Marvel’s has been delayed by seven months, but the extra time is more of a blessing than a setback. Arriving seven years after Avengers: Endgame, Phase 6's first crossover film marks the return of MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo, along with Robert Downey Jr. — this time portraying the Avengers' next big bad, Doctor Doom. With an even larger ensemble and higher stakes, the MCU's upcoming Avengers: Doomsday promises to reignite the excitement that made Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame huge cinematic events.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are set to be released one year after the other. Previously, they were scheduled for May 2026 and May 2027, respectively. Now, both Phase 6 Avengers movies have been delayed, to December 2026 and December 2027, respectively. But while Avengers: Doomsday's seven-month delay may seem especially disappointing at first, it actually offers the movie several advantages, both in terms of quality and in box office prospects.

Avengers: Doomsday started filming in April 2025, originally leaving a year for production and post-production ahead of its planned May 2026 release. This window was likely even smaller considering the movie's marketing needed to start much earlier than May. With the delay, Marvel Studios and the Russo Brothers also have the opportunity to refine the script and plan reshoots to guarantee a strong December 2026 release.

Both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are shaping up to be even larger crossover events than Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. With massive scope, unmatched ensemble casts, and ties to dozens of previous films and series, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars promise unprecedented scale in the MCU and the sci-fi genre as a whole. If Avengers: Endgame's thirty-eight-character final battle broke records, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars could easily double that number. A production of this magnitude needs well over a year from filming to release in order to meet the immense expectations and deliver a polished final product.

The MCU has often faced criticism for inconsistent CGI, especially in large-scale action sequences. The more characters and powers involved, the heavier the VFX workload, and the greater the risk of underwhelming results. Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame succeeded thanks to ample time and resources, while films like Thor: Love and Thunder and Black Panther struggled in this area.

Avengers: Doomsday's huge scope and large cast demand VFX quality on a level few superhero films have achieved. Multiple timelines coming together and a wide variety of MCU superpowers sharing the screen require Marvel Studios to guarantee unparalleled realism and spectacle in its multiversal-scale action. If executed well, Avengers: Doomsday’s visuals could not only support its own story (and that of Avengers: Secret Wars as a direct result) but also redefine what Marvel Studios' future projects can look like.

Avengers: Doomsday is now facing fierce competition in December 2026, as major releases such as Dune 3, Shrek 5, Jumanji 4, and Ice Age 6 are all hitting theaters the same month. However, . With more time for production and post-production, stronger visual effects, a prime release window, and additional anticipation, Avengers: Doomsday is well-positioned to dominate the box office despite the crowded landscape.