Marvel has officially revealed the cast for Avengers: Doomsday (2026), and it’s a lineup that reshapes the future of the franchise. With returning Avengers and veteran X-Men heroes alike all stepping into the spotlight, the crossover event promises to be the most ambitious yet. But while familiar faces are back, some notable absences raise just as many questions as the confirmed cast.
Who’s Assembling for ‘Avengers: Doomsday'?
Several longtime heroes will reprise their roles, including Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes (who we can now safely assume survives Thunderbolts*), Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Letitia Wright as Black Panther, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, and Winston Duke as M’Baku.
They’ll be joined by characters starring alongside Stan in the upcoming Thunderbolts*, such as Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Wyatt Russell’s U.S. Agent, and David Harbour’s Red Guardian. Lewis Pullman is also on board as Bob, widely believed to be Sentry, alongside Danny Ramirez’s Falcon and Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor, despite controversy surrounding sexual misconduct allegations he has denied.
One of the biggest surprises is the return of X-Men legends from Fox’s earlier films. Patrick Stewart is back as Professor X, with Ian McKellen as Magneto for the first time since X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), James Marsden as Cyclops, and Rebecca Romijn as Mystique. Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast will appear as well, along with Channing Tatum’s long-awaited take on Gambit.
Meanwhile, Marvel’s newly introduced Fantastic Four—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn—will make their first crossover appearance.
A Troubled Path to ‘Doomsday'
Avengers: Doomsday wasn’t always the plan. Initially announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the film was set to continue the Multiverse Saga with Jonathan Majors as its primary antagonist. That changed after Majors was arrested in 2023 on domestic violence charges, later found guilty, and sentenced to probation and a domestic violence intervention program. Disney swiftly cut ties with him, forcing Marvel to rethink its overarching narrative.
Meanwhile, the MCU itself was struggling. After the record-breaking success of Avengers: Endgame (2019), more recent films underperformed at the box office, with the Multiverse Saga failing to generate the same excitement as the Infinity Saga.
To course-correct, Marvel made a bold move: Robert Downey Jr. would return, not as Iron Man but as the franchise’s new primary antagonist—Doctor Doom. Behind the camera, Anthony and Joe Russo, the directors of Endgame and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), are also back to steer the project.
The Missing Pieces
For all its star power, some key names are missing. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is absent, likely due to his packed schedule, including Christopher Nolan's adaptation of The Odyssey and a sequel to Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).
Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord is also missing, despite his character deciding to return to his grandpa on Earth at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is reportedly also being saved for Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is another notable omission. Early reports suggested she would lead the next phase of the Avengers, but after The Marvels (2023) flopped, her absence raised questions. Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk are also missing, as are Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine—despite their major roles in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).
More Surprises to Come?
Marvel isn’t known for revealing all its secrets upfront. If the studio confirms such a massive cast now, there will undoubtedly be more surprises ahead. With the Multiverse in play, speculation about unexpected variants—like the long-rumored Tom Cruise Iron Man—will only grow.
Avengers: Doomsday is already shaping up to be one of Marvel’s most ambitious projects yet. As filming progresses and more details emerge, it’s clear the studio is betting big on this film to reignite the MCU’s spark. Whether it succeeds remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—this will be a reunion like no other.
Are you hyped for Avengers: Doomsday?
