May 2026 will see the release ofStar Wars’next movie,The Mandalorian and Grogu, but that’s not the only Disney blockbuster that was set to hit theaters that month - at least, it originally wasn’t. The next chapter ofThe MandalorianTV show’s story is heading to the big screen, making it the franchise’s first movie since 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Not long after it was announced, however, it was revealed that another Disney franchise would be sharing this release window.
Avengers: Doomsday, the first MCU movie to bring the Avengers together again since 2019’sEndgame, was announced at San Diego Comic Con 2024 - just 7 months after the announcement ofThe Mandalorian and Grogumovie- with a release date of July 04, 2025. WithStar Wars’next movieset to release on May 22nd of that same year, some fans, including myself, got nervous. The MCU is no small franchise, and Disney looks to be competing with itself. New rumors, however, have dispelled this worry for me.
The Mandalorian & Grogu May Not Have To Compete With Avengers: Doomsday
The Movie Could Reportedly Be Pushed Back
According to Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider, speaking onThe Hot Micpodcast,Marvel may reportedly be preparing to pushAvengers: Doomsdayback at least a few months to their next slot, which is in November 2026. If this is true, then it likely has more to do with its own production process than anything else, but it makes me feel extremely relieved forThe Mandalorian and Grogu- and, honestly, forAvengers: Doomsday, too. These movies deserve better than to compete with one another.
This Move Would Be Beneficial To Both Franchises (& To Pedro Pascal)
I Have No Idea How The Star Would Balance Both
If this is a move Marvel and thus Disney are still considering, then I think it’s worth urging them to indeed go through with pushing it back. It not only gives them more time to properly curateAvengers: Doomsdayand to avoid rushing anywhere along the way, butit also avoids these two immensely popular and beloved franchises going head-to-head.The Mandalorian and GroguandAvengers: Doomsdayare too important to their respective franchises to end up canceling each other out somehow.
The Mandalorian & Grogu: All Confirmed Cast & Characters (So Far)
The Mandalorian & Grogu is the next Star Wars movie to hit theaters, the franchise’s first since 2019. Here are its entire cast and characters so far.
Hilariously enough, though also realistically, this move would also help the star of both these movies: Pedro Pascal.I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it would be for him to bounce between press for both these major Disney franchise movies at the same time, as he wouldn’t really be able to miss out on either. He’s the titular Mandalorian,Din Djarin, inThe Mandalorian and Grogu, and Pascal’s Marvel hero, Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, is the nemesis of the titular villain ofAvengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom.
All in all, then, it seems absolutely expeditious to give these movies some breathing room apart from one another. As aStar Warsfan whose favorite franchise media isThe Mandalorian, I’m certainly biased in wantingThe Mandalorian and Groguto thrive in its own right and not be pushed further back, but it also makes the most sense.The Mandalorian and Groguwrapped filming back in December, which means it will likely be prepared well in advance of its July 28, 2025 deadline, whereasAvengers: Doomsdayhas yet to start filming.
