Disney delays Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars while setting release dates for The Dog Stars and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Disney is reshuffling its highly anticipated release calendar, officially pushing back its next two Avengers films while locking in dates for a slate of other buzzy projects, including The Dog Stars and The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Marvel Studios‘ Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo Brothers, is now set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, shifting from its original May 1 date. Its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, has also been delayed, moving from May 7 to December 17, 2027.
Insiders say the delays stem from the sheer scale of these projects, described as some of the most ambitious films Marvel has ever produced. With Avengers: Doomsday currently in production, the new dates provide extra breathing room to fully realize the expansive vision. The December slot is also a strategic one, considering the studio’s past success with holiday releases like Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Disney also unveiled fresh updates from its 20th Century Studios label. Leading the pack is The Dog Stars, a post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Ridley Scott and starring Jacob Elordi. The film is set to premiere on March 27, 2026. Based on Peter Heller’s bestselling novel, the story follows a grief-stricken pilot and his dog as they navigate life nine years after a deadly flu pandemic. Haunted by loss but sparked by a mysterious radio signal, he embarks on a perilous trek through a shattered world in search of hope. The supporting cast includes Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin, Guy Pearce, and Benedict Wong.
Another headline grabber is The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is finally arriving on May 1, 2026. The sequel picks up with Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) as she grapples with the fallout of a collapsing print industry. The long-awaited follow-up to the 2006 fashion world dramedy — which grossed over $326 million globally — has Aline Brosh McKenna back on board to write the script. Director David Frankel is expected to return, alongside producer Wendy Finerman. While formal casting announcements are still pending, fans are hopeful for the return of original stars Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway.
Also on the calendar: a special IMAX/3D re-release of Avatar: The Way of Water on October 3, 2025, set to build momentum ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash on December 19, 2025. Given the enormous success of the previous Avatar installments, expectations are sky-high.
With a robust mix of blockbuster spectacles, star-driven dramas, and franchise favorites, Disney is making it clear that 2025 and beyond are stacked with high-stakes storytelling and cinematic event releases.
