Avengers: Doomsday is just a little more than a year away, and fans have been waiting impatiently for any official word regarding the tentpole, aside from the Russo Brothers’ directing and Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom. After months of speculating about which MCU A-Listers would be joining the fun, the confirmed cast was unveiled via livestream today, so we finally got something huge!
Marvel Studios launched a live video showcasing the chairbacks of the main cast of Avengers: Doomsday every ten minutes, in a particularly slow-burn announcement that annoyed every TikTok user with a short attention span on the planet.
The list didn’t seem to follow any pattern, but here’s the list based on how surprising each announcement was, from ” yeah, we expected that” to “no way!”
Warning: Possible Spoilers!
1. Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom / Doctor Doom
This is the least surprising announcement. He was the first person announced to play the lead villain, Doctor Doom. Admittedly, it was surprising then, but now it’s not.
2. Fantastic Four (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach)
There are lots of rumors that the Fantastic Four will be in Doomsday. So it’s not a shock that the team leader will be in the film. Naturally, because Doctor Doom is primarily a foe for the Fantastic Four, it would make sense for them to play a significant role in Doomsday.
The ever-lovin’, blue-eyed Thing has to be the muscle to back up the team. If Reed is in the film, you know his wife will be there to back him up. Behind every good man…
It’s hard to imagine that Johnny would leave his sister behind, so it’s not a huge shock that he’s on the list.
3. Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Captain America
Captain America: Brave New World is part of Phase Five of the MCU. There have been mixed reviews (even though I love it), but he’s being set up to be the leader of the new Avengers. So it makes perfect sense.
4. Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres / Falcon
This isn’t a huge shock since he starred with Mackie in Captain America 4. Plus, the character of the Falcon has been in every Avengers movie since Avengers: Age of Ultron.
5. Thunderbolts (Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Hannah John-Kamen)
Thunderbolts* is the ending of Phase Five for the MCU. So it isn’t too surprising. Plus, Sebastian Stan’s been a big part of the last two Avengers movies.
Like Bucky, Wyatt is part of the Thunderbolts, so assume every team member will be there, like Pugh. However, many people speculated she would be killed since she doesn’t make many appearances in the movie’s trailers.
6. Lewis Pullman as Robert “Bob” Reynolds / Sentry
This is a bit of a spoiler for Thunderbolts. This means that not only does Sentry survive, but The Void also survives. That is, unless Bob finds a way to kill off his evil persona.
7. Letitia Wright as Shuri
Shuri has been a big part of the MCU since the death of Chadwick Boseman. She was even the new Black Panther in Wakanda Forever.
But rumors were swirling that Marvel was going to recast T’Challa. This seems to confirm that she’s staying as the new Panther king.
8. Paul Rudd as Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Considering how badly Ant-Man: Quantumania dropped the ball, it’s kind of surprising he’s coming back. Presumably, he would be a huge part of Avengers: Kang Dynasty, so maybe he was left on the cast list. Fans do love Scott, though.
9. Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor
Namor was a big deal for Marvel since the beginning of the MCU. But his appearance in Wakanda Forever didn’t do much with him. After he was accused of sexual misconduct in June 2023, which he refuted as “false and completely unsubstantiated,” there were concerns about his return to Marvel. After leaving a Netflix film amid the media frenzy, he later appeared as a guest at the premiere of Marvel’s Echo, indicating that he and the studio got along well.
Surprisingly, he’s coming back. Will he be a hero or a villain? We’ll have to wait and see.
10. Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
Shang-Chi, a character from the popular film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has been absent from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for five years. However, Liu Liu has confirmed his return in Avengers: Doomsday, announcing his strong ties to the multiverse. The character’s use of the Ten Rings sent a beacon across dimensions, which initially seemed to connect to Kang the Conqueror. The story of Shang-Chi’s return to the MCU remains to be seen, but fans can look forward to his return in 2026.
11. X-Men (Patrick Stewart, James Marden, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Channing Tatum)
The original “X-Men” on the big screen are making a huge appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to Marvel’s extensive cast reveal, many performers from Fox’s original run of “X-Men” films will be returning to the comic book universe.
This includes Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier. In the 2000 film “X-Men,” all four actors made their comic book character debuts. It’s still plausible that these actors portray distinct characters or even other versions of their roles under the Marvel multiverse’s laws.
Since X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014, Sir Ian has not played Magneto. The last time Sir Patrick played Professor Charles Xavier was in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which came out in 2022.
Grammer popped up in a post-credit scene for The Marvels two years ago. Notably, he was an entirely CGI character. Will he suit up like he did for X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)? Tatum was a fan favorite cameo in Deadpool, so Marvel is giving the people what they want.
12. Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Hemsworth’s portrayal of Thor is a fan-favorite (not including Love and Thunder). He’s also been in every Avengers movie, so seeing him return is fun.
13. Winston Duke as M’Baku / Man-Ape
Of all the characters from Wakanda, it’s hard to imagine bringing back M’Baku. But he’s the breakout character from the first film. So it makes sense that Marvel wants to bring him back.
14. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
This one is surprising. While he’s appeared in several Avengers films, his status seemed to become a living Temporal Loom for the Sacred Timeline.
These names have been confirmed, but many were utterly expected to be in the film. Here’s a ranking of the missing rumored cast members.
Who’s Missing From the Avengers: Doomsday Cast?
1. Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch
Fans are demanding Wanda Maximoff’s return. But she’s already gone on record that she’s not coming back. In fact, on her press tour for her latest film, The Assessment. She’s not even in the country to film. She told The Hollywood Reporter, “No, I’m back [in the States],” she said. “I just finished [Panic Carefully]. I’m moving on to filming a pilot for FX [called Seven Sisters].”
She might be lying, but she wants to move on in her career from Marvel. So it’s not a surprise.
2. Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm
Halle Berry is a member of the first X-Men movie, so, surprisingly, she’s not returning. But she was never invited to return for Deadpool & Wolverine either. “Blake [Lively] asked me one time, I ran into her at a Marc Jacobs fashion show, and she said, ‘Would you ever be in my husband’s movie as Storm?’ I said, ‘Yeah, if he asked me,’ but he never asked me.”
Why does Kevin Feige hate Halle Berry? It’s hard to say, but the hate runs deep.
3. Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter
Deadline reported that Hayley Atwell will be reprising her role as Agent Carter. This is a highly reputable source, so, shockingly, she’s not on the list.
This one is complicated since she died in Captain America: Civil War (2016). There was a funeral and everything. So how could she return?
4. Danai Gurira as Okoye
The Wakandan guard Okoye first appeared in Captain America: Civil War and quickly became a fan favorite. She would have been the focus of an untitled live-action Disney+ series, but the show was canceled. It was intended to be a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever spin-off.
Brad Winderbaum later said, “I think fans of Okoye are going to be excited to see her come back, but I don’t think it’s going to be in a television show. I can’t say where and when, but I think there’s a lot to look forward to.” This movie would have been a great place to return her.
5. Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk
Since the beginning, Hulk has been a team member and an Avenger. His character has morphed from an angry, uncontrollable beast to a Smart Hulk.
The last time we saw Hulk was in the She-Hulk show. Why he’s not in the next Avengers movie is a mystery.
6. Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters / She-Hulk
As shocking as Rufalo is missing, it’s even more surprising that She-Hulk is missing. There’s been a lot of speculation that she’d become the Hulk of the New Avengers. Without her, that means The Thing is the muscle of the group.
Her mini-series got mixed reviews, but she deserves a big-screen appearance.
7. Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock / Daredevil
Speaking of big screen appearances, Cox currently stars in Daredevil: Born Again. But he first appeared in the MCU as a lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Fans have desperately wanted to see him in the big screen since the first Avengers.
8. Guardians of the Galaxy (Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper)
Currently, Avengers: Doomsday does not feature the Guardians of the Galaxy. Before departing to co-run DC Studios and the new DC Universe, filmmaker James Gunn used the squad in his final Marvel Cinematic Universe film. The original team disbanded in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and a new team featuring Rocket Raccoon and Groot debuted. It was anticipated that at least one Guardians of the Galaxy actor would appear when Marvel revealed the cast of Avengers: Doomsday; however, no cast member from the franchise has, with the attention being diverted to other teams.
The concept art reported to have leaked showed Star-Lord and the Vision. If the art is real, he should be in the cast list.
According to Jeff Sneider’s The InSneider, Pratt was left off the Avengers: Doomsday cast list because he is filming Season 2 of The Terminal List for Amazon Prime Video. So he still might be incoming if they can get him in the shooting schedule.
The other members of the team are missing right now.
9. Paul Bettany as Vision
The concept art also showed Vision. Although he died in Endgame, his persona continued to exist in WandaVision. It showed White Vision flying away to places unknown. Furthermore, Professor X has returned despite his death in Logan.
10. Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov / Taskmaster
The only member of the Thunderbolts missing is Taskmaster. Unfortunately, the character is the least known member of the group. This isn’t surprising since there are many clips of her in the Thunderbolts trailers.
11. Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America
Even though Chris Evans has rejected rumors that he will return to Marvel for Doomsday, people still think he will. People love him, and there’s always speculation he’ll return.
12. Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange
There are conflicting reports about his involvement. First, he said he wasn’t in the film. Then, he backtracked and said, “Don’t believe everything I say“. So it’s a real shock that his name is missing from the list. But in an interview with Variety, he said Doctor Strange is “in a lot” of “Avengers: Secret Wars.” So they may be holding him back. Or he’s lying again.
13. Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man
The MCU’s most well-known portrayal of Spider-Man is Holland, who debuted in “Captain America: Civil War.” Holland has clarified that he wants to distance himself from the role following his film series.
Despite their desire to distance themselves, it is known that “Spider-Man 4” is in production because Sadie Sink was just cast in the movie. Does this imply that Holland will leave the MCU at the movie’s end? Does this give credence to the rumors that Doom kills Spider-Man?
14. Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
In Deadpool & Wolverine, Hugh Jackman made friends with Wade Wilson and was inspired to fight again by his new Wolverine variation. Alongside Deadpool, Colossus, X-23, and other residents of Deadpool’s home reality, Jackman’s Logan finds a new home on Earth-10005 in the movie’s conclusion, where he is probably prepared to face any evil. Despite his popularity, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will not be among the several Fox X-Men movie characters who will come back in Avengers: Doomsday.
15. Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool
After Deadpool & Wolverine’s third act, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool seems eager to continue fighting, much like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Wade Wilson’s unsuccessful effort to join the Avengers was one of the driving forces behind his search for a Wolverine variation to battle Cassandra Nova. Given that Happy Hogan denied Wade Wilson’s application, it would seem reasonable for the Avengers to accept Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday. But before the Avengers can get in touch with Deadpool on Earth-10005, Doctor Doom might surprise them.
How do you feel about the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments below!
