Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirms the official return of twenty-seven MCU characters, but there are at least another thirty major heroes whose absence is quite surprising. More than seventeen years of MCU history and three phases’ worth of multiverse stories provide Avengers: Doomsday‘s plot and cast with plenty of characters to play with. However, Marvel Studios’ plans for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will likely subvert expectations, starting with both movies’ official cast.
During Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, Marvel Studios confirmed the appearance of entire teams like the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts, as well as the unexpected return of several mutant characters from Fox’s original X-Men cast, including Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Ian McKellen’s Magneto. Shockingly, though, many key MCU heroes were notably absent in the announcement, including a few original Avengers and multiple multiversal variants who would seem essential for Avengers: Doomsday‘s multiversal plot:
Chris Evans
Chris Evans Could Return As Captain America Or Another Character
After Marvel announced Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, theories about Chris Evans’ MCU return started to flood the internet. Similarly to Downey, Evans could play a brand-new MCU character in Avengers: Doomsday — possibly a villain. Otherwise, Chris Evans could still return as the original Steve Rogers, who was last seen pᴀssing on the Captain America mantle to Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame. Since then, the MCU has avoided confirming whether Steve Rogers died or if he’s still enjoying his retirement peacefully.
Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk Isn’t Busy At The Moment In The MCU
Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk took a brief trip to Sakaar to meet his son Skaar in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law‘s finale. Smart Hulk returned to Earth with Skaar, and he reunited with Jennifer Walters in record time. At this point in the MCU’s timeline, Smart Hulk is completely available for an Avengers mission. Yet, Mark Ruffalo is one of the biggest names that weren’t included in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement.
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye May Be Enjoying His Long-Awaited Retirement
Unlike Steve Rogers, Clint Barton was taken out of retirement after Avengers: Endgame. In Hawkeye, Barton helped Kate Bishop defeat Wilson Fisk and find the truth about her mother. Having pᴀssed on the Hawkeye torch to Kate, Clint Barton has nothing else on his plate at this point. Joining the Avengers to fight Doctor Doom may not seem too appealing for the original Hawkeye, so it makes sense for him to skip Avengers: Doomsday.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson Likely Won’t Return In A Similar Fashion To Robert Downey Jr.
Scarlett Johansson was probably the least likely Avengers star to return in Phase 6 before Marvel’s Avengers: Doosmday cast announcement. Natasha Romanoff met a definitive end in Avengers: Endgame, Marvel gave the character a final farewell in Black Widow, and Johansson had a dispute with Disney over Black Widow‘s distribution. Scarlett Johansson has since reconciled with Disney and Marvel, but there have been no hints at her return in any upcoming MCU project.
Hayley Atwell
Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter Variants Have Appeared In Multiple Multiverse Saga Projects
There have been at least three Peggy Carter variants in the MCU: the Peggy Carter Steve Rogers fell in love with, Earth-838’s live-action Captain Carter, and What If…?‘s universe-hopping Captain Carter. What If…?‘s Captain Carter seems like a good candidate for a role in Avengers: Doomsday, where her experience as a multiversal guardian could help the Avengers in their fight against Doctor Doom. However, none of Peggy Carter’s variants seem to be making an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine Seemed Ready To Join The Avengers In Phase 5
Hugh Jackman’s new Wolverine variant rekindled his will to fight and befriended Wade Wilson in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. In ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s ending, Jackman’s Logan finds a new home on Earth-10005, where he’s likely ready to take on any villain alongside ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, Colossus, X-23, and other inhabitants of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool’s home reality. Surprisingly, though, many of Fox’s X-Men movie characters will return in Avengers: Doosmday, but Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine won’t be one of them, despite his popularity.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool Tried To Join The Avengers Before Avengers: Doomsday
Similarly to Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool seemed eager to continue fighting after ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s third act. In fact, one of the motivations that led Wade Wilson to find a Wolverine variant to fight Cᴀssandra Nova was his failed attempt to join the Avengers. Considering Happy Hogan rejected Wade Wilson’s application, it would seem logical for the Avengers to welcome ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool in Avengers: Doomsday. However, it’s possible that Doctor Doom will catch the Avengers off-guard before they have a chance to contact ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool on Earth-10005.
