Bucky Barnes may not survive Avengers: Doomsday, according to growing fan speculation driven by production schedules rather than plot leaks.
The theory gained momentum this week following reports that actor Sebastian Stan has committed to a major DC Studios project filming during Marvel’s next production cycle.
Marvel Studios has not commented on the character’s future. Still, the timing of Stan’s upcoming work has raised questions about whether Bucky appears beyond Doomsday.
Earlier this week, reports confirmed that Sebastian Stan will join DC Studios’ The Batman: Part II. While his role has not been officially announced, he is widely believed to be playing Harvey Dent, also known as Two-Face.
The Batman: Part II is scheduled to begin filming in early May 2026. That schedule overlaps with production on Avengers: Secret Wars, which is expected to begin filming in mid-2026 ahead of its December 2027 release.
Because large-scale studio productions typically require exclusive commitments, some fans have interpreted the overlap as a sign that Stan’s involvement with Marvel may be nearing its end.
“If Sebastian’s schedule is free when Secret Wars is being filmed around the same time as The Batman Part 2, that can only mean one thing, Bucky is dying in Doomsday,” wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
being excited for sebastian stan to join the batman ii but realizing that means bucky is so dead in doomsday
being excited for sebastian stan to join the batman ii but realizing that means bucky is so dead in doomsday pic.twitter.com/wsPKAodZnX
— danielle (@bradyskjeidy) January 6, 2026
As another fan posted, “Goodbye Bucky Barnes, you are the most dead anyone has ever been dead in Doomsday.”
Why Avengers: Doomsday Could Mark an Exit
Marvel’s next crossover film, Avengers: Doomsday, is expected to bring together the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the X-Men. The film will introduce Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., as its central antagonist.
Marvel has not released story details, but the Avengers films have historically included major character deaths to reset the franchise. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) opened with Loki’s death, followed by the blip that erased half the MCU’s heroes.
Avengers: Endgame reversed the blip but permanently closed the arcs of Tony Stark/Iron Man and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Those deaths marked a clear transition into a new era.
With Avengers: Secret Wars expected to follow Doomsday — and reportedly involve a larger restructuring of the MCU — speculation has centered on which long-running characters may exit beforehand.
Bucky Barnes has emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned possibilities.
Bucky Barnes’ Role in the MCU
Bucky Barnes was introduced in Captain America: The First Avenger as Steve Rogers’ closest friend. His apparent death during World War II became one of the franchise’s earliest emotional turning points.
The character later returned as the Winter Soldier, revealed to be a HYDRA-controlled assassin whose memories and autonomy had been erased. That reveal repositioned Bucky as both victim and antagonist.
Across subsequent films, Bucky’s arc focused on recovery and accountability rather than traditional heroism. Those themes carried into The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which followed both Bucky and Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) post-Endgame.
In Thunderbolts*, Bucky’s status within the MCU shifted again. He emerged as the group’s de facto leader, and the film revealed he had become a congressman. Its finale saw the team rebrand as The New Avengers.
That positioning placed Bucky at the center of Marvel’s next crossover.
Stan has previously addressed the possibility of moving on from the MCU. During an appearance on the Stronger Podcast in November, the actor reflected on his time with Marvel.
“I have to try to offer something different than before,” Stan said. “And I've never favored one role over another. The Marvel stuff, I'll always, 'til the end of time, [feel it] really helped me grow as a person and helped me grow as an actor and it taught me relationships and [I worked with] Robert Downey [Jr.] and Scarlett [Johansson] and all these people I looked up to. It was a business. It was a family and it gave me a sense of belonging, and it's always there for that, but it was only the step one for me.”
Marvel has not confirmed whether Bucky Barnes will appear beyond Avengers: Doomsday.
A recent teaser confirmed that Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers, potentially allowing for a final reunion if Bucky’s story does end in the upcoming film – although not everyone is happy about the prospect.
Do you think Bucky will die in Avengers: Doomsday?
I am really getting tired of Disney killing off my super heros.