Marvel Studios’ announcement of Avengers: Doomsday‘s star-studded cast showcased numerous 2025 MCU movie actors, making it all the more surprising that the MCU timeline’s newest Black Widow is still missing. As Marvel slowly unveiled the impressive lineup for Avengers: Doomsday, viewers took note of the inclusion of multiple stars. However, despite Captain America: Brave New World setting up Ruth Bat-Seraph, also known as Sabra, as a natural successor to Black Widow, actress Shira Haas was nowhere to be found on the list – at least, not yet.

Marvel Studios took an unusual approach to the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, revealing 27 cast members over five and a half hours via social media, ensuring each name had time to trend before the next reveal. While it was already revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the franchise to portray Doctor Doom, many surprises were in store, including a swathe of stars from Marvel’s 2025 releases. However, a notable discrepancy arose: while Thunderbolts had strong representation, very few actors from Captain America: Brave New World made the cut, including Ruth Bat-Seraph.

Captain America: Brave New World Set Up Ruth Bat-Seraph As The Avengers’ New Black Widow

The MCU Has Two Possible Black Widows

Shira Haas’s Ruth Bat-Seraph, was introduced in Captain America: Brave New World as a former Black Widow with strong ties to the film’s lead, Sam Wilson. As a highly skilled operative, she was ᴀssigned to protect President Thaddeus Ross, who, following his rampage as Red Hulk, is now incarcerated on the Raft. With Ross out of power and Sam actively ᴀssembling a new Avengers roster, Ruth would be a logical early recruit as the team’s new Black Widow.

This is a slight departure from her comic book role as a mutant operating under the codename Sabra. Regardless, her inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday would make more sense than Yelena Belova’s Black Widow due to these connections, particularly after teaming-up with Sam Wilson to help bring down the Leader. Yet Yelena’s Black Widow has been confirmed in Avengers: Doomsday. as part of the Thunderbolts line-up.

Avengers: Doomsday’s Cast List Doesn’t Include Shira Haas (Yet)

More Avengers: Doomsday Cast Announcements Are Expected

Marvel has emphasized that the Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal isn’t complete. Reports indicate the movie will feature around 50 characters, meaning numerous actors have yet to be announced. This leaves the door open for Shira Haas’ Black Widow to join later. However, it’s also possible that Marvel has decided to move on without her.

Sabra’s traditional depiction as an agent of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence Agency, has been controversial, leading to backlash when the character’s MCU debut was first announced. It led to calls to a boycott in the wake of the Isreal-Hamas war. If Marvel wants to sidestep the controversy, it may exclude Sabra entirely from Avengers: Doomsday. Still, given her connections to Sam Wilson and her established background, it would be surprising if Marvel didn’t at least acknowledge her role in the evolving MCU landscape.

Upcoming MCU Movies

• 
  
  

  
  

  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse
  

• 
  
  

  
  

  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  Powered by

  
  

  
  Expand
  Collapse