2026's Avengers: Doomsday is assembling an enormous cast, but one original Avenger will not be part of the mission.
As Marvel Studios pushes toward the next Avengers event, Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is emerging as a defining chapter for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the architects of Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), the project has undergone a dramatic creative overhaul. The studio scrapped an earlier Kang-focused storyline and reoriented the film around Doctor Doom, punctuated by the unexpected return of Robert Downey Jr. in a completely reimagined role.
Marvel’s ambitions became clear in 2025 with a highly publicized livestream reveal that confirmed a sweeping ensemble cast. Returning heroes include Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes, Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Kelsey Grammer as Beast.
Grammer’s role follows his first official MCU appearance in the post-credits scene of The Marvels (2023), directed by Nia DaCosta. That sequence placed Beast at the center of a Multiversal meeting between Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Maria Rambeau/Binary (Lashana Lynch), a version of Monica’s mother originating outside Earth-616.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the cast list was Marvel’s embrace of its Fox-era X-Men legacy. Ian McKellen returns as Magneto, Rebecca Romijn reprises Mystique, Patrick Stewart again portrays Professor X, Alan Cumming returns as Nightcrawler, and James Marsden steps back into the role of Cyclops. The move signals Marvel’s confidence in merging decades of superhero storytelling under one banner.
Even with that extensive lineup, the announcement left room for speculation. Fans have floated potential appearances from Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Karen Gillan’s Nebula, Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock, Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Dominique Thorne’s Ironheart, and Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez. None have been officially confirmed, but the existing roster already places Doomsday among Marvel’s most expansive crossover efforts.
By September 2025, reports suggested Pedro Pascal had wrapped his Doomsday scenes earlier than expected after debuting as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). While not definitive, the timing hinted that Mister Fantastic may not anchor the narrative.
Around the same period, Alan Cumming confirmed that his work as Nightcrawler, including action sequences and training, had concluded. These developments reinforced the sense of a production still taking shape as schedules shifted.
Conspicuously absent from early confirmations was Mark Ruffalo, whose Bruce Banner has been part of the MCU since Phase One. Ruffalo addressed the omission with humor during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, quipping, “They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie.”
At the time, Ruffalo’s future still appeared secure. He remains attached to Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, and leaked artwork has shown Hulk alongside She-Hulk (Tatiana Maslany) in Avengers-themed concepts.
Marvel later previewed footage from Doomsday, highlighting key players in the fifth Avengers installment. The footage, viewed more than one billion times across platforms, included Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, and James Marsden as Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops, plus Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm crossing paths with Wakanda’s Shuri (Letitia Wright) and M’Baku (Winston Duke).
One hero remained missing from every preview: Hulk. That absence has now been officially explained. Mark Ruffalo will not appear in Avengers: Doomsday.
“The latest issue of Empire Magazine put the spotlight on Crime 101, a crime thriller in which Thor's Chris Hemsworth stars alongside Hulk's Mark Ruffalo,” The Direct wrote. “As part of the interview, Ruffalo confirmed he won't be joining his MCU colleague in Avengers: Doomsday, but remained optimistic for the future.”
Ruffalo shared, “As long as they keep finding cool things to do with Hulk. It's given me so many gifts. You know, I probably wouldn't be in Crime 101 if it wasn't for [The Avengers].”
Phase Six launched with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which opened strongly before seeing a steep second-week drop, underscoring the studio’s efforts to stabilize momentum after years of aggressive expansion.
Marvel president Kevin Feige and the Russo brothers have repeatedly emphasized that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) will act as course-correcting milestones, narrowing the narrative focus and preparing the franchise for a future where the X-Men play a central role.
With Doctor Doom positioned as the next saga-spanning threat and a cast that bridges Marvel’s past and present, Avengers: Doomsday stands as a pivotal entry. Hulk’s absence marks a significant shift, raising questions about how—and when—Bruce Banner might return to the Avengers’ story.
As Marvel continues adjusting its slate amid shifting strategies and canceled projects, the future of the MCU remains in transition.
How do you feel about this latest Avengers: Doomsday news? Let us know in the comments down below!
