Marvel Studios is bringing its biggest heroes back to the battlefield with Avengers: Doomsday, now heading toward its December 2026 theatrical release with the Multiverse Saga at a critical turning point. With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the franchise as Doctor Doom and the Russo brothers back behind the camera, the blockbuster carries enormous expectations. Now, a comic book architect whose work has helped shape Marvel's most ambitious stories has offered a rare glimpse into the film's development.

For fans who have spent years tracing the connections between Marvel's sprawling comic-book mythology and its cinematic universe, this revelation comes from a particularly intriguing source.

Jonathan Hickman, the celebrated writer behind Marvel's Fantastic Four, Avengers, and Secret Wars comic-book runs, has revealed that he consults for studios and reads scripts while their films are still in development. Speaking to Bleeding Cool in an interview published on October 21, 2026, Hickman explained how he always consults on MCU Universe.

"I don't know that it's common knowledge, but I consult for studios and read almost all the movies that they're making while they're in development…It has been fascinating watching that change over the past two and a half years since I've been reading scripts for it," he said of Doomsday. 

While diiscussing Avengers: Doomsday, he identified a significant turning point when directors Anthony and Joe Russo and screenwriter Stephen McFeely returned, followed by the announcement that Downey would rejoin the MCU. 

"Those guys are very, very nice to me and take care of me; I'm very excited about what they're working on," Hickman told Bleeding Cool. 

Hickman's involvement is particularly noteworthy given his history with Marvel's interconnected epics. His Avengers run built toward the 2015 Secret Wars event, which reimagined the Marvel multiverse through the destruction of realities and the rise of Battleworld. 

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Although the upcoming films are not confirmed to follow those comics beat for beat, his experience with sprawling crossover narratives makes his perspective especially relevant.

Meanwhile, speculation about Avengers: Secret Wars is adding another layer to Marvel's multiversal puzzle. According to a report published by ComicBookMovie, industry scooper MyTimeToShineHello has claimed that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen could return as Professor X and Magneto in the 2027 sequel, despite speculation that Avengers: Doomsday could mark the end of their MCU appearances. The reported casting remains unconfirmed by Marvel Studios.

The possibility is especially intriguing given Jonathan Hickman's 2015 Secret Wars storyline, which brought the multiverse to the brink of collapse before Doctor Doom fashioned Battleworld from the remains of destroyed realities. Marvel has not confirmed that the upcoming film will directly adapt those events, but the connection between Hickman's comics and the MCU's current direction is difficult to ignore. With Avengers: Doomsday scheduled for December 18, 2026, the next chapter could leave fans with even more questions about the future of the X-Men and the Avengers.

Jonathan Hickman's comments offer a rare glimpse into the work behind Marvel's biggest cinematic gamble. 

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Do you think Avengers: Doomsday will do justice to his epic comic-book legacy? Share your thoughts in the comments.