Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have stirred excitement once again following the announcement of an additional 26 cast members for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. In a recent livestream, Marvel unveiled the extensive list of actors joining Robert Downey Jr. in this superhero epic, signaling the start of production. The reveal included surprises such as Channing Tatum reprising his role as the beloved X-Men character, Gambit. You can view the complete Avengers: Doomsday cast list here.
However, the absence of several major MCU characters from the announced cast has not gone unnoticed. Notably missing are Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Chris Evans' Captain America, the Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey. On the X-Men front, fans were disappointed to see no Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, or Jean Grey included. The omission of these fan-favorite characters led to a wave of reactions from the superhero community, expressing their disappointment.
Yet, hope remains as Robert Downey Jr., set to portray Doctor Doom after his iconic run as Iron Man, hinted on Instagram that more announcements are on the horizon. "That’s what u call a deep bench of talent," he posted. "Actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one… That must be it.. right?" Marvel's response in the comments section further fueled speculation, stating, "there's always room for more." The Russo Brothers, the film's directors, added to the intrigue with a cryptic message, "It’s time…"
The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday
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Clearly, Marvel has more up its sleeve for Avengers: Doomsday. Speculation is rife about who else might join the fray. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Earlier this month, the Russo brothers shared their vision for Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning," setting the stage for the future of the MCU in Phase 7. Joe Russo emphasized their focus on creating complex, three-dimensional villains, noting, "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well-shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."
Avengers: Doomsday is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Secret Wars in May 2027. Leading up to these releases, fans can look forward to Thunderbolts* in May 2025, the TV series Ironheart in June, and the kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.
Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule: February 18, 2028; May 5, 2028; and November 10, 2028. Speculation suggests that one of these could be the long-awaited X-Men film.
