The Ultimate Guide to Marvel’s Phase 6

Welcome to The Ultimate Guide to Marvel’s Phase 6, your comprehensive resource for understanding the next monumental chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Building on “The Multiverse Saga,” from Phases 4 and 5, it represents the most ambitious expansion in franchise history. As Marvel pushes deeper into alternate timelines, incursions, and interconnected story arcs, the stakes rise across every corner of the multiverse. This guide breaks down how Phase 6 reshapes the MCU’s future, unites cross-universal heroes, and brings long-awaited teams like the Fantastic Four and X-Men into the center stage.

To appreciate the significance of Phase 6 in MCU history, it’s essential to revisit the key outcomes of Phase 5 and how they set the stage for the next phase. The last phase expanded the Multiverse Saga with major revelations in Loki, The Marvels, and Quantumania, hinting at incursions, cosmic fractures, and the rise of new threats beyond Kang. These developments prepared the path for Phase 6’s multiversal convergence, where the consequences of fractured timelines finally collide. With new alliances, massive crossovers, and reality-shaping events ahead, Phase 6 marks the defining climax of Marvel’s multiverse storytelling.

MCU Phase 6 at a Glance

The first thing to remember is the timeline for this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comprises four movies, six TV series, and specials on Disney+. Here’s a list of all the projects in Phase Six, along with their release dates.  After that, we’ll dig into the details.

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
• Eyes of Wakanda (August 1, 2025)
• Marvel Zombies (September 24, 2025)
• Untitled Punisher special (2026)
• Wonder Man (January 27, 2026)
• Daredevil: Born Again – Season 2 (March 4, 2026)
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 24, 2026)
• Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)
• VisionQuest (Late 2026)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – Season 2 (Late 2026)
• Daredevil: Born Again – Season 3 (March 2027)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (December 17, 2027)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man – Season 3 (TBA)

Core MCU Movies of Phase 6

Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe starts with The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), introducing Marvel’s First Family and new cosmic threats. It continues with Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026). Followed by the epic Avengers: Doomsday (2026). Finally, the phase ends with Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), promising a universe-shaking conclusion to the multiverse saga. In brief, Phase 6 sets the stage for a thrilling new era of Marvel stories.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Release Date: July 25, 2025

First, we have The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Set in the 1960s on the alternate universe of Earth-828, this movie follows the superhero team known as The Fantastic Four. Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) are famous for fighting villains and saving people on their world. But that love is tested when a voracious space god named Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his mysterious herald, Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), threaten to destroy the planet.

The movie introduces new heroes, new villains, and the first direct connection to Doomsday. It performed fairly well at the box office and is considered the first success of Phase Six.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)

Release Date: July 24, 2026

Second, we have the first Spider-Man movie after the breakup of Sony and Marvel, named Brand New Day. Peter Parker is trying to start over as a street-level hero in New York after the events of No Way Home, but his past and new threats will force him to redefine what it means to be a hero. The film will focus on Peter balancing his new, more anonymous life with a new villain, possibly connected to the multiverse, and will be set in the same world as the Daredevil: Born Again TV series. Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jacob Batalon are confirmed to return as Peter Parker, MJ, and Ned, respectively. Jon Bernthal is reprising his role as Frank Castle / The Punisher.

This movie is still going to be connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe since it’s tied into Daredevil: Born Again, and he’s going to be in Avengers: Doomsday.

Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

Release Date: December 18, 2026

Third, the Russo brothers have returned to direct the fifth and sixth Avengers movies. Originally titled  Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it was retitled after the antagonist was changed from Kang the Conqueror to Doctor Doom. In the film, The Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, and X-Men team up to battle the villainous “master of cutting-edge science” Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. He’s going to cause a “cascading crisis across the entire multiverse.” His plans include the cosmic power of Reed and Sue’s son, Franklin Richards.

Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)

Release Date: December 17, 2027

Lastly, the fourth MCU movie in phase six and the sixth Avengers movie is Secret Wars. The film is based on Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 “Secret Wars” comic book crossover. Doctor Doom will collapse all the multiverses in the MCU into one reality. The only survivor is a new “Battleworld,” made of fragments of destroyed realities and ruled by “God Emperor Doom.” Heroes from Earth-616 (Sacred Timeline), Earth-10005 (Fox X-Men), and Earth-818 (Fantastic Four) will populate the world. This movie will lead to a completely new reality for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Key MCU Disney+ Series and Specials

Here are the main MCU TV shows and specials in Phase 6. These shows expand the MCU’s storylines with thrilling character arcs and unique formats, leading up to major events like Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Eyes of Wakanda

Release Date: August 1, 2025

First, Eyes of Wakanda is an animated mini-series chronicling the exploits of valiant Wakandan warriors throughout history. The Hatut Zeraze must complete perilous missions to recover Vibranium artifacts from Wakanda’s adversaries around the world. It expands on the mythology of the African nation. Todd Harris created the series and served as showrunner and director.

Marvel Zombies

Release Date: September 24, 2025

Next comes another animated series, Marvel Zombies. Set in the alternate timeline presented in the first season episode “What If… Zombies?!” (2021), the series is a spin-off of the animated series What If…?. The show follows a group of survivors as they put their lives in danger to battle superpowered zombies in order to rescue the planet, carrying on from that episode. Wells was the chief writer, and Andrews was the director and showrunner.

Untitled Punisher Special

Release Date: 2026

And then comes the upcoming untitled Punisher television special available on Disney+. It’s directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and co-written by Green and Jon Bernthal. This special follows the original series The Punisher (2017–2019) released on Netflix, and is a spin-off of the Daredevil reboot. The Phase Six special will explore the consequences of his violent actions and bridge his story with Spider-Man 4, while also featuring a grounded, street-level feel and a focus on realism and authenticity.

Wonder Man

Release Date: January 27, 2026

After that is the upcoming Disney+ series Wonder Man. Destin Daniel Cretton and Andrew Guest created it. Based on the Marvel Comics character, it will be the 17th series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series follows Simon Williams, who’s trying to get the lead role in a remake of the upcoming Wonder Man movie, alongside Trevor Slattery. The movie also explores his emerging ionic superpowers. The Marvel Phase Six series will premiere on Disney+ on January 27, 2026, with a total of eight episodes.

Daredevil: Born Again (Season 2)

Release Date: March 4, 2026

Then we have the second season of Daredevil: Born Again revolves around blind vigilante Matt Murdock as he gathers allies to confront Wilson Fisk, the mayor of New York City, and his Anti-Vigilante Task Force. This series continues the Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative and revives the previous Netflix Daredevil series from 2015–2018. It features Dario Scardapane as showrunner and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead as lead directors. The second season will premiere on Disney+ on March 4, 2026, and will have eight episodes.

VisionQuest

Release Date: Late 2026

Next, VisionQuest is an upcoming miniseries on Disney+. It’s created by Terry Matalas and is based on the Marvel Comics character Vision. It is a spin-off from WandaVision (2021) and is positioned as the 18th series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series, starring Paul Bettany as Vision, focuses on him trying to regain his memory and humanity after the events of the previous movies and shows. Matalas is both showrunner and director. VisionQuest will premiere on Disney+ in late 2026, featuring eight episodes as part of Phase Six of the MCU.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Season 2)

Release Date: Late 2026

The next show on Disney+ is the second season of the animated series Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. It’s airing in the fall of 2026. Characters from the previous season, including Norman, Harry Osborn, and Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, will return in the new season, along with new characters like Venom and Gwen Stacy. Producer Brad Winderbaum said the show will have a more dark and ambitious plot than the previous season. Although it’s part of Phase six, it’s set in a different universe from the main MCU.

Daredevil: Born Again (Season 3)

Release Date: March 2027

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Season 3)

Release Date: TBA

Supporting and Rumored Projects

Marvel has already released the list of movies and shows for Phase Six of the MCU. On the other hand, several projects may or may not be added before Phase Six ends in 2027. 

Black Panther 3

The first movie we’re looking forward to is a sequel to Black Panther, and it’s already being developed and may be released in time for Phase Six, but it’s unlikely.

Moon Knight Season 2

Next, we’re talking about Moon Knight. The first season follows Steven Grant, a mild-mannered museum gift-shop employee, who discovers he has dissociative identity disorder (DID) and uses a powerful suit of armor to become Moon Knight. While the show was well-received, there hasn’t been any indication that a new season is coming. Much less in two years.

