In 2026, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to return with several major film releases. Exciting projects are also planned for television, both within the MCU and exploring other universes. While 2025 saw three new MCU films, they didn’t perform as well as expected at the box office.
Despite some challenges, 2024 was a strong year for Marvel movies and shows. Projects like Daredevil: Born Again, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are potentially some of the best the MCU has offered so far. With a lot of major releases planned, 2026 has the potential to deliver both high quality and positive fan reactions. Here’s a ranking of the 8 Marvel movies and TV shows scheduled for 2026, from least to most anticipated.
8. Wonder Man
Wonder Man is scheduled to be the first Marvel Cinematic Universe project to debut in 2026, and all eight episodes will be available on Disney+ starting January 27th. This release date is a little concerning to me.
I generally enjoy watching shows all at once, but it seems Marvel only releases shows this way when they aren’t entirely sure about them or view them as smaller projects. Examples of this include Echo, Marvel Zombies, Eyes of Wakanda, and part of Ironheart.
I don’t have high hopes for Wonder Man. While the trailers suggest a potentially enjoyable look at the life of an actor within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it’s great to see Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, the show hasn’t really grabbed my attention yet.
7. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2
Image via Disney+
I considered ranking this show higher after its amazing first season. However, season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man isn’t the most thrilling Spider-Man release of 2026. Despite that, the series was a welcome and enjoyable addition to Disney+.
The new Disney+ Spider-Man series features a fantastic cast, including Charlie Cox, who plays Daredevil in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Colman Domingo from Fear the Walking Dead as Norman Osborn. This series offers a fresh perspective on the Spider-Man story we know from Tom Holland’s films, with some interesting twists and the inclusion of more traditional Spider-Man characters, making it a truly great watch.
Season 2 of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man has the potential to explore the mysteries introduced in the first season’s finale, such as the surprising revelation that Richard Parker is still alive, and the presence of a loose radioactive spider. While the show’s animation style is reminiscent of comic books and adds to its appeal, it doesn’t quite deliver the same level of excitement as some other animated series.
6. Vision Quest
The series Vision Quest shows a lot of promise. Bringing James Spader back to play Ultron – a role he hasn’t held since the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron – gives the Marvel Cinematic Universe a great opportunity to further develop the character. A central focus should be the dynamic between Ultron and Vision.
I’m really excited about this show because it’s bringing back all the artificial intelligence characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe! It’s setting up what promises to be a pretty mind-bending exploration of Vision’s memories and experiences. Ever since we first met White Vision in WandaVision, I’ve been hoping to see how he’d come to terms with everything that happened to him, and it looks like we’re finally going to get that story.
The upcoming 2026 Marvel series will delve into this storyline. Ruaridh Mollica will play Tommy Maximoff, after his character was revived by Billy (played by Joe Locke) in the Agatha All Along series, opening up the possibility of a family getting back together. Vision Quest is currently ranked 6th due to other, larger projects taking priority.
5. The Punisher Special Presentation
Photo by Giovanni Rufino
Jon Bernthal always seemed destined to play the Punisher. He’s consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the character Frank Castle in interviews. His reappearance in the first season of Daredevil: Born Again was a definite highlight of the Marvel series.
2026 will be an exciting year for fans of the Punisher! As someone who enjoyed his Netflix series, I’m happy to see Marvel Studios giving the character another solo spotlight. While it’s not a traditional TV show, this special presentation looks very promising.
Ultimately, Jon Bernthal is co-writing the project himself, which is fantastic news. This allows Marvel to create a more mature, TV-MA Punisher series that picks up after his escape from Kingpin’s prison. Ideally, the show will connect to events from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, making it essential viewing for fans.
4. X-Men ’97 Season 2
The X-Men films made by Fox had their strengths and weaknesses. But towards the end of the series focusing on younger versions of the characters, the problems became more noticeable than the good parts. That’s why it’s smart that Marvel is carefully planning its reboot of the franchise.
Disney+’s X-Men ’97 proves Marvel knows how to handle these characters when the time is right. This sequel to X-Men: The Animated Series is among Marvel Studios’ strongest work yet. Unlike the films, this series gives every member of the X-Men a chance to be in the spotlight.
The first season of X-Men ’97 was a captivating experience, filled with beloved costumes, exciting action, compelling characters, surprising twists, and even a few familiar faces. Season 2 begins with the team members lost in different time periods, and now they face a new threat: Apocalypse. Get ready for an even more intense ride!
3. Daredevil: Born Again Season 2
Following a successful first season, Daredevil: Born Again has the potential to be even stronger in its second season. This time, Marvel Studios has a solid plan for the season from the beginning, and the creative team remained consistent throughout filming. As a result, viewers can expect a darker and more unified story.
The returning actors, including Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio, were excellent in the first season. While some of the new characters showed promise, others have a chance to really develop in the upcoming second season. The show also successfully built a feeling of suspense and immediacy.
The city’s mayor, who is secretly the Kingpin, is hunting down vigilantes. Daredevil and Karen Page are gathering allies to stop him, and Krysten Ritter will reprise her role as Jessica Jones to assist Daredevil. This season, Daredevil will also sport the iconic “DD” symbol on his costume, promising an action-packed season.
2. Spider-Man: Brand New Day
The two Marvel movies coming out in 2026 are particularly anticipated, as they’re the only ones currently planned for release that year. Spider-Man: Brand New Day will feature Tom Holland returning as Peter Parker, picking up the story after everyone has forgotten his identity.
Peter is facing a tough situation in the movie, battling villains like Scorpion and Tombstone in a gritty, street-level story. This will make it a unique Spider-Man film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he won’t be alone – other heroes will be there to assist him.
The upcoming Spider-Man movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will feature exciting appearances by Jon Bernthal as the Punisher and Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk alongside Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, promising a major event for fans. Adding to the buzz, there’s speculation that Sadie Sink might be joining the cast as Jean Grey, potentially making this one of Marvel’s biggest films yet.
1. Avengers: Doomsday
Both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday have the potential to be massive hits for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although Marvel hasn’t released many story details yet, the first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday already showed a significant plot point.
Chris Evans is reprising his role as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, reuniting him with Robert Downey Jr. after a long hiatus. A series of four trailers, mirroring the successful strategy used for Avatar: Fire and Ash, has generated significant buzz around the film.
Okay, so as a huge Marvel fan, I’m seriously hyped for Avengers: Doomsday in 2026. It feels like the movie everyone’s talking about right now. Finally seeing Doctor Doom officially join the MCU is a massive deal, and with the X-Men now part of the mix, plus all the potential for multiverse craziness and who-knows-what else, it’s easily the most exciting Marvel film on the horizon for me.
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- How To Watch Call The Midwife 2025 Christmas Special Online And Stream Both Episodes Free From Anywhere
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- Tougen Anki Episode 24 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Elizabeth Taylor’s Son Says Taylor Swift, His Mom Are Kindred Spirits
- Avatar 3 Popcorn Buckets Bring Banshees From Pandora to Life
- Emily in Paris soundtrack: Every song from season 5 of the Hit Netflix show
- 7 Most Powerful Stranger Things Characters Ranked (Including the Demogorgon)
- Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sequel Finally Reveals Maru’s Terrifying Powers
2025-12-27 22:51