Kevin Feige Unveils Marvel’s Grand Plan Through 2032: Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom & A Full MCU Reset Ahead

From a Phase Six kickoff to a potential reboot post-Secret Wars, Marvel Studios bets big on legacy heroes, new villains, and quality-over-quantity filmmaking.

Despite a rocky year marked by the underwhelming performances of Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studios isn’t hitting the brakes. Instead, the studio is gearing up for a seismic shift, with president Kevin Feige outlining an ambitious roadmap that extends all the way to 2032.

In a rare press interaction at Marvel’s Burbank headquarters, Feige teased a “seven-year plan” that’s still evolving. “It’s on magnets, it can move around,” he joked, referring to the flexibility of their long-term strategy.

One major change is the studio’s increasing independence from the Avengers-centric narrative. Feige confirmed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will kick off Phase Six of the MCU — and notably, it’s a completely standalone film. “It’s a no-homework-required movie,” said Feige. “It’s not connected to anything that came before.”

This fresh start is possible largely due to Disney’s acquisition of Fox, which returned characters like the X-Men and Fantastic Four to Marvel’s creative control. Feige, who has long dreamed of integrating Marvel’s “first family” into the MCU, now finally gets his chance. The upcoming Fantastic Four is tracking for a domestic opening between $100M–$110M, making it Marvel’s biggest opener this year.

Feige emphasized why this reboot matters: “The Fantastic Four were A-listers in the comics and deserve to be A-listers on screen. They were crucial in every major comic arc, and now we finally get to do justice to that legacy.”

But perhaps the most significant shift comes with the villain front. Initially, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was set to focus on Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. However, after Majors’ legal issues and growing concerns about the character’s ability to serve as a central threat like Thanos, Marvel pivoted.

Feige confirmed that plans to elevate Doctor Doom as the MCU’s next mega-villain were already in the works. “Even before everything happened with the actor, we knew Kang wasn’t Thanos,” said Feige. “There’s only one character who could fill that role, and that’s Doctor Doom.”

Feige also disclosed that he’d discussed this “audacious” pivot with longtime collaborators before Ant-Man 3 even premiered. Doctor Doom’s presence is now expected to reshape the trajectory of the next two Avengers films.

Meanwhile, the Blade reboot — still starring Mahershala Ali — remains in development despite losing two directors. Feige revealed that multiple versions of the script were explored, including two set in historical periods like the 1930s. Ultimately, Marvel decided to stick to a modern-day setting.

“We didn’t want to just slap a leather coat on [Ali] and roll camera,” Feige said. “We needed to get the script right. We weren’t confident we could do that in time, and Mahershala deserves better.”

While Blade is paused, crossovers are still on the table — albeit with more care. Feige noted that series and films will now be more independent, a direct response to audience fatigue from Disney+ tie-ins. The poor performance of The Marvels ($206.1M globally) served as a cautionary tale: fans are less likely to show up for team-ups if they haven’t watched all the homework.

Still, character overlaps will happen. For example, Jon Bernthal’s Punisher will make a cameo in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. “If we’ve got great actors in great roles, why not let them show up in fun ways across different stories?” said Feige.

As for recasting iconic characters like Iron Man and Captain America, Feige remains pragmatic. While stars like Chris Hemsworth are still very much in the game, Feige confirmed that classic characters will eventually be reintroduced with new faces — particularly with the X-Men, which is where the studio plans to start a broader reboot.

Speaking of reboots, Feige confirmed what fans have speculated: Avengers: Secret Wars will serve as a soft reset for the MCU, potentially realigning timelines and opening the door for new interpretations of legacy heroes.

Marvel also plans to continue exploring R-rated territory following the smashing success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed $1.33 billion globally, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. “Where appropriate and necessary, we’re open to going R,” said Feige.

As for Feige’s own future with Marvel? With his contract up in two years, he’s not looking for the exit. “Do I want to be making big movies for big audiences in ten or fifteen years? Yes, that’s all I want to do,” he said. “And Marvel is the best place to do that.”

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