Chris Hemsworth’s era as Thor has reached a surprising milestone, one that involves a new actor stepping into the Asgardian’s shoes for the first time.
With Avengers: The Kang Dynasty officially shelved, Marvel Studios is undergoing its biggest transformation yet. Avengers: Doomsday (2026) will now take the lead in the Multiverse Saga, representing a creative reset for the MCU following years of interconnected chaos.
Robert Downey Jr., who launched the cinematic universe in 2008, returns in a shocking twist—as Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom. The move reunites him with familiar collaborators Joe and Anthony Russo, who are set to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Their return signals Marvel’s commitment to delivering another epic-scale conclusion in the spirit of Endgame.
Both Doomsday and Secret Wars have been delayed, with release dates now set for December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, respectively. The change follows Marvel’s new emphasis on quality over quantity, a recalibration designed to refine story arcs and focus on stronger execution.
The upcoming Doomsday will unite an extraordinary ensemble, including the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and notable X-Men alumni. According to the Russos, the film is intended as a creative turning point that launches Marvel into a new storytelling phase.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teased earlier this year that the long-awaited arrival of the X-Men could tie into that reset. “Reboot is a scary word,” Feige said. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines […] X-Men is where that will happen next.”
Until then, Marvel’s film slate is taking a measured pause. Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be the only release before Doomsday, arriving July 31, 2026. On the streaming front, Disney+ has introduced new entries, such as Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies, to keep fans engaged.
Marvel Zombies, a four-episode series developed by Zeb Wells and directed by Bryan Andrews, expands on the grim alternate world first seen in What If…? With a TV-MA rating, the series dives deep into a post-apocalyptic Marvel universe where once-heroic figures like Captain America and Scarlet Witch have become the undead. Stellar Creative Lab handled animation for the project, which was initially conceived as a feature.
The cast includes Iman Vellani, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Hailee Steinfeld, David Harbour, Dominique Thorne, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, and Awkwafina.
Among new additions are Todd Williams as Blade Knight, Hudson Thames returning as Spider-Man, and Kenna Ramsey as Okoye. Yet the standout change is Thor himself. For the first time since 2011, Chris Hemsworth does not voice the character. Instead, actor Greg Furman takes over in Marvel Zombies, bringing a new interpretation to the role he’s known for across live-action and animation.
Recasting has become increasingly common across Marvel’s animated projects, but Hemsworth isn’t gone for good—he’s already confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, as unveiled during Marvel Studios’ official cast reveal earlier this year.
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