Hawkeye Season 2

At this point, we should talk about Hawkeye. The first season focused on Clint Barton mentoring Kate Bishop to become the new master archer. Following Jeremy Renner’s accident, questions swirled about whether the show would return. If they work fast, the studio might be able to get the next season in.

Blade

And then there’s Blade. Eric Brooks is a human-vampire hybrid who operates as a vampire-hunting vigilante. Marvel Studios announced an upcoming reboot in 2019 starring Mahershala Ali. Since then, several directors and scripts have come and gone. A movie may make it by 2027, but it’s a long shot.

Armor Wars

Armor Wars will depict Tony Stark’s “worst fears come to life” as villains acquire Iron Man technology, with Colonel James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) as the key defender. Originally planned as a series, it has now been transformed into a film with head writer Yassir Lester. Despite minimal updates since the announcement, it remains in progress. It’s unlikely to get squeezed into Phase Six, but with enough interest, it might happen.

Shang-Chi 2

In December 2021, it was reported that director Destin Daniel Cretton would return to direct a sequel to Shang-Chi and develop additional projects for Disney and Marvel. Simu Liu and Awkwafina are expected to reprise their roles, with Meng’er Zhang returning as Xialing. The sequel’s plot may involve the implications of the signals sent by Shang-Chi’s Ten Rings into space, potentially attracting new cosmic threats or heightening criminal activities. Although Cretton shifted his focus to other Marvel projects, including directing the next Spider-Man movie, uncertainties about the sequel’s timeline remain, with fans hoping for a return in the 2028 Marvel release schedule. Xialing’s rise as a crime boss might lead to confrontations with characters like Sharon Carter and Kingpin. Will it get a release in Phase Six? It’s unlikely since Crestin is already working on Spider-Man, but anything is possible.

Summing up, there are a bunch of Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that we may or may not see in the next few years.

Major Heroes and Villains of the MCU Phase 6

Next, here are all the known heroes and villains that have the most impact on Marvel’s Phase 6.  This phase introduces new heroes like the Fantastic Four and returning ones like Doctor Strange and Vision. Powerful new villains like Doctor Doom and Galactus are shaping the narrative landscape, leading to the multiverse-shaking events in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.

There’s also a key to show which project(s) they appear in.

• AD – Avengers: Doomsday
• ASW – Avengers: Secret Wars
• BA – Daredevil: Born Again
• FF – The Fantastic Four: First Steps
• MZ – Marvel Zombies
• P – Untitled Punisher Special
• SM – Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• VQ – Vision Quest
• WM – Wonder Man
• YFNS – Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

