Here we go. Marvel Studios has officially announced that Avengers: Doomsday is now in production. The revelation came through a live-streamed video showcasing director’s chairs emblazoned with the names of the film’s ensemble cast. The lineup includes both familiar faces and exciting newcomers to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Returning heroes include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Notably, Vanessa Kirby joins the cast as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, marking the integration of the Fantastic Four into the MCU.
The “Fox-Men” Assemble As Well
In a surprising twist, several actors from the previous 20th Century Fox X-Men franchise are set to reprise their roles, signaling a potential crossover. Sir Patrick Stewart returns as Professor Charles Xavier, Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and James Marsden as Cyclops.
We now know from the X (formerly Twitter) reveal, which happens every 15 minutes, that Avengers: Doomsday includes: Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Kelsey Grammer, Lewis Pullman, Danny Ramirez, Joseph Quinn, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Channing Tatum
That means, Thor, the Invisible Woman, Captain America, Bucky, Black Panther, Ant-Man, U.S. Agent, Namor, The Thing, Shang-Chi, Yelena Belova, Beast, The Sentry, The Falcon, Human Torch, Red Guardian, M’Baku, Ghost, Loki, Professor X, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, Cyclops, and Gambit all confirmed.
And perhaps the most headline-worthy twist? Robert Downey Jr. is reportedly back—not as Tony Stark, but as Doctor Doom. In a bold bit of casting, the Russo Brothers are reuniting with their Endgame MVP in what could be the biggest villain role the MCU has ever seen.
Speaking of the Russos, the directing duo shared why they’ve returned to the Marvel sandbox.
“Well, we love the genre,” Anthony Russo recently said. “Some people wrote it off as a less comprehensive form of storytelling that’s more for children. But we think of it as relevant for adults, if it is treated with maturity and complexity. That’s really all it is — a commitment to storytelling.”
Addressing the bloated state of the MCU post-Endgame, Anthony acknowledged the growing sprawl.
“Yes, the MCU has got quite large, that’s for sure. I mean, frankly, we struggle with that same issue. But part of the reason Joe and I decided to go back is exactly what you’re talking about. There needs to be more of a central narrative.”
“That was something we were very specific about when we worked with Marvel [before]. We would like to bring the focused narrative back,” he added.
And part of that tighter focus includes reintroducing major characters in new, unexpected ways.
“We can’t explain that as it’s part of the story,” Russo teased when asked about Downey’s new role. “But there’s nobody else in the world who could play this character the way he’s about to.”
Avengers: Doomsday is slated for release on May 1, 2026, and will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027. With multiversal chaos, returning legends, and a promise to streamline the sprawling MCU into a more emotionally driven epic, it’s safe to say that Marvel is setting the stage for its next cinematic peak.
Watch the full cast reveal and follow along for live updates as Marvel continues to roll out more names—and surprises—in the coming days.
This is a developing story.
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The Geek is a working screenwriter, director and screenwriting instructor.
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