Marvel's MCU Phase 6 movie lineup has left fans seriously confused

Marvel Studios has learnt a very important lesson in recent years.

Fair to say, The Infinity Saga was a rare golden age.

While the saga had its blips, they never particularly detracted from the overall fanfare.

As such, it was easy for Marvel to announce a multi-year slate of releases as fan reception was positive.

That’s not exactly been the case with The Multiverse Saga which saw hype and interest dwindle.

Thankfully, Marvel has turned its fortunes around, ridding the saga of Kang and replacing him with Doctor Doom.

TV and film releases are also being spaced slightly further apart to allow for breathing room.

Add in a couple of back-to-back bangers, like Deadpool & Wolverine and Agatha All Along, and everything is back on track.

What has changed though is that Marvel Studios is now choosing to focus on teasing just a handful of projects, more so than the entire make-up of the saga having learnt that sometimes, things need to shift.

It’s due to this that the MCU’s Phase Six line-up is pretty hazy.

Captain America: Brave New World is next in line. Take a look at the film’s trailer below.

We’re in the midst of Phase Five, if you’ve lost track, with Captain America: Brave New World Daredevil: Born Again, Thunderbolts*, and Ironheart still to land.

We’ll then enter Phase Six which will see The Fantastic Four: First Steps launch in July 2025, followed by Avengers: Doomsday in May 2026, the untitled Spider-Man 4 in July 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027.

There are then a number of placeholder dates across 2026, 2027, and 2028, although nothing has been announced for those slots.

Clearly, this phase will eventually thicken out but as I said, Marvel Studios is opting for far more of a play it by ear approach these days.

What’s left fans confused though is that Secret Wars was due to end Phase Six but with a placeholder date set for July 2027, that now appears to be up in the air.

Surely Phase Seven wouldn’t launch just two months later? So could something follow Secret Wars in Phase Six?

As Reddit user Aromatic-Cupcake4802 also points out, Bob Iger said Marvel would be switching to an output of three films per year to allow for that aforementioned breathing room, yet if we’re to count the two 2026 placeholder dates alongside Doomsday and Spidey 4, that would make four films.

The user further indicates that there’s a February 2026 placeholder date which would surely see the project come to light soon if it was going ahead.

Spider-Man 4 recently confirmed its existence and director ahead of an imminent start on filming and that’s not due until mid 2026, as a point of comparison.

I think the key here is to remember that placeholder dates are just that, placeholders.

Phase Six’s line-up is still up in the air, but I think that’s for the best.

Marvel Studios is on the up and up again. I’m all for an air of mystery as we look to the future.