The Marvel Cinematic Universe is entering its sixth phase, and one of the most critical films in this chapter will be Avengers: Doomsday. During a nearly five-and-a-half-hour livestream, Marvel announced the blockbuster’s cast – and there was no shortage of genuine surprises.
The new film will feature Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Danny Ramirez (The Falcon), Winston Duke (M’Baku), and… Tom Hiddleston (Loki).
They will be supported by Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), and Lewis Pullman (person called Bob). The movie will also feature mutants: Patrick Stewart (Prof. X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Channing Tatum (Gambit), Kelsey Grammer (Beast) and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler).
Marvel also decided to include The Fantastic Four in the line-up, namely Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (The Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing).
In 2024, Marvel revealed that the new supervillain, Dr. Doom, will be played by Robert Downey Jr., who previously starred as Iron Man, aka Tony Stark.
Doomsday will be the fifth instalment in the Avengers saga, following the highly-discussed Avengers: Endgame from 2019. The recipe for success, which Marvel urgently needs after several flops, will be to give audiences some fan-pleasing, familiar elements and something fresh. In the Doomsday cast, MCU veterans are strategically mixed with the newcomers.
However, given the previous Avengers line-up, the list has a few absences that may puzzle you. Here are the biggest missing characters.
If you want to rewatch or catch-up with previous MCU productions, have a look at our guide on how to watch Marvel movies and series in order.
Mark Ruffalo as Hulk
Last seen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Status: Alive
After surviving the great battle in Avengers: Endgame, the kind-hearted Dr Bruce Banner decided to take care of his more violent alter ego. As he explained to his cousin Jennifer Walters AKA She-Hulk in her standalone series, he was experimenting with merging his two personalities. As a result, he created a Hulk Inhibitor Device to let him control his transformations – since then, he appeared as a Smart Hulk, a hybrid of human Banner and the big green guy.
Bruce arrived at the family dinner at the end of She-Hulk, introducing his son Skaar. The boy was born on the planet Sakaar, where Hulk fought as a gladiator in Thor: Ragnarok. In the comics, his mom was the warrior Caiera the Oldstrong, but she hasn’t been yet mentioned in the MCU. Perhaps Bruce Banner won’t appear in Avengers: Doomsday because he’s busy with family matters – Hulk may have returned to Sakaar to take care of his son. Therefore, it looks like we won’t see the Hulk until Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.
Tom Holland as Spider-Man
Last seen in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Status: Alive
The last Spider-Man movie ended on a sour note, with Peter Parker erased from everyone’s memories by Doctor Strange’s spell, which was cast to restore order in the multiverse. Two weeks later, he approached MJ to reintroduce himself as promised, but changed his mind after seeing her safe and happy.
Ultimately, Peter got a new Spider-Man suit and returned to vigilante activity. Why he won’t be in Avengers: Doomsday is a mystery – perhaps it will be explained in Spider-Man 4, which will arrive in theatres on 31 July 2026.
Marvel Studios
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel
Last seen in The Marvels
Status: Slive
After restoring planet Hala, the Kree home world, Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel returned to Earth. She moved into Monica Rambeau’s house, as its previous owner had been drawn into another dimension. It’s unclear why Carol doesn’t appear in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday – as one of the most powerful superheroes residing on Earth, she would be a natural ally in the fight against the new supervillain.
Whatever the in-universe reason, the Captain’s absence most likely has to do with the disastrous reception of The Marvels. Kevin Feige may want Carol Danvers to remain in the shadows so as not to rile up fans disappointed by the film, which was fronted by three female superheroes.
Chris Evans as Captain America
Last seen in Avengers: Endgame
Status: Alive
Steve Rogers was a key character in previous phases of the MCU and always had his hands full. When he retired after defeating Thanos, it was an ideal end to his storyline. In the Avengers: Endgame finale, Steve decided to return to the 1940s and spend his life with Peggy Carter. In the present day, he appeared as an older man and handed over the Captain American name and vibranium shield to Sam Wilson, his successor.
For some time, there were rumours that Steve Rogers would appear in Avengers: Doomsday, but details were vague. The latest spot teasing the film reveals that the cast doesn’t include Chris Evans – luckily, it looks as though Marvel won’t bring Steve out of his well-deserved retirement.
Marvel Studios
Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch
Last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Status: Deceased
After the events chronicled in the WandaVision series, ex-Avenger Wanda Maximoff AKA Scarlet Witch used dark magic to reunite with her lost children, Billy and Tommy. Her actions caused chaos in the multiverse, resulting in a battle with Stephen Strange and his allies in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Ultimately, Wanda was defeated and suffered death, and that’s the reason she’s not back in the MCU. Well, at least she’s not back for now – it’s a multiverse, and honestly, they can resurrect whoever they want, whenever they want.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange
Last seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Status: Alive
Scarlet Witch’s shenanigans involving magic books and multiverse travel greatly impacted Stephen Strange. After using the Darkhold, a collection of evil spells, to possess his deceased counterpart in another reality, he’s blessed (or cursed) with the Third Eye. Sometime later, Doctor Strange was approached by the sorceress Clea. The mysterious woman persuaded him to enter the Dark Dimension and fix what he destroyed fighting Wanda.
Being in an alternate universe could be a good excuse for not showing up to war with Dr. Doom. Strange’s absence will likely be explained in the next film featuring him: Avengers: Secret Wars.
Marvel Studios
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Last seen in Black Widow
Status: Deceased
Natasha Romanoff’s arc came to a close in Avengers: Endgame. The ex-assassin and Avenger, known as the Black Widow, sacrificed herself so Hawkeye could get one of the Infinity Stones from the Red Skull. Later, Marvel decided to give Natasha a standalone film. Black Widow was, however, a prequel, and it didn’t affect the superhero’s ultimate death in any way. Just like the Scarlet Witch, Natasha Romanoff is dead – at least, for now (multiverse, remember?).
Don Cheadle as War Machine
Last seen in Secret Invasion
Status: Alive
James “Rhodey” Rhodes, known as War Machine, had a hard time after Thanos’ defeat. At one point, he was kidnapped by the Skrull general Gravik, who replaced him with his shapeshifting agent, Raava. Eventually, Rhodey was rescued by G’iah, the daughter of Talos, a Skrull who was Nick Fury’s ally.
What happened to War Machine after the events of Secret Invasion and why he’s not in Avengers: Doomsday is unknown – apparently, the superhero won’t appear until the MCU series, Armor Wars, scheduled for 2026.
Marvel Studios
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye
Last seen in Hawkeye
Status: Alive
After surviving the war with Thanos, Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye clearly decided to devote himself to family life. In Disney’s miniseries titled Hawkeye, the archer was, however, forced to confront his dark past, which he did with the help of his young protégée, Kate Bishop. Ultimately, Clint returned to his wife and kids – and presumably decided to wait out the fight with Dr. Doom along with them.
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Last seen in The Marvels
Status: Alive
Nick Fury might not be a superhero per se, but he has the charisma and will of a hundred of them. He appeared in all the Avengers films and many other MCU entries, so his absence in Avengers: Doomsday is a huge surprise. However, overseeing superheroes and monitoring Earth’s security finally became exhausting for Nick.
It’s no wonder that after Secret Invasion, he decided to settle down alone on the space station S.A.B.E.R, where he returned after the events of The Marvels. Apparently, he’ll stay there during the fight with Dr Doom.
