The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 6 ends with two avengers movies: Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Warsboth slated for a 2025 release. Both films were announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, and it was confirmed shortly after that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton would be at the helm Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
unlike Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame both of which were controlled by the Russo Brothers, the upcoming two avengers films are supervised by individual filmmakers. This decision is likely due to the sheer scale of both projects, and with only six months between the release period, no director was able to make both films. Instead, Marvel Studios will hire two separate directors for each project who will work closely together on development.
Screenwriter Michael Waldron, who wrote: Loki season one and Doctor Strange in the multiverse of madness, recently signed up to write the script for Avengers: Secret Wars. This probably means a director will be announced soon. While little is known about the film’s plot, it takes its name from two comic books: 1984’s Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars and 2015 secret wars, both of which are known as massive crossover events between many heroes and villains.
With Marvel Studios hiring a director from one of their previous films for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty it’s safe to assume they also want another filmmaker familiar with how the studio works to direct their big, gigantic closing film. Fortunately, Marvel Studios has a long list of talented directors they’ve worked with in the past, and these are the top five picks for Avengers: Secret Wars.
The Russo Brothers
Like the duo who directed the previous two avengers movies, does it make sense to de Russian brothers back for Avengers: Secret Wars. In the past, the Russos have teased that they are an adaptation of Secret Warsthough they seem to be more interested in the original 1984 storyline than in the recent 2015 event comic.
However, it is because the Russo Brothers have done two: avengers movies that might work against them. While they’ve done a great job on their MCU projects, the Avengers need some fresh creative blood to run the franchise. This is similar to the same way the Russos filled in for Joss Whedon na The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron. The Russo Brothers have also moved on and started making new projects, and probably want to stay in their own creative world rather than return to Marvel.
James Gunn
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James Gunn is a director with the rare distinction of working on both a major Marvel property (Guardians of the Universe) and a DC one (The Suicide Squad). With years of experience in managing not only projects with heavy VFX use, but also large ensembles, he seems to be the perfect choice for Avengers: Secret Wars. Still, Gunn may just be too busy. He has spoken several times about how Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is the final entry for the team in the MCU. Although there may be more Guardians of the Universe movies in the future, they will look very different from what audiences have come to expect.
In addition, Gunn is working on peacekeeper season two, as well as another spin-off from The Suicide Squad focused on Amanda Waller. There are also rumors that another DC movie is in the works, but with the current state of the Warner Bros. Discovery treatment of DC remains to be seen. That said, while Gunn would be more than a welcome choice for MCU fans to lead a project like Avengers: Secret Wars and Marvel Studios would probably want one of the longest-serving employees at the helm, it might not be in the cards as Gunn teased that he’s probably done with Marvel after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Chloe Zhao
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Marvel Studios got lucky with Chloe Zhao. When she was first hired to do Eternals, she was an acclaimed director with low-budget films under her belt, like many of their recent picks. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic delay Eternalsby the time the movie was released, Zhao’s other movie, the indie nomad land, had won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director. It marked the first time that an MCU film was directed by an Oscar-winning filmmaker. While the reviews for Eternals were mixed, it was a movie that showed Marvel Studios willing to swing for the fences. It was a gamble and in terms of making a visually distinctive and unique MCU movie, Zhao delivered.
Directing an Academy Award Winner Avengers: Secret Wars would never be considered a bad call. Zhao seemed to be having a great time working with Marvel Studios, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige spoke highly of the collaboration with Zhao, so she seems like a perfect candidate. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton Avengers: The Kang Dynasty it seems appropriate for Zhao to be at the helm Avengers: Secret Wars bringing the pinnacle of the Multiverse Saga to be directed by the two filmmakers who introduced two new franchises to the MCU at the start of Phase 4.
Ryan Coogler
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When it comes to filmmakers working within the MCU, arguably it’s safe to say so Ryan Coogler is the best working in the studio. Before the job before Black Pantherhe was already an acclaimed filmmaker for his work on Fruitvale Station and Beliefs. Of Black PantherCoogler directed the first MCU film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Anticipation for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is high, from being a sequel to a much-loved film to the tragic, real-world fact that the death of star Chadwick Boseman is one element the film has to work with. Still, Ryan Coogler is a strong director that audiences can rely on to deliver a quality film with rich themes.
Coogler talked about how he almost ran away from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever after the death of Chadwick Boseman. Still, inspired by Boseman, he continued to become more involved in the MCU as a producer iron heart and a Disney+ series based on Wakanda. While Coogler could probably go away for a while after that Black Panther: Wakanda Forevera project like Avengers: Secret Wars requires a director with the skill and voice to pull off its massive scale. Coogler has proven himself time and time again and no one would be disappointed if he was announced as director of Avengers: Secret Wars.
Sam Raimi
An element of Marvel’s Multiverse Saga was not just a focus on the MCU, but embracing the legacy of all the Marvel films of the past. Spider-Man: No Way Home brought in both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield to re-record their Spider-Man incarnations. Patrick Stewart reprized his role as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Deadpool 3 has confirmed that Hugh Jackman will reappear as Wolverine.
This could indicate that Avengers: Secret Wars will not only be the conclusion of Phase 6, but also a giant love letter to Marvel’s rich film history. With that in mind, an ideal filmmaker to direct Avengers: Secret Wars is Sam Raimi. Raimi didn’t just direct the original Spider Man trilogy that helped launch the modern Marvel era of superheroes, but he directed Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Raimi and Kevin Feige seem to have a good working relationship, and Raimi has shown the ability to jump into a studio shot and not only give what the studio wants, but also add his unique voice.
When Avengers: Secret Wars comes out and comes 27 years after the release of Sheet, arguably ushering in the new era of superhero movies. if Avengers: Secret Wars is a grand, multiverse epic designed to celebrate Marvel’s cinematic history. Raimi’s past working on both a pre-MCU movie and an MCU movie makes him a perfect candidate for what could be Marvel Studios’ epic conclusion to a new beginning.