D23 Marvel News Predictions: What Will Be Announced & Confirmed?

Marvel Studios will reveal new Marvel Cinematic Universe information at D23 Expo 2022, which can announce and confirm future plans. The MCU is known for giving audiences an inside track to the future by revealing massive slates filled with projects. Three years after announcing Phase 4 at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel unveiled most of the Multiverse Saga slate at SDCC 2022. The panel primarily focused on upcoming MCU movies in Phase 5, but it also included announcements for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars in Phase 6. The lack of attention on Disney+ sparked great speculation that Disney's convention D23 Expo could be where even more announcements are made.

Recent years have seen Marvel Studios turn its D23 Expo presentation into a place for significant announcements. The last time the convention was held in 2019, the MCU news primarily focused on Disney+. Kevin Feige did use it to announce Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's original release date and confirm Gemma Chan and Kit Harington's additions to Eternals. Otherwise, D23 Expo was where The Falcon and the Winter Soldier added Wyatt Russell's John Walker and Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter, and WandaVision brought back Randall Park's Jimmy Woo and Kat Dennings' Darcy Lewis. The panel also saw Marvel confirm Disney+ shows for Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk were coming.

Marvel's D23 Expo 2022 announcements have the potential to be much bigger. The full Multiverse Saga slate announcement still left room for more projects to be added. There have also been more developments for the MCU reported in the trades that Marvel has yet to make official. Marvel Studios is officially participating in D23 Expo 2022 on Saturday, September 10 for a major panel highlighting theatrical movies and MCU Disney+ shows. The panel's official description teases "going behind the scenes of these studios’ highly anticipated films, specials, and series, attendees will see exclusive footage and be among the first to learn what’s in the works." Here is a prediction of what Marvel news will be announced and confirmed at D23 Expo 2022.

Destin Daniel Cretton Directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty

One of the safest bets for MCU news to come out of D23 Expo 2022 is confirmation that Destin Daniel Cretton is directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Just a few days after Marvel announced the movie at SDCC, reports began to surface that the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director was tackling Avengers 5. This has yet to be confirmed by Kevin Feige and Marvel, as the studio head has only said it would not be the Russo brothers. Confirming that Destin Daniel Cretton is directing Avengers: The Kang Dynasty will provide an update on one of the MCU's biggest upcoming projects and let audiences know it is in stable hands.

Avengers: Secret Wars Director Should Be Announced At D23 Expo 2022

Avengers Secret Wars Director Options SR

D23 Expo 2022 could also be where Marvel announces Avengers: Secret Wars' director. There has not been any announcement about who will helm the massive film ending the Multiverse Saga. Some popular internet suggestions include Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's Ryan Coogler, Spider-Man: No Way Home's Jon Watts, and Iron Man's Jon Favreau. Whether it is a familiar name for the MCU or a significant new addition, it would be wise for Marvel to confirm Avengers: Secret Wars has a director who is busy developing the movie ahead of its late 2025 release.

Marvel Can Confirm Fantastic Four's New Director At D23 Expo

Another piece of MCU news that could come at D23 2022 is confirming Fantastic Four's new director. The MCU's reboot of the franchise was previously set up with Jon Watts directing, but he left the project earlier this year. Reports have surfaced that Matt Shakman will direct Fantastic Four after directing every episode of WandaVision. The timing of this news circulating so close to Marvel's D23 presentation does not seem to be a coincidence. As long as a deal closes by September 10, Matt Shakman should be officially announced as Fantastic Four's director in Phase 6. Perhaps he could even bring a Fantastic Four casting announcement or two (or four) with him.

Full Blade Cast Announcement & First Look At Mahershala Ali

Montage of Mahershala Ali and Blade from an Avengers comic book cover.

Marvel Studios could make one more big splash on the theatrical front at D23 Expo 2022 by showcasing Blade. It has been over three years since Mahershala Ali was cast, but the closest fans have come to seeing Eric Brooks is Eternals' post-credits scene that featured Ali's voice. Now that Marvel has finally given Blade a release date and confirmed its director in Bassam Tariq, D23 Expo could be where other casting announcements come. Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre have reportedly joined in undisclosed roles, so confirming who they are playing would be nice. Marvel could also confirm any returning MCU characters, like Black Knight (Kit Harington) or Moon Knight (Oscar Isaac).

Werewolf By Night Announcement & Release Date

Shifting the focus to Disney+, D23 Expo 2022 has to be where the rumored Werewolf by Night Disney+ Halloween special is confirmed. It is known that Gael García Bernal will play Werewolf by Night in the MCU special, while Laura Donnelly has also been cast in an undisclosed role. Given the reported spooky nature of the project and Halloween being less than two months away, D23 Expo is the perfect place for Marvel to officially announce Werewolf by Night, revealing more casting information, a release date, and more.

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Release Date

The other big Disney+ announcement Marvel could deliver at D23 Expo is confirming its final 2022 release missing from the Phase 5 and 6 slate, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. James Gunn already filmed the special while making Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and confirmed it would come out before the sequel. D23 Expo 2022 could be the place to announce a specific release date for The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Those in attendance might even be lucky to see exclusive footage early.

Cast & Character Updates For Secret Invasion

Marvel's D23 Expo announcements very well could include more news on Secret Invasion. The show's confirmed cast list includes MCU returnees like Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, Ben Mendelsohn's Talos, Cobie Smulders' Maria Hill, Don Cheadle's War Machine, and Martin Freeman's Everett K. Ross. However, it is also known that Olivia Colman, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Emilia Clarke's new Marvel character are among the mystery newcomers. Marvel could finally confirm the characters the latter are playing here.

Cast & Character Updates For Echo

There is also an opportunity for the MCU to provide more news about Echo during D23 Expo 2022. It is confirmed that Alaqua Cox returns as Maya Lopez, but Marvel could officially announce Daredevil (Charlie Cox) and Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio). Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) and Graham Greene (Wind River) are among the other known cast members, although their characters have not been officially announced. If Echo does involve more characters from the comics, then a small update on the show's larger MCU connections could be helpful.

Cast & Character Updates For Ironheart

It might also benefit Marvel to share more information on Ironheart at D23 Expo 2022. The full scoop on the Disney+ series might have to wait until after Dominique Thorne debuts as Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as the movie could set up a few Wakandans to appear. However, with set photos revealing Anthony Ramos is playing The Hood, confirming his role as Ironheart's villain would be nice. Marvel could even announce who Alden Ehrenreich is playing and additional major cast members potentially.

Cast & Character Updates For Agatha: Coven of Chaos

Updates on Agatha: Coven of Chaos coming from Marvel's D23 Expo 2022 announcements would also not be surprising. So far, it is only known that Kathryn Hahn will return for the MCU Disney+ show. There are plenty of rumored actresses that Marvel could confirm during its presentation. This could even be where it is confirmed that Elizabeth Olsen will return as Scarlet Witch or announce that other significant Marvel magic users will appear.

Confirm Nova, Armor Wars, & More As 2024-2025 Disney+ Shows

Nova fires his energy blasts while backed by other members of the Nova Corps

Marvel's D23 Expo 2022 news should also include confirming some of the MCU's Disney+ shows for 2024 and 2025 releases. The studio's slate at SDCC notably left spots for several projects in Phase 6, while only one live-action series is confirmed for 2024. It is known that Armor Wars, Nova, Wonder Man, and an Okoye/Wakanda series are in development, so they could be confirmed for 2024. Meanwhile, rumored shows centered around the Young Avengers, Secret Warriors, Ghost Rider, Hercules, Black Knight, and more could also be announced as part of the MCU's future slate for 2025.