Marvel Studios has officially announced the full cast for its upcoming blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release in 2026. This marks the first Avengers installment since Endgame, and the film’s production has now begun. Marvel took a creative approach to unveil the cast by displaying production chairs on set during a lengthy Instagram live stream. The reveal included fan-favorite MCU veterans, legendary X-Men actors, and exciting new additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
MCU Icons Returning
Among the returning MCU favorites are Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. The film also welcomes back several iconic X-Men characters from earlier Fox-era films, now under Disney and Marvel’s umbrella.
X-Men Veterans Make Their MCU Return
Marvel confirmed that Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) will reprise their legendary roles. This announcement follows Disney’s acquisition of Fox’s X-Men franchise, allowing for the long-awaited integration of these characters into the MCU.
Newcomers and Fantastic Four Joins the Battle
The MCU is also introducing several new faces in Avengers: Doomsday. Vanessa Kirby (set to debut as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman in Fantastic Four: First Steps), Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch will all play key roles in both films.
Additionally, the cast features Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Namor), Letitia Wright (Shuri), and Winston Duke (M’Baku). Returning Thunderbolts characters such as Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (John Walker), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), and Lewis Pullman will also be present.
Notable Absences From the Announcement
Despite the excitement, Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) were not mentioned in the official cast reveal. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man was also absent, possibly due to Sony’s complicated licensing deal with Marvel.
Robert Downey Jr. Returns—This Time as the Villain
The Avengers’ main adversary in Avengers: Doomsday will be Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.—marking a shocking return for the former Iron Man star. Downey Jr. previously confirmed his villainous comeback, and fans are eager to see how the story unfolds.
Release Date and Expectations
Scheduled for May 2026, Avengers: Doomsday will be the fifth film in the Avengers franchise and follows the massive success of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which remains one of the highest-grossing films of all time.
