That’s a wrap on the Marvel Studios’ SDCC 2024 panel! It was a jam-packed, hour-long presentation that gave us more insight into things like The Fantastic Four while revealing major news about the next two Avengers movies.
Other highlights include first-look footage of things like Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World. While past SDCC Marvel panels have revealed massive cast additions, this year’s presentation came with the announcement that Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., is coming back to play Doctor Doom. It was a lot to cover, but we managed to nab every major reveal and share it here. You can see everything Marvel Studios had to announce at SDCC 2024 below.
Captain America: Brave New World footage reveals plan to rebuild The Avengers and Giancarlo Esposito’s MCU role
After opening with a Deadpool & Wolverine dance number, we got to see a first-look footage of next year’s Captain America movie, Brave New World. It highlights major players like Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross a.k.a. Red Hulk, who is looking to Sam Wilson to help him rebuild The Avengers. We also learned more about how the MCU plans to introduce Adamantium, one of Marvel's most precious materials.
Additionally, the cast of the film revealed that Giancarlo Esposito will be playing King of the Serpent Society, Sidewinder. Captain America: Brave New World comes to theaters February 14, 2025.
Harrison Ford is Thaddeus Ross.#CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld#SDCC pic.twitter.com/vRBCkUDLlu
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Marvel reveals first Thunderbolts* footage ahead of 2025 premiere
Thunderbolts* is smashing its way into the MCU with a rag-tag team that includes Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), and more. Some early footage of the film shows Yelena facing off against Ghost and John Walker (Wyatt Russell) while dealing with some personal demons. Whether or not Alexei (David Harbour) can help her remains to be seen. Thunderbolts* premieres May 5, 2025.
The Fantastic Four gets an updated title and confirmation of retro-future ‘60s setting
Just announced in Hall H:
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps begins production on Tuesday. Only in theaters July 25, 2025. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/iPAlXlajnr
The Fantastic Four, now officially titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps, might be the biggest MCU movie of the last few years. It introduces Marvel's most flexible family, and during SDCC, we learned that it will be set in a retro-future version of the ‘60s. Marvel also showed off some early footage, revealing Mr. Fantastic leading an old-school science program and The Thing taking part in a dating show, ahead of its production start date this Tuesday. See Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, and Vanessa Kirby star as the Fantastic Four when it premieres July 25, 2025.
"I think we’re all collectively gunna bring an essence that is a family rather than thinking about what we individually are gonna bring," Quinn said of the film. "It’s a team sport."
Robert Downey Jr. is the MCU’s Doctor Doom
“New mask, same task.”
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p
WHAT?! Robert Downey Jr., the man who kickstarted the MCU and hung up his Iron Man suit in 2019, will play one of Marvel’s most infamous villains: Doctor Doom. The Marvel legend shared a few words about the casting announcement: “New mask, same task. What can I tell ya? I like playing complicated characters.” It's unclear how many films Victor Von Doom will appear in, but we know that he's at least set to play a part in Avengers 5.
Joe and Anthony Russo are directing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars
Just announced in Hall H:
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Only in theaters May 2026. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/oqnSwWKnYn
Just announced in Hall H:
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
The Russo Brothers return to direct Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Secret Wars. Only in theaters May 2027. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/egTQwYaUTd
Robert Downey Jr. isn’t the only MCU veteran putting back on the cape. Captain America: Winter Soldier and Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo are teaming back up with Marvel to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Details on the latter are light, but Marvel says we can expect it out in May 2027. Doomsday, meanwhile, seems to be the new title for what was originally Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. It’s a movie that’s also shrouded in mystery, but we at least know that it’ll bring back Downey Jr. in a big way. Expect it out in May 2026.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
