The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has long been a juggernaut in the entertainment industry, delivering blockbuster after blockbuster with a formula that once seemed unstoppable. However, recent years have seen cracks in the armor, and the latest chapter in Marvel’s saga, Avengers: Doomsday, is shaping up to be a high-stakes gamble that could either revive the franchise or deepen its woes. With filming underway for over three months, shocking revelations about the production’s chaotic state have emerged, raising serious concerns about the film’s quality and Marvel’s ability to reclaim its former glory.

At the heart of the turmoil is the startling admission that Avengers: Doomsday’s script is still a work in progress, despite principal photography beginning in April 2025. This news, confirmed by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, has sent shockwaves through the fanbase and industry alike. Feige, speaking at a recent roundtable interview, described the ongoing script revisions as part of Marvel’s “plussing” process, a term he uses to denote continuous tweaks and improvements during production. “There’s plus-ing happening every day on set right now, and it is amazing to watch,” Feige stated, attempting to frame the situation as a creative strength. Yet, the reality of filming a $300 million tentpole film without a finalized script has sparked widespread unease, particularly given Marvel’s recent string of missteps.

The decision to bring in Loki creator and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron to assist with script revisions further underscores the production’s instability. Waldron, who joined the project mid-shoot to work alongside lead screenwriter Stephen McFeely, is tasked with refining a narrative that has already undergone significant upheaval. Originally titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the film was meant to center on Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror as the MCU’s next Thanos-level threat. However, Majors’ legal troubles, culminating in a December 2023 conviction for assault and harassment, forced Marvel to pivot dramatically. Coupled with the lackluster reception and box office performance of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which was intended to establish Kang as a formidable villain, Marvel made the bold decision to shift focus to Doctor Doom, played by none other than Robert Downey Jr.

The return of Downey, who previously anchored the MCU as Tony Stark/Iron Man, was announced with much fanfare at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024. Feige revealed that discussions with Downey about portraying Doctor Doom began even before Quantumania’s release, suggesting that Marvel had doubts about Kang’s viability as a central antagonist. “We had started to realize that Kang wasn’t Thanos,” Feige admitted, emphasizing that Doctor Doom’s decades-long prominence in Marvel Comics made him the ideal choice to anchor the Multiverse Saga’s climax. While Downey’s casting was a masterstroke in generating buzz, it hasn’t shielded Avengers: Doomsday from the growing perception of disarray behind the scenes.

Adding fuel to the fire, actress Rebecca Romijn, who reprises her role as Mystique from the Fox X-Men films, offered a candid glimpse into the production’s uncertainty. In an interview at Comic-Con 2025, Romijn revealed that she remains unsure whether her scenes are complete, as the script is still being written. “I’m not quite sure,” she said, adding, “They haven’t finished writing the script. It’s been very, very fun, and we don’t know yet. They keep everything very close to the vest.” Her comments highlight a troubling lack of clarity, not only for the cast but also for the film’s overall direction. With a sprawling ensemble that includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, and a host of other MCU and X-Men veterans, coordinating such a massive production without a locked script is a logistical nightmare.

This approach to filmmaking—writing and rewriting during principal photography—is not entirely new for Marvel. In its early days, the studio’s ability to adapt and refine scripts on the fly, often referred to as the “Marvel magic,” contributed to the success of films like the original Iron Man in 2008. However, what once felt like a creative superpower has become a liability in recent years. Projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness underwent extensive reshoots and revisions, yet still faced criticism for disjointed storytelling. Similarly, Captain America: Brave New World suffered from poor test screenings, necessitating significant rewrites and reshoots that failed to salvage its box office performance. The pattern is clear: Marvel’s reliance on mid-production fixes is no longer delivering the consistent quality fans expect.

The stakes for Avengers: Doomsday are particularly high given the MCU’s recent struggles. Phase 5 and the early stages of Phase 6 have been marred by disappointing box office returns and critical reception. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, intended as a key setup for Doomsday, opened to lower box office numbers than Quantumania, a film widely regarded as a low point for the franchise. Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World also underperformed, amplifying the pressure on Avengers: Doomsday to deliver a cinematic event on par with Avengers: Endgame. With a release date now pushed from May 2026 to December 18, 2026, Marvel has bought itself some time, but the delay only heightens expectations for a polished final product.

The decision to delay Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, reflects a broader shift in Marvel’s strategy under Disney CEO Bob Iger, who has emphasized quality over quantity following the uneven reception of Phase 4. Yet, the ongoing script issues suggest that Marvel may still be grappling with the organizational challenges that have plagued its recent output. Industry insiders have mixed views on the situation. Some argue that Marvel’s collaborative model, which allows for real-time feedback from cast and test screenings, is a strength that keeps films dynamic. Others warn that the lack of a finalized script risks rushed character arcs and a bloated narrative, especially with a cast rumored to include over 60 heroes. The fear is that Doomsday could become another cautionary tale, echoing the criticisms leveled at Eternals and Quantumania for feeling overstuffed and incoherent.

The pivot to Doctor Doom as the central villain offers both opportunity and risk. In the comics, Doom is a complex, multidimensional character whose intellect and ruthlessness make him a worthy adversary for the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Downey’s casting is a bold move, leveraging his star power to reinvigorate the MCU while introducing a villain with deep ties to the multiverse narrative. However, without a cohesive script to anchor his performance, even Downey’s charisma may not be enough to salvage a disjointed story. The inclusion of the Fantastic Four and X-Men, alongside returning Avengers like Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man and Letitia Wright’s Shuri, promises an epic clash, but only if Marvel can unify these disparate elements into a compelling narrative.

As Avengers: Doomsday continues filming in Atlanta and London, the clock is ticking. The Multiverse Saga, which began with Loki’s introduction of the multiverse and continued through Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Quantumania, is building toward a climactic showdown that could redefine the MCU. Yet, the absence of a finished script three months into production raises serious questions about Marvel’s preparedness. Fans, still reeling from recent disappointments, are desperate for a return to the MCU’s golden age, but the current trajectory suggests that Doomsday could either be a triumphant comeback or a costly misstep.

Marvel’s leadership must heed the lessons of its recent past. The studio’s willingness to adapt and take risks has been a hallmark of its success, but the era of “Marvel magic” may be over. To avoid another high-profile stumble, Marvel should prioritize finalizing the Avengers: Doomsday script before proceeding further with filming. The addition of Waldron, with his experience navigating complex multiversal narratives, is a step in the right direction, but time is of the essence. With Avengers: Secret Wars looming in 2027 as the Multiverse Saga’s finale, the pressure is on to deliver a film that not only meets but exceeds expectations. For now, the multiverse hangs in the balance, and Marvel’s next move will determine whether Doomsday heralds a new era of triumph or signals deeper challenges ahead.