Heroes

• Spider-Man (SM, AD): Peter Parker, having been bitten by a radioactive spider, possesses arachnid abilities that grant him remarkable powers he uses for the benefit of others, even as his personal life presents numerous challenges.
• Punisher (SM): After the family he loves is killed, Frank Castle transforms into a vigilante who delivers an exceptionally lethal form of justice.
• Hulk (SM, AD): After accidental exposure to gamma radiation, Dr. Bruce Banner exists in a state of conflict between his identity as a gentle scientist and the uncontrollable green monster fueled by his anger.
• Thor (AD): As the God of Thunder, Odin’s son wields his formidable powers to safeguard both his home of Asgard and the planet Earth.
• Mister Fantastic (FF, AD, ASW): New Reed Richards, a genius, heads the Fantastic Four and can stretch his body and expand his mind to find solutions to impossible problems.
• Invisible Woman (FF, AD, ASW): New The incredible heroine Sue Storm employs her invisibility powers to safeguard the Earth and serves as the maternal figure for the Fantastic Four.
• Human Torch (FF, AD, ASW): New With a fiery body and a hotheaded personality, the Human Torch ignites the sky with his insatiable love for adventure, always supporting his family, the Fantastic Four.
• The Thing (FF, AD, ASW): New Ben Grimm is the gruff, rocky powerhouse known as the Thing who serves as the backbone of the Fantastic Four.
• Captain America (MZ, AD): As he joins his fellow Avengers, Sam Wilson, once known as the Falcon, assumes the role of Captain America.
• Bucky Barnes (MZ, AD): Bucky Barnes, presumed dead, was resurrected and turned into the brainwashed assassin known as the Winter Soldier. He has since been rehabilitated by his friends and now fights alongside the Avengers.
• Shuri (AD): Princess Shuri, chief science officer for Wakanda, is renowned for her exceptional intellect.
• Ant-Man (MZ, AD): Ex-convict Scott Lang becomes the size-shifting Ant-Man, seeking redemption and a new life to reconnect with his daughter.
• U.S. Agent (MZ, AD): U.S.Agent, a patriotic flag flier, undergoes experimentation to acquire superhuman strength in his quest to fight for freedom.
• Shang-Chi (MZ, AD): A crimelord raised his son, Shang-Chi, to become a master of the martial arts as his heir to a secret society.
• Yelena Belova (MZ, AD): Yelena Belova, trained in the Red Room, has a complex history with the Black Widow that she seeks to confront.
• Beast (AD): A brilliant scientist and academic, Beast possesses a vast intellect that complements his immense strength, aiding both the X-Men and Avengers.
• Falcon (AD): Joaquin Torres rises to the call of heroism as he adopts the Falcon name and becomes Sam Wilson’s sidekick, the original Falcon.
• Red Guardian (MZ, AD): Alexei is recognized as Red Room’s counterpart to Captain America. He’s a Super-Soldier spy with a lifetime of triumphs during the Cold War.
• Ghost (AD): Ghost, an industrial saboteur, employs her Tech suit for stealth, as it provides complete intangibility and cloaking.
• Professor X (AD): Prof. Charles Xavier, a mutant with advanced telepathic abilities and the founder of the X-Men. He is dedicated to the vision of peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans.
• Nightcrawler (AD): Kurt Wagner, a mutant with teleportation powers, is known as the soft-hearted X-Men character Nightcrawler, despite his demonic appearance.
• Cyclops (AD): Cyclops, with the ability to emit force beams from his eyes, is a dedicated leader of the X-Men, committed to Xavier’s vision of harmony between humans and mutants.
• Gambit (AD): Gambit, known as the Ragin’ Cajun, is a leading professional thief and one of the X-Men’s most formidable assets thanks to his power to manipulate kinetic energy.
• Doctor Strange (AD): Doctor Strange, as Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, uses arcane spells and mystical artifacts to protect the planet from evil forces.
• Jessica Jones (BA): Jessica Jones, despite enduring severe trauma from the sadistic Kilgrave, works as a private investigator and uses her superpowers to help those in need.
• Vision (VQ): The android known as Vision is an Avenger who defies the laws of physics and fights using his impeccable computer brain and the ability to manipulate density.
• Speed (VQ): One of the reincarnated sons of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision is Thomas “Tommy” Shepherd, also referred to as Speed. He was Wiccan’s elder twin brother.
• Kate Bishop (AD, MZ): Strong-willed Kate Bishop is a skilled archer who fights evil with her exceptional accuracy, much like Clint Barton, with whom she shares a nickname.
• Ironheart (AD, MZ): Riri Williams, a teenage super genius, has become a hero in her own right by reverse engineering Tony Stark’s armor and adding her own improvements.
• Ms. Marvel (AD, MZ): Kamala Khan, a young Pakistani-American, is a fan of superheroes and becomes one thanks to her power to make hard light constructions.
• Wonder Man (AD, WM): New Simon Williams is an aspiring actor aiming to play Wonder Man in the movie remake.
• Swordsman (BA): A wealthy socialite who becomes a vigilante known as Swordsman after being framed for murder and eventually joins Kate Bishop.
• Wong (AD): Wong is a close friend of Doctor Strange and a master of both mystic and martial arts.
• Namora (AD): With her mutant aquatic abilities, the Atlantean-Human Princess Namora ferociously defends her brethren on land and underwater.
• Spider-Gwen (YFNS): New Ghost-Spider, sometimes referred to as Spider-Gwen, is Gwen Stacy from Earth-65 who defends New York after being bitten by a radioactive spider.
• Sentry (AD): One of the world’s most powerful heroes, the Sentry is a bright sentinel, yet at every step, his darker side turns out to be an unstoppable, destructive force.
• M’Baku (AD): M’Baku is a Wakandan warrior, second to Black Panther, who seeks to usurp the throne. He was a rival to Black Panther and is now an ally

