The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, but it appears not everything is going smoothly behind the scenes. Actress Rebecca Romijn, known for playing Mystique in the original X-Men films, has confirmed a worrying detail about the upcoming mega-blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday. Despite the film having been in production for several months, the script for this highly anticipated movie is reportedly still not finished.
A Candid Revelation at Comic-Con
Speaking at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 26th, Romijn revealed that filming is ongoing, but the script remains incomplete. When asked whether she had wrapped up filming for Avengers: Doomsday, her response was both revealing and concerning.
“The script hasn’t – they haven’t finished writing it,” she admitted. “It’s been very, very fun, and we don’t know yet. They keep everything very close to the vest themselves in an effort to keep everything under wraps.”
Romijn’s comments lend weight to earlier rumors that the film is being developed “on the fly.” These speculations began circulating in April when film bloggers started reporting that the writing process was still underway well into production.
Release Date Pushed Back
Further validating the production woes, Marvel officially postponed Avengers: Doomsday from its original May 1, 2026 release date to December 18, 2026. This delay has been interpreted as a direct consequence of the ongoing script issues.
While delays in film production are not unusual, especially for large-scale projects involving multiple characters and timelines, the absence of a finalized script is particularly troubling. Fans and industry insiders alike are wondering how a film of this magnitude can proceed smoothly without a locked script.
The Multiverse Ensemble Grows
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be a crossover spectacle, featuring characters from various Marvel franchises. Confirmed appearances include heroes and villains from The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Thunderbolts, and Black Panther. The looming threat that unites them? None other than the notorious supervillain Doctor Doom.
Romijn will be joined by several of her original X-Men co-stars, creating a nostalgic return to the early 2000s Marvel universe. Among the returning cast are Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler).
Alan Cumming may have accidentally spoiled a key scene during an interview in May, hinting at Nightcrawler’s reappearance in an intense multiverse battle sequence. Though Marvel has neither confirmed nor denied the leak, fans have already begun speculating on Reddit and social media platforms.
Robert Downey Jr. Returns — As Doctor Doom?
In one of the most shocking casting decisions in recent Marvel history, Robert Downey Jr. has been confirmed to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and its 2027 follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. This marks a dramatic shift from his iconic portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man, which ended in Avengers: Endgame.
The casting choice suggests a deep multiversal storyline, possibly exploring variants or alternate realities. Whether Downey Jr.’s Doom is from a parallel timeline or a completely new incarnation remains to be seen, but the buzz surrounding this twist has already sent fans into a frenzy.
Post-Credit Teasers & What’s Next
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which hit theaters this week, included a post-credits sequence teasing Avengers: Doomsday. The scene reportedly connects the events of the Fantastic Four reboot with the larger multiverse narrative that Doomsday and Secret Wars are expected to explore.
Industry Concerns: James Gunn Sounds Off
The news of an incomplete script isn’t just drawing concern from fans—filmmakers are taking notice as well. In June, filmmaker James Gunn, now heading DC’s cinematic efforts, criticized the trend of producing films without finalized screenplays. He revealed that a promising DC project was scrapped simply because the script wasn’t up to par.
“Everybody wanted to make the movie,” Gunn said. “It was greenlit, ready to go. The screenplay wasn’t ready. And I couldn’t do a movie where the screenplay’s not good.”
Though Gunn didn’t refer to Marvel directly, his words echo the concerns surrounding Doomsday‘s current production model. With rising budgets and audience expectations, proceeding without a polished script seems increasingly risky—even for a franchise as established as the MCU.
Is Marvel Rushing Its Own Legacy?
Marvel Studios is clearly banking on the success of its upcoming crossover films to rejuvenate the brand after mixed responses to recent Phase 4 and Phase 5 entries. But is rushing into production without a script a sign of desperation or simply part of a new strategy to keep plot details under wraps?
Some argue this level of secrecy helps prevent leaks, especially when working with such a massive and interconnected storyline. Others worry that the creative process is being sacrificed for the sake of meeting production timelines and shareholder expectations.
Final Thoughts
While anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday is sky-high, the revelation that the script remains unfinished raises serious questions about the film’s direction and quality. With returning legends, multiverse intrigue, and a newly reimagined Doctor Doom played by a fan-favorite actor, the ingredients for success are there. But without a solid foundation in the form of a complete screenplay, the final result remains uncertain.
As always, fans will be watching closely—and with Marvel, anything is possible.