-Chi 2 is even further out, without an announced production start or release date, though fans hope Destin Daniel Cretton returns to direct, with Simu Liu and Awkwafina reprising their roles, possibly in 2029.
Taken as a whole, the slate underscores how differently the two studios are positioned right now. Marvel is staging a culmination, stacking event-scale Avengers films and long-anticipated character sequels to bring its Multiverse Saga to a head, while DC is still laying foundations with its first wave of sequels under Gunn's leadership. The clustering of major releases across 2027 in particular sets up one of the most competitive years the genre has seen. For audiences, it means a steady run of returning heroes, with the firmest dates near term and the most ambitious team-ups still taking shape.
Reported by The Direct.
