Marvel Reportedly Splitting the MCU Into 3 Branches After Secret Wars

As the Multiverse Saga heads toward its grand finale in Avengers: Secret Wars, Marvel Studios is quietly setting the stage for what comes next. According to a new report by The Cosmic Circus’ Alex Perez, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will evolve into three distinct storytelling lanes after 2027, each centered around a different thematic and tonal branch: cosmic, mutant, and supernatural. This approach reflects Marvel’s ambition to keep its universe expansive and diverse, even as it moves beyond legacy characters like Iron Man and Captain America.

Cosmic Branch: The New Frontier of the MCU

The cosmic side of the MCU is expected to take center stage in the next saga. Although cosmic stories have been around since Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel now plans to lean heavily into off-world adventures. One of the biggest pieces of this shift is the arrival of the Fantastic Four, whose debut film (Fantastic Four: First Steps) will launch the next phase of cosmic storytelling in July 2025.

The Richards-led team will play a key role in expanding the universe beyond Earth. Also in the pipeline is the long-rumored arrival of Nova, adding even more weight to the space-faring side of Marvel’s universe. With the Guardians trilogy wrapped and Thor’s future uncertain, Marvel seems ready to introduce a new generation of cosmic heroes who will lead the charge into Phase 7 and beyond.

Mutant Branch: The X-Men Era Begins

Ever since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, fans have been waiting for the X-Men to arrive in full force. While Deadpool & Wolverine and the success of X-Men ’97 have teased what’s coming, Marvel now appears ready to go all-in on the mutant mythos.

An official X-Men movie is reportedly in the early stages, with Thunderbolts director Jake Schreier attached and Hunger Games writer Michael Lesslie on script duties. No story details have emerged yet, but the direction is clear — the MCU will finally introduce Earth-616’s take on the X-Men, independent of the multiversal versions we’ve seen so far.

Additionally, Deadpool & Wolverine has reignited interest in the R-rated corner of Marvel storytelling. A Deadpool 4 is already being discussed, likely cementing Ryan Reynolds as a cornerstone of the mutant saga going forward. After years of waiting, fans will finally see mutants integrated as a major force in the MCU.

Supernatural Branch: Expanding the Mystical Realm

The third prong in Marvel’s upcoming strategy is supernatural storytelling. While hints of this corner appeared as early as Doctor Strange and Moon Knight, it’s now set to expand more fully into the MCU’s core narrative.

Doctor Strange remains a key figure in this space. With a third solo film on the way and his likely involvement in the next two Avengers movies, Strange is expected to explore dimensions beyond what the MCU has shown so far — including the lingering threat of the Dark Dimension.

There’s also increasing buzz around a Midnight Sons film, which could bring together dark and mysterious figures like Ghost Rider, Werewolf by Night, Moon Knight, Blade, and Elsa Bloodstone. While no release dates or confirmations exist yet, fans are eager to see this supernatural team-up come to life.