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner’s Elektra Should Have Escaped The Void
Jennifer Garner’s Elektra fought alongside ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, Wolverine, and their ragtag team of pruned variants in the Void in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. Garner’s Elektra survived Cᴀssandra Nova and Alioth, yet she was nowhere to be seen at the end of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, where Wade Wilson and Logan reunited with X-23 on Earth-10005. Presumably, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool and Wolverine got the TVA to extract Elektra to the Void as well, so her current whereabouts are unknown.
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes’ Blade Is Still Somewhere Out There
Similarly to Jennifer Garner’s Elektra, Wesley Snipes’ Blade probably made it out of the Void after the events of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, but his whereabouts are a mystery. Considering Channing Tatum’s Gambit will return in Avengers: Doomsday, the MCU might temporarilly ignore or barely mention Blade and Elektra’s current status. Otherwise, Elektra and Blade might only made a cameo in Avengers: Doomsday, which would explain why they didn’t get their own chair in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement.
Dafne Keen
Dafne Keen’s Laura Kinney A.K.A. X-23 Might Have A Cameo Role In Avengers: Doomsday
The final member of ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine‘s Void resistance team not to be included in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement is Dafne Keen’s Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine confirmed the TVA got X-23 out of the Void and allowed her to stay with Wade Wilson and Logan on Earth-10005, but Laura Kinney may not be aware of Doctor Doom’s evil plans in Avengers: Doomsday. Still, the fact that Channing Tatum’s Gambit is the only ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine hero to be confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday raises a few questions.
Brie Larson
Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel Not Appearing In Avengers: Doomsday Might Be Out Of Character
Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers was last seen defeating Dar-Benn and restoring Hala’s sun with her power in The Marvels. In The Marvels‘ ending, Carol Danvers inspired Kamala Khan to ᴀssemble a team of young Avengers on Earth. Carol Danvers famously skipped Avengers: Infinity War before returning to help defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. Years later, Larson’s Captain Marvel seems to be doing the same for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Teyonah Parris
Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau Traveled To An X-Men Timeline In The Marvels
Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau teamed up with Carol danvers and Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan to fight Dar-Benn in The Marvels, where she sacrificed herself to defeat the space conqueror. But instead of dying, Monica Rambeau was sent to an X-Men timeline in The Marvels‘ post-credits scene, where Kelsey Grammer’s Hank McCoy and a variant of Monica’s mother, Maria Rambeau, welcomed her. The fact that Kelsey Grammer’s Beast is returning in Avengers: Doomsday poses a big question about Monica Rambeau’s absence.
Iman Vellani
Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan Is Recruiting The Young Avengers, But Probably Won’t Be In Avengers: Doomsday
Like her fellow Marvels Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers and Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan wasn’t included in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday casting announcement. Ms. Marvel was last seen recruiting the Young Avengers’ first member, Kate Bishop, in The Marvels‘ ending. Since Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan doesn’t seem to be returning for Avengers: Doomsday, the Young Avengers likely won’t be officially ᴀssembled until after Doctor Doom’s introduction.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Must Still Be Busy Fixing Incursions
At this point in the Multiverse Saga, the closest the Avengers have to a leader are Doctor Strange and Sam Wilson. Anthony Mackie’s Captain America was one of the first characters confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, whereas Benedict Cumberbatch remained absent from the announcement despite his relevance to the franchise. However, Doctor Strange has a solid excuse not to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, as he ventured into the Dark Dimension to fix an incursion in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ post-credits scene, following Scarlet Witch’s defeat.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron’s Clea Must Be Busy Fixing Incursions With Doctor Strange
Being the one to recruit Doctor Strange to fix an incursion in the Dark Dimension, it makes sense for Charlize Theron’s Clea to still be too busy during the events of Avengers: Doomsday to join Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Nevertheless, Clea’s apparent knowledge of incursions and multiversal equilibrium might come in handy in Avengers: Secret Wars, where both Clea and Doctor Strange will probably play an important role. It wouldn’t be too surprising if Doctor Strange and Clea are the stars of Avengers: Doomsday‘s post-credits scene.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord Is On Earth During The Events Of Avengers: Doomsday
After the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill left the original Guardians and reunited with his grandfather on Earth. Currently residing in Mississipi, Peter Quill isn’t busy beyond getting acquainted with his home planet. Despite Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘s promise that “The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return,” Avengers: Doomsday seemingly features no Guardians of the Galaxy characters whatsoever. If Star-Lord doesn’t return in Avengers: Doomsday, he will probably have a big role in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Tom Holland
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Might Be The Biggest Surprise In Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday Announcement
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man has been one of the most essential MCU characters in the MCU’s crossover events since his introduction in Captain America: Civil War. Holland’s Spider-Man appeared in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, but Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday announcement suggests that the MCU’s fifth Avengers movie will break that trend. There’s a chance Spider-Man’s return will be confirmed by Sony instead of Marvel, however, as Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man 4 might lead directly into Avengers: Doomsday.
Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Probably Won’t Meet The X-Men In Avengers: Doomsday
The return of several members of Fox’s original X-Men cast suggests that Avengers: Doomsday will pay homage to many pre-MCU Marvel тιтles. Avengers: Doomsday could provide the chance to bring together the X-Men and other multiversal characters like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man. But despite making his proper MCU debut in Spider-Man: No Way Home and surviving his fight against the multiversal Sinister Five, Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parker will likely remain absent in Avengers: Doomsday.
Andrew Garfield
Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man Probably Won’t Appear In Avengers: Doomsday If Other Spider-Men Don’t Return
Like Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield’s Spidey survived the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, and he’s probably willing to team up with his multiversal variants again. Since neither Tom Holland nor Tobey Maguire’s Peter Parkers appear to be in Avengers: Doomsday, Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man will likely follow suit. Still, seeing Marvel’s three multiversal Spider-Man team up with the Avengers and Fox’s X-Men is a scenario that Marvel Studios likely won’t overlook for too long.
Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen’s Long-Awaited Return As Scarlet Witch May Have To Wait A Little Longer
One of the most anticipated MCU comebacks in the Multiverse Saga is that of Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. Scarlet Witch died in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but her magical abilities inevitably open the door for an eventual resurrection. Wanda Maximoff has also been an ally and an enemy to Doctor Doom in the source material. Seeing Olsen’s Scarlet Witch double down on her villainy as Doctor Doom’s accomplice or redeem herself by reshaping reality in Avengers: Doomsday would be a treat for die-hard Marvel fans. However, those possible scenarios may have to wait until at least 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars to be proved true or debunked.
Don Cheadle
Don Cheadle’s War Machine Has Spent A Long While Out Of Action
Secret Invasion‘s Skrull twist suggests Don Cheadle’s Rhodey Rhodes has been impersonated by a Skrull impostor for a long time. But even if the real Rhodey was the one who experienced the events of Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, that would make it more than seven real-life years without a War Machine suit-up for Rhodey. Avengers: Doomsday would seem like the perfect place to see Rhodey don the War Machine suit of armor again, but he likely won’t appear at all.
Charlie Cox
Charlie Cox’s Daredevil Likely Won’t Return In Avengers: Doomsday Despite Starring In His Own MCU Show One Year Before
Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock stars in 2025’s Daredevil: Born Again, where he leads the fight against New York Mayor Wilson Fisk. Despite his relevance to the MCU’s street-level stories and his connection to multiple key characters like Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, and She-Hulk, Cox’s Daredevil doesn’t appear to play any role in Avengers: Doomsday‘s plot. Perhaps after Avengers: Doomsday lays the foundations for a full-fledged Multiverse War, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock could return with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and other street-level heroes in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk Might Miss The Events Of Avengers: Doomsday With Smart Hulk
She-Hulk’s abilities and connections to many superpowered characters would make her a welcome addition to Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast. However, it seems like Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters will sit this one out alongside her cousin Bruce Banner and her romantic fling Daredevil. At this point, Jennifer Walters is busy in her career as a superhero lawyer. After the events of Avengers: Doomsday, She-Hulk could be part of Captain America’s new Avengers team in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop Accompanies Ms. Marvel Off-Screen In Avengers: Doomsday
Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop received the Hawkeye mantle directly from Clint Barton in Hawkeye, and she accepted Kamala Khan’s invitation to create a Young Avengers team in The Marvels. But despite her eagerness to become an Avenger, Kate Bishop doesn’t seem to be taking part in the Avengers’ battle against Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. By Avengers: Secret Wars, Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop’s team of young Avengers might be powerful enough to participate in the battle.
