Marvel Studios Confirms Historic Setting for 2026’s First MCU Release

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Marvel Studios has announced that the first movie in its shared universe to come out in 2026 will be Wonder Man, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The film will premiere on Disney+ in January and kick off a major year for the MCU, with highly anticipated releases like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday following later in the year.

The creator of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is back with a new streaming series that playfully pokes fun at the world of superhero movies. It centers on a struggling actor who lands a role in a reboot of a popular comic book film within the same universe as Shang-Chi, and his attempts to become a star.

As a Marvel fan, I’m really excited about the upcoming Wonder Man series, and now we have confirmation of something pretty cool. According to a recent issue of D23 Magazine, co-creator Andrew Guest let slip that the show will be set right here in Hollywood! It sounds like they’re aiming for a unique vibe, and I can’t wait to see how they bring the world of Wonder Man to life against the backdrop of the entertainment industry. We can expect the streaming event in 2026.

According to Guest, Marvel was open to exploring fresh ideas, and while they’ve ventured into settings like outer space, they hadn’t yet tackled a story centered around the world of Hollywood.

Marvel was looking to expand into fresh territory. They’ve already explored many settings, like outer space, but hadn’t yet ventured into the world of Hollywood filmmaking itself.

He explained that he’s a comedy writer with a passion for Hollywood, and this project allowed him to combine that interest with a unique tone – something completely new for Marvel.

I write comedy, and I’m fascinated by Hollywood. This project let me create an entertainment show with a completely different feel than anything Marvel had produced up to that point.

Marvel Studios’ Brian Gay, Director of Production and Development, enthusiastically praised the series’ unique location, describing it as a true depiction of Los Angeles.

I’m going to show you the authentic side of Los Angeles, and give you a feel for what it’s like to be an actor trying to succeed here.

Viewers might remember that She-Hulk: Attorney at Law from 2022 was also set in Los Angeles. But while that show took place in the city’s business district, this new story focuses on Hollywood itself.

The show came closest to directly addressing Hollywood in its very self-aware finale. Jennifer Walters literally stepped out of the show and into Marvel Studios itself to fix problems with how her series had been presented.

Wonder Man comes to Disney+ on January 27, 2026, with all eight episodes dropping simultaneously.

Where Will the Rest of Marvel Studios’ 2026 Slate Take Place?

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Following the adventures in Wonder Man, Marvel Studios will return to New York City for its next projects. This begins in March with the premiere of Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again.

The mature-themed Disney+ series Daredevil is back, with Charlie Cox reprising his role as Matt Murdock. This season, he’s battling the criminal-turned-mayor Wilson Fisk (played by Vincent D’Onofrio) and Fisk’s new task force dedicated to stopping vigilantes. You can find more details about the plot of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 here.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

A new Spider-Man movie, set in New York City, is coming later in 2026. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, promises to be the most New York-centric Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man film yet. It’s scheduled for release on July 31st.

The upcoming 2026 film will focus on Spider-Man – played by Tom Holland – as he balances everyday life in Manhattan with his duties as the city’s superhero. It’s expected to be a more personal story, showing him navigating life at street level.

The Punisher Special Presentation

In 2026, Marvel will release a special presentation focused on The Punisher, once again set in New York City. The gritty streaming special will star Jon Bernthal as the violent vigilante, and will feature a storyline involving a powerful crime boss named Ma Gnucci, a well-known character from the comics.

Similar to heroes like Spider-Man and Daredevil, the Punisher operates in New York City, joining a number of masked crime-fighters who seek justice on the streets.

VisionQuest

Paul Bettany’s Vision will star in his own Marvel Cinematic Universe project, VisionQuest, coming to Disney+ in late 2026. The series follows Vision as he battles several dangerous, out-of-control artificial intelligences that are trying to destroy him.

The exact location where the new streaming series takes place hasn’t been announced. While most of the filming happened in and around London, it’s possible that location is just being used to represent somewhere else. A large white mansion appeared in the first trailer, suggesting it will be an important setting in the show.

Avengers: Doomsday

Understanding where Avengers: Doomsday takes place is more complex than with other Marvel movies planned for 2026. The film, releasing in theaters on December 18, 2026, will involve the Avengers traveling across different realities as they battle the villain Doctor Doom.

According to reports, the 2026 movie will take place across three Earths/separate realities.

The new Avengers movie is expected to feature several recognizable locations. These include an alternate version of the X-Mansion, New York City (where the main Avengers team is based), Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum, and the house Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers shared at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

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2025-11-19 11:36