Ryan Coogler is not directing Avengers: Secret Wars. Well, not yet. Coogler, who recently directed MCU’s latest entry, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was in rumors to pick up Avengers: Secret Wars. Throughout the press tours for Wakanda Forever, Coogler was repeatedly asked about any potential signing for Secret Wars, which he always humbly declined. In his defense, Coogler pointed out that he will get busy with Ironheart soon after the Black Panther sequel, and there are Proximity Media projects such as Creed III to look after.

Even Kevin Feige has clarified that Coogler hasn’t been contacted about Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel Cinematic Universe producer was approached by Variety to comment on the rumors surrounding Secret Wars director names. Kevin replies that though he is always up for working with Coogler anytime and on anything, he hasn’t talked to him about the mega-multiversal Avengers project.

This certainly doesn’t mean that the idea of Coogler helming Secret Wars is out of the question; however, given the director’s constant reminders about his busy schedule for the next couple of years, it seems Ryan Coogler won’t be the one to direct the final segment of The Multiverse Saga.

Well, I would want Ryan to do anything at any time because he’s a singular talent and a great person to spend years with. But no, in all honesty, there’ve been no conversations. We’ve not spoken to him about Secret Wars.

Though the film doesn’t have a director, Marvel has already begun pre-production on the project, with Michael Waldron currently writing the film. Meanwhile, Destin Daniel Cretton and writer Jeff Loveness are working together on Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the predecessor film to Secret Wars. This is a different route Marvel Studios has taken. The Russo Brothers earlier delivered Infinity War and Endgame by shooting the two films simultaneously. Now, two separate teams are working on potentially conjoined films.

There are rumors that a third project will serve as a conjunction between The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet.

Marvel Will Likely Hire a Former Associate to Direct Secret Wars

     Marvel Studios

Until now, Marvel Studios has hired directors they have previously worked with for major MCU projects. For instance, Jon Watts and Matt Shakman were first picked for Fantastic Four. Russo Brothers helmed four essential franchise films, including Infinity War and Endgame. And even earlier, Joss Whedon helmed Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

For a film like Avengers: Secret Wars, it’s only rational to pick a person who has been associated with Marvel Studios for a while now. The film will connect all MCU entries and cross-over storylines from alternate timelines. Thus, only a person well familiar with MCU’s lore and that of other Marvel Entertainment projects will fit all of them in a single story. And that’s the reason that Michael Waldron is the one writing it.

Some names, such as Russo Brothers and Sam Raimi, can fill the director’s chair on Secret Wars. The studio may get Cretton to helm both the Avengers movies simultaneously. Or, there is a candidate like Jon Watts, who has already worked on one multiversal storyline, Spider-Man: No Way Home. No one has been officially roped in for talks, but a name shall pop up in the media sooner than later.

Avengers: Secret Wars is slated to release in May 2026, bringing a culminating end to The Multiverse Saga and Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.