Kathryn Newton
Kathryn Newton’s Cᴀssie Lang Won’t Accompany Ant-Man In Avengers: Doomsday
Kathryn Newton’s Cᴀssie Lang is the second recruit in Ms. Marvel’s Young Avengers team, as well as one of the most influential heroes in the Multiverse Saga, as she turned the fight against Kang the Conqueror in her favor in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania‘s ending. Despite this impressive feat, Cᴀssie Lang probably won’t have an encounter with another major MCU supervillain until at least Avengers: Secret Wars, where she might confront Doctor Doom alongside the rest of Kamala Khan’s Young Avengers. Except for Scott Lang, Cᴀssie’s whole family was absent in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement.
Oscar Isaac
Oscar Issac’s Is Notably Absent From Avengers: Doomsday’s New Generation Of Heroes
Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight is another new-generation MCU hero who doesn’t seem to be returning anytime soon. Marc Spector, Steven Grant, and Jake Lockley would provide fun dynamics to Avengers: Doomsday‘s roster, and Moon Knight’s invincible nature could be a huge ᴀsset in the Avengers’ fight against Doctor Doom. Unfortunately, it may take a little longer than expected to see Moon Knight interact with other MCU heroes on the big screen. Without Moon Knight season 2 in sight, Khonshu’s Avatar might only appear on screen over five years after his MCU introduction.
Tessa Thompson
Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie May Not Help Thor In Avengers: Doomsday
Although Chris Hemsworth’s Thor was the first MCu character to be confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday (after Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom), Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement didn’t include any other Thor character — except for Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, who has forged his own journey as an independent hero. Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Taika Waiтιтi’s Thor, and Jaimie Alexander’s Lady Sif are currently absent from Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast, though they could still appear in minor roles or cameos.
Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali’s MCU Debut As Blade Continues To Be Postponed
Marvel Studios officially announced Blade back in 2019. Since then, Blade has been repeatedly delayed and reworked, and Mahershala Ali’s on-screen debut has been postponed indefinitely. Mahershala Ali had a brief voice cameo in Eternals‘ post-credits scene, and he’ll have a voice role in Marvel Zombies. Nevertheless, the MCU’s Blade won’t appear on the big screen yet. Leaving Mahershala Ali’s Blade out of Avengers: Secret Wars is a real possibility at this point, as well.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles’ Starfox Tease Payoff Will Have To Wait
Apart from Eternals‘ Blade set-up, Eternals‘ post-credits scene also teased Starfox’s return in a future MCU installment. Unfortunately, Eternals‘ negative reception has seemingly discouraged Marvel from continuing its plotlines. Therefore, Harry Styles’ Eros a.k.a. Starfox probably won’t return anytime soon, and neither will Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman a.k.a. Black Knight. Avengers: Doomsday is already too crowded to explain Starfox’s backstory and give him a role in the plot.
All Remaining Eternals
None Of The Eternals Were Confirmed To Return In Avengers: Doomsday
Eternals introduced ten of the тιтular heroes, yet none of them may appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Ikaris, Gilgamesh, Ajak, Sprite, and Thena’s absence makes sense given the events of Eternals, but it would have been natural for Makkari, Druig, Phastos, Kingo, and Sersi to make an appearance in the MCU’s next Avengers movie. Again, Avengers: Doomsday might be too crowded to incorporate the Eternals into its plot, but it’s rather surprising that not a single one of the Eternals was confirmed to return, whereas multiple Thunderbolts were among the first to be confirmed.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Thunderbolts*
- Release Date
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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MCU Spider-Man 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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