Marvel's Avengers 5 will contain more than 60 MCU characters: source

The report lists several notable names, including Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Marvel Studios might be assembling the largest group of Earth's mightiest heroes yet for Avengers 5.

According to Deadline, director Shawn Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine, is in talks and is Marvel's "top choice" to helm the next Avengers movie following Destin Daniel Cretton's departure from the project in November.

A source informed the outlet that "more than 60 MCU characters could reprise their roles" in what is being called an “ensemble feature" and "one of Marvel's largest productions to date."

Unlike previous installments featuring the core six members — Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) in 2012's The Avengers and 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron — the next iteration will reportedly place the super-team on more "equal footing."

The report lists several notable names, including original Avengers stars Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, Doctor Strange's Benedict Cumberbatch, Shang-Chi's Simu Liu, Guardians of the Galaxy's Karen Gillan, and Loki's Tom Hiddleston.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige officially revealed that Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars would conclude the "Multiverse Saga" and Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Initially scheduled for May and November 2025, the two movies, originally set to release months apart, have been delayed: the now-untitled Avengers 5 is set for May 1, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars will follow on May 7, 2027.