Hot on the heels of announcing a further 26 cast members for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more surprises are in store. Marvel unveiled the cast of Avengers: Doomsday in a detailed livestream, confirming a stellar lineup of actors who will join Robert Downey Jr. in the superhero blockbuster, alongside the start of production.
Among the notable returns, Channing Tatum will reprise his role as the beloved X-Men character Gambit. You can find the complete list of the Avengers: Doomsday cast here.
However, some major MCU stars are noticeably absent from the announced list. Fans have not seen Tom Holland's Spider-Man or Chris Evans, who was rumored to appear in either Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars but later denied these claims. Additionally, characters like Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey are missing, as are key X-Men figures such as Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, and Jean Grey.
The absence of these fan-favorite characters led to a wave of disappointment among superhero enthusiasts. However, there might still be hope. In a recent Instagram post, Robert Downey Jr., who will portray Doctor Doom after his iconic run as Iron Man, teased that more announcements are on the horizon. "That’s what u call a deep bench of talent," RDJ commented. "Actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one… That must be it.. right?"
The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday
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Marvel further fueled speculation by commenting that "there's always room for more." The Russo Brothers, who are directing the film, added to the anticipation with the cryptic message, "It’s time…"
It's evident that Marvel has not finished unveiling the Avengers: Doomsday cast. The big question remains: who else might join the fray? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Earlier this month, the Russo brothers expressed their vision for Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning" that will set the stage for future developments in Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo emphasized their focus on villains who believe they are the protagonists of their own stories, adding depth and interest to the narrative. "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories," Joe Russo stated. "That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well-shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."
Avengers: Doomsday is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Secret Wars in May 2027. Leading up to these films, Thunderbolts* will premiere in May 2025, the TV series Ironheart in June, and Phase 6 will kick off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.
In October, Marvel Studios added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. Speculation is rife that one of these slots might be reserved for the long-awaited X-Men movie.
