This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
The Big Picture
- Destin Daniel Cretton will no longer direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, leaving Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in need of a new leader.
- The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker stepped down from the project amicably, allowing him to focus on other projects for Marvel Studios.
- The fate of the crossover release date remains uncertain, as a new director must be found for the film set to release on May 1, 2026.
Destin Daniel Cretton will no longer direct Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. The Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker was announced to helm the project shortly after last year’s edition of San Diego Comic-Con. According to Deadline, Cretton and Marvel Studios agreed to the decision in amicable terms, with the director now focusing on the other projects he’s currently developing for the company. It’s unclear if the crossover will have to be delayed, with its current release date set for May 1, 2026. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are looking for a new leader.
Even if Cretton won’t get to direct the next time the Avengers assemble, he’s still attached to work on a sequel to Shang-Chi after he’s done with the production of Wonder Man, a Marvel Cinematic Universe television series starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as the titular hero. The ongoing relationship between the studio and the filmmaker confirms that Cretton is still being considered for future projects, despite the fact that he won’t be able to work on the next Avengers movie. Filming on Wonder Man will resume after Thanksgiving, going in front of the cameras for the first time since it was stopped due to the recently concluded strike organized by SAG-AFTRA.
More on this story as it develops.