Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige indicated on Saturday that Florence Pugh’s Yelena could make an appearance in a movie arriving before Avengers: Doomsday, raising immediate speculation that the character will show up in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which opens July 31.
Feige’s tease and the timing
Speaking at BiliBili World in Shanghai, Feige confirmed Yelena’s significance to the upcoming crossover and added that fans who do not want to wait for Doomsday “might see Yelena a little bit sooner in the movies.” The comment points to a single MCU release scheduled between now and Doomsday: Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
"If you're a fan of Yelena, wait until Avengers: Doomsday. Yelena plays a big part in that," Feige said. "But if you don't want to wait until then, you might see Yelena a little bit sooner in the movies."
Where Yelena fits in the MCU
Yelena, played by Florence Pugh, debuted in 2021’s Black Widow and later appeared in three episodes of Hawkeye. She joined forces with other characters in 2025’s Thunderbolts, and is set to be a key figure in Avengers: Doomsday, the studio’s upcoming ensemble event in December that will also include returns from the X-Men, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and actors from Avengers: Endgame.
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day — releases July 31
- Avengers: Doomsday — scheduled for December (featuring Yelena in a major role)
Implications for Spider-Man and the MCU
If Pugh’s Yelena turns up in the Spider-Man film, it would mark another example of Marvel weaving its characters across standalone franchise entries to build momentum toward its tentpole crossovers. The move would also expand Spider-Man’s interactions with characters who originated in other corners of the MCU, continuing the studios’ strategy of cross-pollination as they prepare for a year-end culmination.
| Film | Notable detail |
|---|---|
| Spider-Man: Brand New Day | Only MCU movie slated before Doomsday (July 31) |
| Avengers: Doomsday | Yelena to play a significant role (December) |
Feige’s remark also generated attention for the presence of other high-profile actors in the seasonal slate; among the announced returns to the universe is Robert Downey Jr., who will portray Victor Von Doom in Doomsday after previously anchoring the franchise as Tony Stark/Iron Man.
As calendar windows narrow and studios position pieces for the larger crossover, short teases like Feige’s are likely to spark continued fan scrutiny and box-office anticipation for both the late-July Spider-Man release and the December mega-event.
