Marvel delays Avengers: Secret Wars, Blade, and other movies

Movies about the multiverse are a moving and uncertain concept. Secret Wars: Avengers, the grand finale to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s current “Multiverse Saga,” has been delayed six months, from Nov. 7, 2025, to May 1, 2026.

The news comes thanks to a new round of schedule shuffling done by Marvel’s parent company Disney, which delayed Secret WarsThe third Deadpool movie will be released on September 6, 2024, and November 8, 2024. Fantastic FourMoving from Nov. 8, 2024, to February 14, 2025 Blade The date is moved from Nov. 3, 2023, to Sept. 6, 20,24.

BladeThe most affected by these changes is undoubtedly the cast. Production was to resume next month for the expected reboot. However, production was cut short on Tuesday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel has decided to take its time in the search for former director Bassim Tariq’s replacement, choosing to develop the movie further instead of keeping the production’s planned November start after Tariq’s departure two weeks ago. If Marvel’s plans suffer no further setbacks, Blade will likely begin production in “early 2023.”

It’ll be some time before we know what all this means for Marvel’s aggressive (and crowded) Phase 5 and Phase 6 plans, which together with intermediary Phase 4 that began with Black Widow and will conclude with next month’s Wakanda Forever: Black Panther, comprise the “Multiverse Saga.” Said plans are currently vague enough that right now the biggest takeaway is that fans will have to wait a bit longer before they see what some of the newest MCU players will look like onscreen. But it’s also worth remembering the biggest rule about the multiverse (and blockbuster moviemaking): The future isn’t set in stone.