The Multiverse Saga
The Marvel Cinematic Universe story cycle encompassing Phases Four, Five, and Six.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Multiverse Saga is the second formally named story cycle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), following the Infinity Saga. It groups Phases Four, Five, and Six of Marvel Studios’ interconnected film, television, and special-event storytelling. Marvel Studios publicly introduced the name at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022, when studio president Kevin Feige presented the outlines of Phases Five and Six. The saga is built around the MCU’s expanding treatment of parallel realities, alternate versions of characters, time travel, branching timelines, and collisions between previously separate Marvel continuities. The cycle began in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame (2019), which brought the Infinity Saga’s central conflict and many of its long-running character arcs to a conclusion. Phase Four deliberately functioned as a period of transition and expansion. Its films included Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It also extended the MCU more extensively into serialized television and television specials distributed through Disney+. These projects introduced or developed new heroes, legacy characters, supernatural concepts, cosmic settings, and alternate-universe narratives. Phase Five continued with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts*. Phase Six began with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and is planned to include Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars. Release plans have changed over time, and some announced projects have been delayed, removed from release calendars, or reconfigured as Marvel Studios reduced its annual output and placed greater emphasis on production readiness and quality control. The saga is not a separately incorporated company or a standalone studio. It is a branded narrative framework created and managed by Marvel Studios, with distribution arrangements varying by project. Most MCU films are distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, while the MCU Spider-Man films are owned, financed, and distributed by Sony Pictures and produced in collaboration with Marvel Studios. The broader MCU remains a major global entertainment franchise spanning theatrical releases, Disney+ series and specials, consumer products, licensing, and promotional partnerships. Marvel Studios’ approach combines standalone character stories with crossover events. Individual films and series are expected to work independently while contributing to an increasingly interconnected setting. The Multiverse Saga expanded this model by making alternate realities and continuity intersections central elements of the narrative. Deadpool & Wolverine also marked a significant step in incorporating characters associated with the Fox film properties acquired by Disney in 2019. Marvel Studios has indicated that the saga will conclude with Avengers: Secret Wars, after which the MCU is expected to enter a new era centered more heavily on mutant-related characters, including the X-Men.
History
The Multiverse Saga developed from Marvel Studios’ decision to move the MCU into a new narrative period after the completion of the Infinity Saga. The first three MCU phases had been retrospectively grouped under the Infinity Saga, culminating in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Before that conclusion, Marvel executives had described the MCU as a shared universe in which individual character films could operate separately before converging in major crossover events. Avengers films served as the principal narrative anchors, while the surrounding films expanded the cast, settings, and mythology. Marvel began preparing the post-Endgame period well before the Infinity Saga concluded. In 2016, Kevin Feige described the transition after Phase Three as a distinct chapter with new beginnings. Marvel’s later planning retained the Phase structure but expanded it beyond theatrical films. At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2019, the studio announced an initial Phase Four slate that included both films and television event series for Disney+. The streaming strategy gave Marvel more space to introduce characters, revisit supporting figures, and connect stories across a broader range of formats. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the release schedule and contributed to changes in the order and timing of several Phase Four projects. As the phase progressed, Marvel increasingly used stories involving time, parallel worlds, alternate identities, and branching realities. Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness made the multiverse visible to mainstream audiences, while other projects developed related concepts through different genres and character groups. Marvel formally named Phases Four through Six the Multiverse Saga at the July 2022 San Diego Comic-Con presentation. Phase Five continued the franchise’s mixture of established sequels, new teams, and streaming projects. Deadpool & Wolverine later became an important bridge between the MCU and characters from the Fox film universe. Disney’s 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox made those characters available for new forms of integration, although their inclusion also required Marvel to manage multiple pre-existing continuities. During 2023–2025, Marvel Studios adjusted its production and release strategy. Some projects experienced delays or were removed from the schedule, while Disney publicly emphasized fewer annual releases and a stronger focus on quality. Marvel also introduced more extensive external test screenings after a period of mixed critical and commercial results. Feige stated that budgets for more recent films were being reduced relative to the elevated costs of some earlier productions, and the studio examined production methods and facilities in the United Kingdom and other regions. The saga’s planned culmination is Avengers: Secret Wars, preceded by Avengers: Doomsday and other Phase Six projects. Marvel has described the period after Secret Wars as a new MCU era expected to place greater emphasis on mutant characters and the X-Men. The Multiverse Saga therefore functions both as a storyline about alternate realities and as a transitional framework connecting the original Marvel Studios continuity with characters and properties incorporated through corporate acquisitions and new creative planning.
