Avengers 5 Closes In on Director, Will Feature Over 60 MCU Characters
Marvel Studios has been looking for a director to helm its upcoming superhero ensemble, Avengers 5, for many months and has reportedly made its choice. The studio has offered the deal to Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy, with preparations underway to shoot the film next year.
As reported by Deadline, the film's latest script has been handed to Levy, who has not yet accepted the offer. Avengers 5, previously known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is being written by Michael Waldron. The writer has prior experience handling the Marvel multiverse in Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and has been working on the script ever since Marvel parted ways with previous writer Jeff Loveness. Waldron is also working on the sequel following Avengers 5 with Avengers: Secret Wars.
Marvel Studios
The film was originally going to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who departed the project to develop Wonder Man, an upcoming Marvel show on Disney+. The Shang-Chi director was a fan-favorite choice for Avengers, though Levy's relationship with Marvel has strengthened during the production of Deadpool & Wolverine.
Avengers 5 will reportedly be one of Marvel's most ambitious productions, featuring over 60 MCU characters. This includes franchise heavyweights like Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Mark Ruffalo with newcomers joining the roster, such as Simu Liu, who will also headline a Shang-Chi sequel. The film, as per reports, will also include an appearance from Loki actor Tom Hiddleston, who recently wrapped the second season of his own show in the MCU.
Marvel, Disney
The report also claims that the film will be "more of an ensemble feature" with equal importance given to its characters, as opposed to focusing on a core group like the previous installments. Whether it will feature a recast of Kang, following Jonathan Majors' firing, remains unclear. That's not the only ensemble the studio is developing, as it recently hired Hunger Games scribe Michael Lesslie to write its X-Men reboot.
Related: All Upcoming Marvel Releases in 2024 and Beyond
The untitled Avengers 5 is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026.