Villains

• Namor (AD): The mutant Namor the Sub-Mariner, who is half Atlantean and half human, has fought alongside and against humanity with flight and increased strength underwater.
• Jocasta (VQ): New Not much is known about Jocasta, but she’s described as “cunning, powerful, and driven by revenge”.
• Mystique (AD): Mystique is a shape-shifting mutant terrorist who works with the Brotherhood of Mutants’ pro-mutant agenda.
• Scarlet Witch (MZ): Wanda Maximoff is a formidable mutant sorceress who has mastered the magical arts for both the Avengers and the X-Men.
• Ultron (MZ, VQ): Ultron, a sentient AI created by Tony Stark, despises and wants to eradicate humanity.
• Paladin (VQ): New Paladin is a Marvel Comics character, a mercenary and private investigator named Paul Denning, recognized for his expertise in hand-to-hand combat and marksmanship.
• Grim Reaper (WM): New The Grim Reaper, the older brother of Wonder Man, is a cyborg with a mechanical scythe.
• Kingpin (BA): Wilson Fisk, one of the most formidable gangsters in New York City, dominates the underground with a distinctive mix of charm and brutality, even as he serves as the city’s Mayor
• Galactus (FF): New Galactus is a powerful cosmic being known as the “Devourer of Worlds,” and to survive, it must devour worlds.
• Doctor Doom (FF, AD): Dr. Doom, an egotistical and insane despot, uses his sharp scientific mind to increase his own power and control.
• Magneto (AD): Magneto fights to help mutants displace humans as the dominant species in the world by using his powerful ability to control magnetic fields.
• Tombstone (SM): New Tombstone, a well-known criminal boss in New York City, is a massive albino man with filed teeth.
• Bullseye (BA): Bullseye is a mercenary and elite assassin known for his superhuman precision, ensuring he never misses a target.
• Muse (BA): A mysterious figure and artist who calls himself Muse finds beauty in death by using his victims’ blood to paint murals
• Attuma (AD): Attuma is an Atlantean from the banished Skarka Tribe who thinks he is the warrior who will use force to take over Atlantis.
• Raza (VQ): Raza was the head of a terrorist organization in Afghanistan who abducted Tony Stark to force him to make them weapons.
• Ma Gnucci (P): New Isabella Carmela Magdalena “Ma” Gnucci is the ruthless matriarch of the Gnucci Crime Family who seeks revenge on the Punisher for the deaths of her sons.
• Xu Wenwu / The Mandarin (MZ): The founder of the Ten Rings organization and the first person to wield the powerful Ten Rings is Shang-Chi’s father.
• Helmut Zemo (MZ): Sokovian nobleman Baron Helmut J. Zemo, also known as Baron Zemo, is the commander of EKO Scorpion and a former Colonel in the Sokovian Armed Forces.
• Chameleon (YFNS): New Dmitri Smerdyakov, also known as Chameleon, is a Soviet spy renowned for his mastery of disguise, having developed the ability to change his appearance at will.
• Scorpion (SM, YFNS): Scorpion is a criminal named Mac Gargan, is a rival of Spider-Man, and typically wears a suit of armor styled like a scorpion.
• Doctor Octopus (YFNS): New Doctor Octopus is a multi-armed, insane threat with a clinically insane mind who will stop at nothing to defeat Spider-Man and get more power.
• Green Goblin (YFNS): As a result of the Goblin Formula, Norman possesses superhuman strength (able to lift nine tons), speed, reflexes, endurance, and healing.
• Silver Surfer (Shalla-Bal) (FF): New Galactus’ Herald, Shalla-Bal, was changed by the Power Cosmic to become the Silver Surfer.
• Mole Man (FF): New As the ruler of Subterranea, Mole Man leads the Moloid race and other mutates, viewing them as fellow rejected beings like himself.

