Marvel Studios is going all in with the Phase 5 and Phase 6 projects for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be out later this year, Phase 4 will also end and begin the next stage of Disney’s biggest franchise. Waldron has been a big part of Phase 4, particularly with solidifying the idea of the multiverse through Loki’s variants and the reality-hopping in Multiverse of Madness. What has been revealed so far for the Multiverse Saga and its finale in Avengers: Secret Wars? Read on for more.
Deadline reported that Michael Waldron was the top pick among a number of potential writers for Avengers: Secret Wars.
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) October 3, 2022 Waldron has seen much success in exploring and expanding the multiverse of the Marvel Studios properties. With Loki, the idea of timeline variants was established, allowing for multiple versions of the same character to exist and even interact. The Disney Plus series also introduced Jonathan Majors into the MCU with the Immortus variant of Kang the Conqueror. This success with the Loki series also translated to his scripting chores for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The Sam Raimi-directed film featuring the Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme battling the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) across different realities helped familiarize MCU fans with the complexities of alternate parallel universes. Given his experience with such material, Michael Waldron is a logical choice for Avengers: Secret Wars. The movie is expected to be the climax of what Marvel Studios president and chief creative officer Kevin Feige refers to as the Multiverse Saga. Details about the main plot of Avengers: Secret Wars is currently under wraps, but it is expected to take some cues from the comic book roots. In the Marvel Comics Secret Wars maxi-series, an all-powerful being called the Beyonder gathered heroes and villains, including the cosmic devourer Galactus, to face each other on Battleworld. A later event in 2015 also titled Secret Wars raised the stakes due with universes colliding with each other due to incursions. Avengers: Secret Wars is the second part of the planned climax of the Multiverse Saga. The first part will be Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which will be written by Jeff Loveness and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. On that note, no director has been attached for Avengers: Secret Wars as of yet. While fans are clamoring for the Russo Brothers to return, there are rumors that Ryan Coogler (Wakanda Forever), Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) or Sam Raimi might be offered to helm the project. Aside from Avengers: Secret Wars, Michael Waldron is also attached to pen an unnamed Star Wars film. Marvel Studios has set a projected theatrical release date for Avengers: Secret Wars on November 7, 2025.