Here’s everything announced at Marvel’s SDCC 2024 panel

28/07/202428/07/2024 Rachael Davies 223 Views 0 Comments

Marvel Studios focused on the bigger picture rather than upcoming releases, including one surprising – and controversial – casting decision.

Marvel Studios had an hour at SDCC 2024 on July 27 and spent it teasing some upcoming features, including first-look footage for movies like Thunderbolts (likely not the final name) and Captain America: Brave New World. For Thunderbolts, the cast of Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Hannah John-Kamen’s Ghost, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s John Walker, and David Harbour’s Alexei and the release date of May 5, 2025 were confirmed alongside the early glimpse of the movie.

Fantastic Four also got an updated retro logo, as well as a full name: The Fantastic Four: First Steps. That smells like the start of a new series, perhaps a trilogy in the making judging from Marvel Studios’ usual patterns. It’s due to be released on July 25, 2025.

The Fantasticar was also revealed, taking flight across SDCC’s Hall H. The flying car has featured prominently in several comics to do with the Fantastic Four.

The Fantasticar takes flight in Hall H#FantasticFour #SDCC pic.twitter.com/bmYMhQQi07
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024

The Russo Brothers return

Veteran Marvel director Joe and Anthony Russo were revealed to return to the franchise, coming back to helm Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Although these were originally expected to centre around Kang, Jonathan Majors’ conviction on assault and harassment charges appears to have shifted the future of the MCU.

Having previously worked on what many consider to be the peak of the MCU, Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, it seems that Marvel Studios is trying to reclaim some of the glory of its heydays. Avengers: Doomsday is slated to come out on May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming roughly a year later on May 7, 2027.

The MCU’s golden boy is coming back

Marvel wasn’t down with bringing back familiar faces, revealing that none other than Robert Downey Jr. will return to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Having previously played Iron Man and carrying the MCU through its first three phases, from his first solo movie to his tragic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame.

The casting announcement marks a pivot from Kang to Doom and was met with raucous applause at SDCC, not least because of RDJ’s signature dramatic flair, whipping off a mask and spreading his arms wide in his familiar pose. “New mask,” Downey said. “Same task.”

“New mask, same task.”

Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024

Captain America: Brave New World’s villain revealed

While it’s been known for a while that Giancarlo Esposito would feature in the upcoming Captain America movie but now his role has been revealed to be Sidewinder. Marvel lore states that Sidewinder is the leader of the Serpent Society, a criminal enterprise that usually has less far-reaching goals than some other MCU villains. This could be a sign that the movie will be a more grounded title than some other more universe-focused siblings, much like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier TV show.

What all of this news means for LEGO Marvel will likely be decided by whatever proves to be most popular. Not every title usually gets a LEGO set but, with Doom being set up as the next Big Bad, surely at least one guarantee will be another RDJ minifigure, this time with a Doom mask rather than an Iron Man one. You can watch all the announcements, aside from the exclusive footage, via the video below.

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Rachael Davies

I write about all the very best fandoms – and that means LEGO, of course. Spending so much time looking at and talking about LEGO sets is dangerous for my bank balance, but the LEGO shelves are thriving. You win some, you lose some.