It feels like today has been all about building up to this decision. Amid reports that Marvel was looking to dump the Kang storyline that would be featured in Avengers: Kang Dynasty, Deadline reports that director Destin Daniel Cretton had left the project. There’s no beef here between Cretton and Marvel Studios, as this is said to be an amicable split.
Cretton is still very much in good graces with Marvel, and still plans to direct the Wonder Man series on Disney+, as well as a sequel to Shang-Chi. Other future Marvel projects are part of Cretton’s discussions with Marvel, too.
No reason was given for Cretton’s exit, but as I said, the writing has been on the wall. If Marvel is truly writing off Kang as the next big Thanos-level villain, then the project Cretton signed up for is going to need a complete overhaul. Fortunately, Kang Dynasty is deep on the Marvel board, hitting theaters on May 1st 2026. It will precede Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7th 2027, the conclusion to Phase 6.
This is all part of an overall theme of creative changes affecting Marvel Studios on the film and TV sides equally. It has seen Marvel seriously reduce the number of projects on the way, completely revamping some such as Daredevil Born Again, while delaying others into 2025. In 2024, Marvel only has one film confirmed to release and that is Deadpool 3, while only one TV show arrives next year when Echo arrives in January.