Anthony Mackie provides an update on the production of Avengers: Doomsday. Set for release next year, Doomsday will mark the grand MCU return of the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo, following the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019. While the plot has been kept largely under wraps, Mackie is confirmed to appear as Sam Wilson after Captain America: Brave New World.

Another exciting actor returning to the MCU for Doomsday is Robert Downey Jr. However, his moniker will be very different from his previous iteration as Iron Man. Instead of Earth’s mightiest hero, he is set to portray one of Marvel’s most renowned foes, Doctor Doom.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Mackie provides key updates about the production and plot of Avengers: Doomsday. He is nowhere close to finishing filming on the MCU movie, noting that he and the team “are in the midst of it.” However, he did say, “it’s going well.”

No. Hell no. No, we are in the midst of it. I mean, it’s such a big, moving set piece, and it’s such a big story. The best part of shooting a Marvel movie is that it’s always an ever-evolving canvas. There are those staple pieces, and then there are the pieces that circulate throughout the course of the shoot.

So, we’re in the midst of it, but it’s going well. And London is very British, so that’s a thing. A lot of sheep. Who knew there were so many sheep in London? There’s a lot of sheep! It’s crazy.

As for plot details, Mackie didn’t go into the specifics, but there is a tease about Sam’s relationship with Bucky Barnes following Thunderbolts*. He noted that Sam and Bucky “are still ʙuттing heads” because “all [they] do is fight.” Check out the full quote from Mackie below:

I talked to Sebastian yesterday. We’re still ʙuттing heads. All we do is fight!

What This Means For Avengers: Doomsday

The Future Of The Avengers Will Be A Big Focus

Plot-wise, Mackie’s statement confirms that Sam and Bucky will continue their rivalry earlier in the franchise. Specifically, the interview alluded to the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, where Bucky reveals a falling out between him and Sam. The crux of their disagreement revolves around their conflicting thoughts about the Avengers’ future.

Avengers: Doomsday will give the first insight into what the team will look like moving forward. By the end of Thunderbolts*, Yelena and her crew have rebranded themselves as the New Avengers. However, it was established in Brave New World that Sam Wilson is forming his own team, setting a dispute where Sam and Bucky would be at the center.

Mackie does not reveal what he means by the fact that his and Sebastian Stan’s characters are still at odds in Doomsday, but it does at least imply that forming the future Avengers will be a major plot point. This will create significant tension as even the heroes have infighting, while they also work to stop a growing series of villains.

Our Take On Mackie’s Avengers: Doomsday Update

The Russos Taking Their Time Could Be A Good Thing

Doomsday has been in production since April of this year, so at least three months of filming have been completed. While the new update from Mackie may sound surprising at first, it does make sense that the movie is not close to finishing. This comes after the upcoming Marvel movie was moved from May 2026 to December 18, 2026, which seemed to hint at the extensive filming required.

Avengers: Doomsday is the biggest movie to come out of the MCU in a while, and there are certainly high expectations following Endgame. The creative team may want to build on the anticipation of Dr. Doom’s appearance, which is why filming will take some time to set the encounter with the MCU’s most awaited villain.