Filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton has resigned as the director of Marvel Studios' Avengers: Kang Dynasty in order to prioritize his commitment to other Marvel projects. The decision, described as "amicable," was first reported by Deadline. Some details about Cretton's ongoing collaboration with Marvel Studios have been revealed at the time of writing.
Cretton is currently focusing on the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series Wonder Man, which he is collaborating on with showrunner Andrew Guest. The series, part of the Marvel Spotlight banner, operates independently from the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. In addition to being involved in production, Cretton will direct the first two episodes of Wonder Man. Shooting for the series will resume after Thanksgiving.
The highly anticipated film, Avengers: Kang Dynasty, is set to be released on May 1, 2026, and holds a significant spot in the upcoming theatrical lineup. Following this, Avengers: Secret Wars will mark the culmination of Phase 6 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on May 7, 2027.
As a result of this change, Cretton, the filmmaker, will now focus on continuing his work on the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. This film holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing AAPI superhero movie to date and is a collaboration between Cretton, Marvel Studios, and Hulu's Onyx Collective, which began in 2021 after the success of Shang-Chi.
In June, it was announced that both Avengers Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars were delayed a year.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I am both excited and disappointed by the news that director Destin Daniel Cretton has exited Avengers: Kang Dynasty. On the one hand, I am excited to see what Cretton will bring to the Wonder Man series and his continued work on the Shang-Chi sequel. On the other hand, I am disappointed that he will not be directing Avengers: Kang Dynasty, as I believe he would have brought a unique vision to the film.
However, I trust that Marvel Studios will find a talented director to replace Cretton and that Avengers: Kang Dynasty will be a great film. I am also excited to see what Cretton will do with the Wonder Man series and the Shang-Chi sequel. I believe that he is a talented filmmaker and that these projects are in good hands.
