Credit: Marvel StudiosFans may have this to look forward to at the end of the year.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is once again approaching a crossroads as the franchise looks to evolve in ways never seen before. As Marvel Studios looks beyond its current chapter, several familiar heroes–and a few notable absences–are shaping what comes next.
Slated for release on December 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of the studio’s largest swings yet. The project brings Anthony and Joe Russo back into the fold for the first time since Avengers: Endgame (2019), while dramatically reworking earlier plans that centered on Kang.
Instead, the film pivots toward Doctor Doom as its central threat, with Robert Downey Jr. stepping back into the MCU in a radically different role than audiences last saw.
Marvel set the tone early in 2025 with a widely watched “chair reveal” livestream, unveiling an extensive cast list that immediately sparked conversation. Among those confirmed were Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), and James Marsden (Cyclops).
The announcement also confirmed the return of several actors from Fox’s X-Men era, including Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), underscoring Marvel Studios’ continued push toward a unified cinematic Multiverse.
Not every familiar face made the cut. As fans parsed the lineup, some longtime MCU actors addressed their absence publicly. Mark Ruffalo, who has portrayed Bruce Banner since The Avengers (2012), joked about his exclusion during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, saying, “They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie.”
Although Ruffalo won’t appear in Doomsday after having confirmed his absence amid rumors he was fired from the studio, Marvel has committed to his return in Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, currently scheduled for July 31, 2026. Recent reports suggest that Kevin Feige has been largely absent from the Spider-Man 4 production, opting instead to spearhead Avengers: Doomsday.
Like Ruffalo, there are a number of names who weren’t present at the viral chair reveal livestream. From long-standing MCU characters like Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, to newer MCU arrivals such as Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), a number of high-profile names were not announced alongside the others.
Since then, though, Chris Evans has been confirmed for the movie. During the theatrical run of Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), Marvel Studios released a string of viral Doomsday teasers, the first of which took audiences back in time to reunite with Steve Rogers. Following this, three others were released, focusing on Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the X-Men, and the Wakandans meeting Ben Grimm/Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
Now, more information has surfaced about Marvel’s Doomsday plans, with two unannounced characters reportedly involved in the movie’s opening scene. According to claims from MyTimeToShineHello and reported by Comic Book Movie, Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man will face off against Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in Doomsday‘s opening.
“Apparently, the movie will open with Maguire’s web-slinger battling the X-Men, ‘and particularly Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine,'” Comic Book Movie writes. “This somewhat corroborates claims we’ve heard about an Incursion destroying Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Universe, and it gives Maguire’s Peter Parker a lot to fight for in this movie and Avengers: Secret Wars as he looks to bring back his loved ones.”
The scooper also shared further claims about the scope of Doomsday. “Avengers: Doomsday is not only the most epic Avengers movie, but it might be the most epic movie OF ALL TIME,” they wrote (via Comic Book Movie). “The opening scene alone tops any previous Avengers movie, and the final battle is just INSANE.”
While these claims are uncorroborated by Marvel or Disney, the speculation surrounding Doomsday is unlike anything fans have seen for a good few years. The momentum Doomsday has already 11 months ahead of release is surely lining the movie up for a billion-dollar haul, especially as it sits in that lucrative holiday corridor in December.
Only time will tell what is true and what isn’t about the rumors surrounding this highly anticipated project.
Previous Avengers: Doomsday Updates
Attention has also turned to recently revealed promotional artwork for Avengers: Doomsday, unveiled at the Walt Disney Studios Marketing Expo in Shanghai last year. The high-resolution image focuses on Doctor Doom’s armor, highlighting two symbols fastened to his cloak.
One resembles Captain Marvel’s star insignia, while the other evokes Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. Their mirrored placement has led to widespread speculation that the details could hint at Doom’s victories over Multiversal versions of the heroes rather than simple design flourishes.
Whether symbolic or narrative, the imagery has fueled curiosity about the scale of Doom’s rise and the kind of upheaval Marvel Studios is planning as it reshapes its central lineup.
That recalibration is already underway. While The Fantastic Four: First Steps opened strongly in 2025, and outperformed both Captain America: Brave New World (2025) and Thunderbolts* (2025), its sharp second-weekend drop highlighted the studio’s ongoing struggle to sustain momentum across releases.
Still, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and the Russo brothers have emphasized that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) are intended to reset expectations. Together, the films are positioned to usher the X-Men into a more prominent role while redefining which heroes anchor the franchise going forward.
With Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom leading the charge and a cast that spans decades of Marvel storytelling, Avengers: Doomsday appears poised to mark a major turning point for the MCU as it enters its next era.
What’s your reaction to this potential Avengers: Doomsday opening scene? Share your thoughts in the comments.