Avengers: Kang Dynasty Loses Director - Report

Filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton has stepped down as director of Marvel Studios' Avengers: Kang Dynasty, to reportedly prioritize his commitment to other Marvel projects. The decision, described as "amicable," was first reported by Deadline and as of this writing, some details regarding Cretton's continued collaboration with Marvel Studios have come out.

Cretton is presently focused on the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series Wonder Man, a collaboration with Andrew Guest, who serves as showrunner. The series, under the Marvel Spotlight banner, operates independently of the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cretton's involvement extends beyond production, directing the first two episodes. Wonder Man resumes shooting after Thanksgiving.

Avengers: Kang Dynasty, slated for release on May 1, 2026, still holds a significant position in the upcoming theatrical schedule. It precedes Avengers: Secret Wars, set to conclude Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on May 7, 2027.

This change for Cretton means the filmmaker will instead, or additionally, continue his work on the sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings--the highest-grossing AAPI superhero movie to date. Cretton's collaboration with Marvel Studios and Hulu's Onyx Collective began in 2021 following the success of Shang-Chi.

In June, it was announced that both Avengers Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars were delayed a year.