Credit: Marvel StudiosMillions tuned in to see Marvel unveil the cast of Avengers: Doomsday (2026)–but did the studio completely spoil a yet-to-be-released movie?
Last year, Marvel Studios officially pulled back the curtain on Thunderbolts* (2025) with the release of its first full-length trailer—one that quickly amassed an impressive 12 million views on YouTube. The trailer not only showcased the high-octane action expected from the MCU but also provided a first look at “Bob” and the actor stepping into the role after Steven Yeun (Beef, The Walking Dead) exited the project earlier in 2024.
Directed by Jake Schreier (Paper Towns), Thunderbolts* is slated to hit theaters on May 2, 2025, serving as the final chapter in Marvel’s current Phase Five. This phase, which began in 2023 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, has faced increased scrutiny over the studio’s output, with films like The Marvels (2023) struggling at the box office.
However, the success of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)—which shattered records to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time—offered a much-needed win for Marvel Studios.
The Thunderbolts* trailer offers a first glimpse at the returning squad, including Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost), Olga Kurylenko (Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster), and Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier). Notably, Stan is absent–at least in a leading or supporting role capacity– from Captain America: Brave New World (2025) but makes his main role return in Thunderbolts*.
The trailer also teases the film’s connection to a lingering mystery: the true owner of Avengers Tower. The biggest reveal, though, was the introduction of a new character to the MCU—Sentry.
Has the Avengers: Doomsday Cast Reveal Spoiled Thunderbolts*?
However, since footage began to surface for Thunderbolts*–including a recent A24-style new trailer–MCU fans have noticed Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov, AKA Taskmaster, has limited screen time and is noticeably absent for many big scenes involving the whole squad.
This has left many to believe that the character, who debuted in Cate Shortland’s 2021 Black Widow movie, will be killed off in Schreier’s movie. And now more evidence has come to light that adds weight to this idea.
On March 26, Marvel Studios revealed the 25-strong cast of the Russo Brothers Avengers: Doomsday. Over a multi-hour live stream, the studio shared the names of actors that will appear in the forthcoming Phase Six movie. Seemingly in no particular order, the cast list (unsurprisingly) includes the Thunderbolts squad: Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and David Harbour.
With Olga Kurylenko’s name missing, discussion has ignited online, with some accusing Marvel of spoiling the next (and final) Phase Five movie, especially considering Lewis Pullman was also confirmed to appear in Doomsday.
As for the rest of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, the aforementioned actors will be joined by Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
Also cast are Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau/Gambit, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing.
Who Is Sentry in Thunderbolts*?
Played by Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick), Robert “Bob” Reynolds—better known as Sentry—is a complex and powerful figure within the Marvel Universe. Originally created by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee, Sentry made his debut in “The Sentry #1” (2000), with a backstory built around memory loss and a forgotten past as one of the most formidable heroes in Marvel history.
The character’s duality, as both an unstoppable force for good and a devastating threat due to his alter ego, The Void, adds a layer of unpredictability to Thunderbolts*.
The trailer hints at this dynamic when Pugh’s Black Widow questions Bob about his presence, to which he responds with confusion, suggesting that memory loss will be integral to his storyline. His hospital-like attire further supports this, aligning with the character’s comic book origins where his own mind works against him, erasing his existence from the memories of even Marvel’s greatest heroes.
The Road to Casting Lewis Pullman
Pullman wasn’t always the first choice for Sentry. Initially, the role was set to be played by Academy Award nominee Steven Yeun, who departed in January due to scheduling conflicts stemming from the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strikes. “I think for me, time passing and things shifting kind of pulled me out of it,” Yeun told Variety in 2024. “But Jake [Schreier], I know, is going to do an incredible job.”
While Yeun remained diplomatic about his exit, he expressed a continued interest in joining the MCU in the future: “I wanna do a Marvel movie,” he added. “It took a lot of drafts on email to make sure that I conveyed the sincerity of how sorry I was to have to back out.”
Pullman’s casting was officially confirmed during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, following earlier reports from Deadline in January. Additionally, Geraldine Viswanathan joined the cast as Mel, replacing Ayo Edebiri after The Bear actress stepped away from the project.
The Meaning Behind the Thunderbolts* Asterisk
Months before the trailer’s release, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teased the addition of an asterisk to the film’s title at CinemaCon 2024. While Feige declined to elaborate, stating that audiences would understand its significance after watching the movie, speculation has run rampant. One prevailing theory is that the Thunderbolts team will transition into the MCU’s New Avengers, while others believe the asterisk signifies the arrival of the Dark Avengers instead.
Beyond the main cast, Thunderbolts* is expected to feature additional familiar faces, including Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (potentially as Red Hulk), Rachel Weisz’s Melina Vostokoff, and Laurence Fishburne’s Bill Foster.
The Impact of Sentry on the MCU
Sentry’s presence could have lasting consequences for the MCU. In Marvel Comics, he has played key roles in major storylines, such as “New Avengers” (2005) and “World War Hulk” (2007), where his immense power made him one of the few capable of challenging the Hulk. His most defining arc comes in “Siege” (2010), where he loses control of The Void and lays waste to Asgard, forcing Thor to make a devastating decision.
With no official plans announced for Thor 5, Sentry’s introduction could set the stage for future conflicts that intertwine with Asgard’s fate. His unpredictable nature, coupled with his overwhelming abilities, makes him a potential game-changer for the MCU’s next phase.
As Marvel Studios works to regain momentum following a turbulent few years, Thunderbolts* may be the project that helps bridge the past and future of the franchise. Additionally, the Russo Brothers have confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday, and by extension, Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), is a “new beginning,” which positions the upcoming MCU movies as being integral parts of setting up Phase Seven and beyond.
How do you feel about knowing the outcome of Thunderbolts*? Let us know in the comments!