Marvel Plans Recast of Iron Man, Captain America, X-Men After Secret Wars

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has announced a significant reset of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) following the release of Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027, which will involve recasting many iconic characters including Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Steve Rogers (Captain America). This reset, described as a singular timeline rather than a reboot, will also introduce a new generation of X-Men in an upcoming film directed by Jake Schreier. Many actors from previous X-Men films, such as Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, will return for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 before the reset takes place. Feige likened the recasting of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers to the longstanding tradition of recasting roles like James Bond and Superman, acknowledging that while replacing actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans is challenging, it is not unprecedented. The Secret Wars storyline will serve as a narrative bridge from the post-Endgame era of endings to new beginnings for the MCU. This move is intended to refresh the franchise for new audiences and storylines while honoring its rich legacy.