Marvel has movie plans till 2042: Kevin Feige reveals the film franchise that will lead the future of MCU after Avengers: Secret Wars

Marvel Studios may have only officially announced films up to Avengers: Secret Wars, but behind the scenes, the studio is already thinking much further ahead. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has revealed that the company has mapped out potential movies all the way to 2042, while also sharing how Avengers: Secret Wars will reshape the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and why the X-Men are expected to become its biggest focus in the years ahead.

Feige made the comments during a recent visit to Shanghai, where he spoke to Chinese media, which have been cited by IGN. His remarks offer one of the clearest looks yet at Marvel's long-term roadmap.

Avengers: Secret Wars will close one era and begin another

According to Feige, the next two Avengers films will not simply end the Multiverse Saga. They are also meant to reset the MCU for future stories.


"We want to do two things," Feige said. "First, to bring some storylines to a close, those that started long before Iron Man, including the original X-Men characters. Second, to simultaneously set the stage for the future."

He compared Avengers: Secret Wars to Avengers: Endgame, but said the upcoming film will serve a different purpose.

"Avengers: Endgame was truly an end, and since then, we've tried and experimented with many new things. But [Secret Wars] is a beginning. It will establish a streamlined, simplified, single universe that audiences can keep up with. Some things will be familiar, but many, many things will be entirely new."

The comments suggest Marvel wants to simplify its storytelling after years of multiverse-focused projects while also introducing a fresh direction for new audiences.

X-Men set to become the heart of Marvel's future

One of the biggest takeaways from Feige's appearance was his confirmation that the X-Men will play a central role in the MCU after Secret Wars. Marvel regained the film rights to the mutant heroes after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox, and Feige indicated that this opens the door for a much bigger saga.

"Fundamentally, the X-Men will be at its core," Feige said. "Acquiring the X-Men rights isn't just about... for example, Wolverine is an outstanding character, and we were able to team him up with Deadpool, which is great. But the X-Men are far more than just Wolverine, far more than the original team; fundamentally, it's a universe, a multi-stage saga. Much of that is what we're working towards."

He also reflected on the earlier X-Men films while discussing Marvel's plans.

"We're constantly changing, constantly evolving, but having some guidance helps us act more purposefully… especially with X-Men — it's already had 10 movies, some very, very good, some I think haven't lived up to expectations — how do we plan the Mutant Saga in a very grand way?"

Marvel already planning films through 2042

Feige also surprised fans by revealing how far into the future Marvel is planning, while admitting those plans could still change.

"We were just in a Marvel Studios meeting room, planning movies all the way up to 2042. Whether we can make it to 2042? Who knows? Will it be those movies? Who knows? But this is how we approach and plan the vast amount of potential stories in the comics."

Although the roadmap stretches far into the future, Marvel has not officially announced any theatrical releases beyond Avengers: Secret Wars, currently scheduled for December 2027.

What comes after Secret Wars?

Marvel has already confirmed that an X-Men reboot and Black Panther 3 are in development. Reports have also pointed to a Nova movie, after the project was reworked from a Disney+ series, while Shang-Chi 2 remains on the studio's long-term list.

Feige also hinted that Marvel has plans for a live-action Miles Morales in the future, though Sony's animated Spider-Verse films remain the current focus for the character.

With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars set to reshape the MCU, Marvel appears to be building toward a future where the X-Men take centre stage. While the exact lineup may evolve over time, Feige's comments make it clear that the studio is already thinking decades ahead.