Following the exciting announcement of 26 new cast members for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more surprises are on the way. During a recent livestream, Marvel unveiled the cast list, confirming that production for the superhero epic is set to begin, with Robert Downey Jr. reprising his iconic role, this time as Doctor Doom.
Among the notable additions, fans were thrilled to learn that Channing Tatum will return as the beloved X-Men character, Gambit. You can explore the full Avengers: Doomsday cast list here.
However, the absence of several key Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) figures has sparked discussions among fans. Notably missing from the lineup are Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Chris Evans' Captain America, and other fan favorites like Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey. On the X-Men front, characters such as Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, and Jean Grey are also absent from the announced cast.
The omission of these beloved characters led to a wave of disappointment among the fanbase. Yet, hope remains as Robert Downey Jr. took to Instagram to tease that the cast announcements are far from over. In his post, he remarked, "That’s what u call a deep bench of talent. Actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one… That must be it.. right?"
The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday
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Marvel further fueled speculation by commenting, "there's always room for more." The Russo Brothers, who are directing the film, added to the excitement by stating, "It’s time…"
It's clear that Marvel has more up its sleeve for Avengers: Doomsday. The big question now is, which other characters will join the fray? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.
Earlier this month, the Russo Brothers shared their vision for Avengers 5 and 6, describing them as a "new beginning" that will set the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo emphasized their focus on creating complex villains, stating, "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, set for February 18, May 5, and November 10. Speculation is rife that one of these could be the long-awaited X-Men film.