- 2025
Phase Six begins
[2]The Fantastic Four: First Steps was identified as the opening Phase Six film, with further crossover projects planned.
- 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine connects Fox characters to the MCU
[1]The film became a prominent point of contact between Marvel Studios’ MCU continuity and characters originating in the Fox film universe.
- 2023
Phase Five continues with new releases
[2]Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and The Marvels continued the film program.
- 2022
The Multiverse Saga is formally named
[1]Marvel Studios identified Phases Four, Five, and Six as the Multiverse Saga at San Diego Comic-Con.
- 2021
Phase Four film cycle begins
[2]Black Widow began the theatrical film releases associated with Phase Four after pandemic-related scheduling disruption.
- 2019
Phase Four slate announced
[1]Marvel Studios presented an initial Phase Four program containing theatrical films and Disney+ television event series.
Products and positioning
A premium, interconnected superhero entertainment franchise positioned around continuity, crossover events, recognizable Marvel characters, alternate realities, and long-form serialized storytelling.
Film and television phase · 2021
Phase Four
The opening section of the Multiverse Saga, comprising films such as Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It also substantially expanded MCU storytelling through Disney+ series and specials.
Film and television phase · 2023
Phase Five
The middle section of the saga, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, and Thunderbolts*. Its projects combine continuing character arcs, new team formations, and multiverse-related expansion.
Film and television phase · 2025
Phase Six
The concluding planned section of the saga. It begins with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and is expected to include Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars, the announced culmination of the Multiverse Saga.
Brand decisions
2025
Lower production costs and expand United Kingdom productionStrategyBackground
Marvel Studios reviewed elevated budgets and changing production economics after the pandemic period.
Action taken
The studio pursued lower budgets, examined more economical production models, and planned greater use of Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom alongside facilities in the United States.
Aftermath
The move reflected a broader effort to make the release slate more financially disciplined.
2024
Reduce the planned annual release volumeStrategyBackground
Disney sought to reduce content output and respond to concerns about production volume, audience reception, and consistency.
Action taken
Disney and Marvel indicated that future output would generally target two, or at most three, Marvel films per year, with some release dates changed or removed.
Aftermath
The schedule became more selective, and Marvel emphasized readiness, quality, and longer development periods.
2022
Adopt the Multiverse Saga frameworkStrategyBackground
Marvel Studios needed a public organizing concept for the post-Infinity Saga period spanning theatrical films and Disney+ projects.
Action taken
The studio grouped Phases Four, Five, and Six under the name The Multiverse Saga.
Aftermath
The designation established the narrative and marketing framework for subsequent MCU releases.
Recent events
- 2025
Marvel Studios adopts broader test-screening practices[1]
Other
Following several critical and financial disappointments, the studio began testing films through National Research Group screenings in addition to earlier confidential friends-and-family screenings.
- 2024
Disney signals a lower annual Marvel film output[1]
Other
Disney chief executive Bob Iger said Marvel would generally target two, or at most three, films annually as the company reduced content volume and focused more heavily on quality.
- 2024
Deadpool & Wolverine expands Marvel Studios’ use of Fox characters[1]
Product launch
Kevin Feige described Deadpool & Wolverine as the true beginning of Marvel Studios’ exploration of characters associated with the former Fox film properties acquired by Disney.
- 2024
Marvel removes Blade from its 2025 release date[1]
Other
Marvel Studios removed the long-developed Blade film from its scheduled 2025 date and adjusted the surrounding release calendar.
- 2022
Marvel Studios announces the Multiverse Saga[1]
Other · Product launch
At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios identified Phases Four, Five, and Six as the Multiverse Saga and presented its planned film and Disney+ television framework.
Sources2 sources
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