MCU Phase 6 Overarching Storylines & the Multiverse

After that long list let’s discuss what it all means. All the storylines in Phase 6 talk about destiny. Does your past or even your alternate reality change who you are? Phase 6 concludes the MCU’s Multiverse Saga by uniting alternate universes, legacy heroes, and new teams like the Fantastic Four and X-Men. Doctor Doom emerges as the central antagonist, driving a multiversal crisis that leads to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Incursions threaten entire realities, setting up a massive collision of worlds that reshapes the MCU. Fantastic Four begins the phase in an alternate Earth, expanding multiverse storytelling. Secret Wars is expected to merge timelines into a refined continuity—more of a reset than a reboot—while integrating mutants and redefining the MCU’s future after the multiversal war. 

Behind the Scenes of the MCU

Behind the scenes, Marvel’s Phase 6 brings together an elite lineup of directors, writers, and creative teams shaping the future of the Multiverse Saga. The Russo brothers, Anthony and Joe, have directed some of the most popular movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. They were brought back to give the franchise a cohesive narrative force.

Then there are the returns of popular actors like Tom Holland as Spider-Man and Chris Hemsworth as Thor. The most surprising revelation is that Robert Downey Jr. is returning. Not as the heroic Tony Stark, but the villainous Doctor Doom.

MCU Viewing Order & Tips

You may be just starting to watch the Marvel movies or wanting to get caught up before Phase 6. Here’s how to watch the entire slate of movies and television shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the order they were released, by the timeline set in the shows, and which ones you may want to pass on. 

MCU Release Order

We already wrote a whole blog post about “how to watch every Marvel movie and TV show in order.” However, we are providing a summary below. This list has all Marvel Cinematic Universe films, major Disney+ series, and Netflix shows integrated chronologically to match the MCU timeline continuity as of 2025. Note that the Netflix series are more loosely connected to the main MCU saga but are placed roughly where their stories occur relative to other entries. This timeline below allows you to watch it the way Marvel Studios originally intended.

• Iron Man (2008)
• The Incredible Hulk (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010)
• Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (2011)
• Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (2011)
• Thor (2011)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 (2012)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter (2013)
• Agent Carter TV Series (2015–2016)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Marvel One-Shot: All Hail the King (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Daredevil Season 1 (2015)
• Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020, select episodes 2015–2018 timeline)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Daredevil Season 2 (2016)
• Luke Cage Season 1 (2016)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• Iron Fist Season 1 (2017)
• The Defenders (2017)
• The Punisher Season 1 (2017)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Jessica Jones Season 2 (2018)
• Luke Cage Season 2 (2018)
• Iron Fist Season 2 (2018)
• Daredevil Season 3 (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• The Punisher Season 2 (2019)
• Jessica Jones Season 3 (2019)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Black Widow (2021)
• WandaVision (2021)
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
• Loki Season 1 (2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• Eternals (2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• Hawkeye (2021)
• Moon Knight (2022)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• Ms. Marvel (2022)
• She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
• Werewolf By Night (2022)
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• Secret Invasion (2023)
• Loki Season 2 (2023)
• What If…? Season 2 (2023)
• Echo (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
• Agatha All Along (2024)
• What If…? Season 3 (2024)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
• Daredevil: Born Again (2025)
• Thunderbolts (2025)
• Ironheart (2025)
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Upcoming

• Wonder Man Season 1 (2026)
• Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (2026)
• The Punisher (2026, TV special)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 (2026)
• VisionQuest (2026)
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
• Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)

MCU Chronological Order

On the other hand, you could watch the movies out of order. There’s no wrong way to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies and shows. But some find it interesting to watch them in chronological order. The downside is that many of the stories and surprises are ruined. But it is an option. The list is based on the official MCU timeline from Marvel.

