Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios is gearing up for its biggest crossover since Avengers: Endgame (2019), but the full picture surrounding its next two Avengers films is still coming into focus. From fresh casting confirmation for Avengers: Doomsday (2026) to questions over the production schedule of Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), the studio’s two-part event has generated a steady stream of headlines.
Directors Anthony and Joe Russo have confirmed that the Doomsday cast is not yet complete, leaving room for further announcements ahead of the film’s December 2026 release. At the same time, Robert Downey Jr. (Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom) has revealed new information about his new character. Meanwhile, reports have raised doubts over whether Secret Wars can meet its December 2027 release target.
Taken together, these developments point to a crossover event that is firmly taking shape, even as questions remain over its final lineup and the timetable for its conclusion.
The Russo Brothers Confirm More Avengers: Doomsday Casting News Is Coming
Marvel revealed a substantial ensemble for Doomsday in March 2025, bringing together characters from several corners of the MCU. However, the Russo brothers have since confirmed that the announcement did not include every actor appearing in the film.
Speaking about the cast in a Walt Disney press release, Anthony Russo said: “The pattern that you’re sensing is real. We have absolutely not announced the entire cast. There is more to come.” The comments have reignited speculation about characters missing from the initial lineup. The directors have confirmed that additional names are on the way, but they have not identified who those names might be.
Is Bruce Banner Heading Back?
One name attracting particular attention is Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk). The actor was a notable omission from the original cast reveal, yet additional footage associated with Avengers: Endgame: Encore features Banner encountering Doctor Doom.
The scene could point towards Ruffalo’s imminent return in Doomsday, although an appearance in this footage is not the same as a formal casting announcement, and the green giant may come back further down the road in Secret Wars. Elsewhere, fans continue to hope for appearances from Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch) and Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), but these remain speculation rather than confirmed additions.
Doctor Doom Takes Center Stage as Robert Downey Jr. Returns to Marvel
Downey Jr. defined the MCU’s Infinity Saga as Tony Stark/Iron Man, making his return in an entirely different role one of the studio’s boldest casting decisions to date. Doom is among the most significant villains in Marvel Comics, with a longstanding association with the Fantastic Four, and he is set to be the central threat in Doomsday as the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and legacy X-Men characters are drawn together.
How Marvel will distinguish Doom from Stark remains to be seen. Any relationship between the two characters is a matter for the film itself to establish. Downey Jr.’s new role has, however, already produced another notable development for international audiences.
Toshiyuki Morikawa Announced as Doctor Doom’s Japanese Voice Actor
In a video message directed at Japanese audiences, Downey Jr. personally announced that Toshiyuki Morikawa will voice Doctor Doom in the Japanese-language version of the film. The announcement gives Japanese viewers their first official confirmation of who will voice the villain locally.
Morikawa is one of Japan’s most established voice actors, with credits including Sephiroth in Final Fantasy, Griffith in Berserk, Enel in One Piece, and Minato Namikaze in Naruto. His experience voicing prominent antagonists and powerful characters makes his appointment particularly notable for a villain expected to sit at the center of Marvel’s next major crossover.
Honoring Keiji Fujiwara’s Legacy
The casting carries additional significance. For many years, Keiji Fujiwara voiced Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark in Japanese-language MCU releases. Fujiwara died in April 2020, aged 55, following a battle with cancer.
Downey Jr. acknowledged Fujiwara in his announcement, recognizing the legacy of his performances. Morikawa is therefore taking on Doctor Doom, replacing Fujiwara as the next actor to voice a Robert Downey Jr. character, while following the celebrated performer closely associated with the MCU.
The official announcement can be seen below:
Announced by Robert Downey Jr., who plays Doctor Doom
The Japanese voice actor for the role of Doom is…
Toshiyuki Morikawa
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“Avengers: Doomsday”
Releasing in theaters on 12/18 [Fri]
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ドクター・ドゥームを演じる
ロバート・ダウニー・Jr.より発表‼️
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ドゥーム役日本版声優は…
森川智之さんに決定✨
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『アベンジャーズ／ドゥームズデイ』
12/18[金]劇場公開🎬 pic.twitter.com/7NwmKIjagL— マーベル・スタジオ［公式］ (@MarvelStudios_J) November 2, 2026
Avengers: Doomsday Brings Together Marvel’s Biggest Teams
The scale of the ensemble already attached to Doomsday explains why further casting news is drawing so much attention.
On the Avengers side, the film features actors like Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) and Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther).
The Fantastic Four are represented by Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm). They are joined by legacy X-Men stars Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier/Professor X), Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto), James Marsden (Scott Summers/Cyclops), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler), Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast) and Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau/Gambit). Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers) and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter) are also among the previously announced cast.
The lineup spans several eras of Marvel’s cinematic history, with the Fantastic Four and veteran X-Men actors expanding the crossover well beyond the traditional Avengers roster. With so many characters already involved, any further additions could have major implications for the story, although their identities remain unknown.
Avengers: Secret Wars Faces Questions Over Its Production Timeline
Secret Wars is the planned follow-up to Doomsday and is currently scheduled for release on December 17, 2027. However, reports about its production schedule have raised concerns over the time available to complete filming and post-production, including claims that the shoot could move into early 2027.
The timeline matters for a film expected to feature a vast ensemble and extensive visual effects work.
Could Secret Wars Be Pushed Back to 2028?
A delayed start has fuelled speculation that the December 2027 date could prove difficult to meet. A postponement would give Marvel more time for filming, editing and visual effects, but it could also force changes to the studio’s wider theatrical slate and affect the MCU’s transition beyond the Multiverse Saga.
Reports of a delay are not equivalent to an official postponement, however. As of the latest available reporting, December 17, 2027 remains the announced release date.
How Doomsday and Secret Wars Could Shape the MCU’s Future
Marvel is treating the two films as the defining crossover events of the Multiverse Saga. Doomsday is expected to establish Doctor Doom as the central threat, with Secret Wars positioned to continue that conflict. In the comics, the Secret Wars storyline features a vast clash between heroes and villains from across the Marvel universe, and many fans believe the films could give the studio an opportunity to reshape MCU continuity and unite different generations of characters. Any shift in the Secret Wars schedule, therefore, could affect when Marvel’s next phase of storytelling begins.
For fans, Avengers: Doomsday remains on course for December 2026, and more cast reveals are officially on the way, even if the Russo brothers are keeping those names under wraps. Japanese audiences now know who will bring Doctor Doom to life in their language, in a casting that also pays tribute to Keiji Fujiwara’s legacy. Secret Wars still holds its December 2027 date for now, and Marvel’s next official announcements should clarify both the final Doomsday lineup and the outlook for the saga’s conclusion.
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