• Eyes of Wakanda (2025)
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
• Agent Carter (2015–2016)
• Captain Marvel (2019)
• Iron Man (2008)
• Iron Man 2 (2010) / The Incredible Hulk (2008) (Both happening at the same time)
• Marvel Studios One Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer (2011)
• Thor (2011)
• Marvel Studios One Shot: The Consultant (2011)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Marvel Studios One Shot: Item 47 (2012)
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 (2013–2015, selected relevant episodes)
• Thor: The Dark World (2013)
• Iron Man 3 (2013)
• Marvel Studios One Shot: All Hail the King (2014)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
• I am Groot, Season 1 & S2 (2022-2023)
• Daredevil Season 1 (2015)
• Jessica Jones Season 1 (2015)
• Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2, 3 (2014-2016)  –  Takes place concurrently with Ant-Man and Civil War. Seasons 4 through 7 are no longer connected to the MCU
• Ant-Man (2015)
• Daredevil Season 2 (2016)
• Luke Cage Season 1 (2016)
• Iron Fist Season 1 (2017)
• The Defenders miniseries (2017)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Black Widow (2021)
• Black Panther (2018)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• The Punisher Season 1 (2017)
• Doctor Strange (2016)
• Jessica Jones Season 2 (2018)
• Luke Cage Season 2 (2018)
• Iron Fist Season 2 (2018)
• Daredevil Season 3 (2018)
• Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
• The Punisher Season 2 (2019)
• Jessica Jones Season 3 (2019)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Loki S1 (2021)
• What If…? Season 1 (2021)
• WandaVision (2021)
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Eternals (2021)
• Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
• Hawkeye (2021)
• Moon Knight (2022)
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
• Echo (2023)
• She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Season 1 (2022)
• Ms. Marvel Season 1 (2022)
• Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
• Ironheart (2025)
• Werewolf By Night (2022)
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
• Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
• Secret Invasion S1 (2023)
• The Marvels (2023)
• Loki Season 2 (2023)
• What If…? Season 2 (2023)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
• Agatha All Along (2025)
• What If…? Season 3 (2025)
• Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 (2025)
• Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
• Thunderbolts* (2025)
• Marvel Zombies (2025, animated series)
• Ironheart Season 1 (2025)

Upcoming

• Wonder Man Season 1 (2026)
• Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (2026)
• The Punisher (2026, TV special)
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2 (2026)
• VisionQuest (2026)
• Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026)
• Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
• Avengers: Secret Wars (2027)

Projects You Can Skip

To be honest, it takes a lot of commitment to watch every movie and show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, here’s a list of what has little or no impact on the overarching storyline leading to Phase 6. This is not a commentary on the quality of the project (although Secret Invasion sucks).

• Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: There are some connections to the MCU, but the show has no impact on the movies
• Agent Carter (2015–2016): It has no direct connection to the movies
• Eyes of Wakanda (2025): It expands on our understanding of Wakanda, but the stories don’t affect the modern story.
• I am Groot, S1 & S2 (2022-2023): Groot’s adventures are self-contained.
• Luke Cage: The Netflix show has no impact on the MCU, and the character hasn’t been confirmed to be in it.
• Iron Fist: The show has no impact on the MCU, and the character hasn’t been confirmed to be in it.
• The Defenders miniseries (2017): The series has no impact on the MCU.
• What If…?: The series takes place in an alternate timeline.
• Eternals (2021): The body of the Celestial is the only thing referenced.
• Echo (2023): The show adds little to the narrative.
• She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022): Virtually nothing from the series affects the MCU.
• Ms. Marvel (2022): It has very little impact on the MCU.
• Werewolf By Night (2022): The special hasn’t been referenced at all.
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022): It’s a self-contained story.
• Secret Invasion S1 (2023): Minor connections to the MCU.
• Marvel Zombies (2025): Like What If…?, it exists in a separate timeline.
• Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man: The series is completely separate from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Future Beyond Phase 6

In conclusion, the Multiverse Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ends with Avengers: Secret Wars. So, what’s next? We know that mutants will finally be able to break free of Fox’s rights. The studio has already said that the X-Men movie is in the works. Now that the multiverse has been reset, we can expect a lot more crossovers in the future.  Wolverine fighting alongside the Hulk. Storm marrying Black Panther. Maybe even Howard the Duck and She-Hulk. 

We don’t know which of the rumored projects are next. But four mystery MCU movies are coming in 2028 alone. Whatever happens next, the MCU movies and TV shows will never be the same, and we’re in for an even more exciting ride.

What moment or character return are you most excited to see as Phase 6 reshapes the MCU timeline and the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know in the comments or on social media!