Marvel Studios is officially bringing the Avengers back to the big screen and this time, they’re going bigger than ever.
Marvel revealed the main cast of Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on May 1, 2026. The lineup includes returning heroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stars from the original 20th Century Fox’s X-Men movies, the new Fantastic Four, and characters from Thunderbolts.
The Ultimate Marvel Crossover
The event was quiet and stylish. Every 12 minutes, a chair with an actor’s name by spotlighting director’s chairs, one at a time, along with music from that character’s movie. It ended with a big moment where Robert Downey Jr. was spotted in a suit and tie, stepping into frame and putting a finger to his lips, a silent tease for his role as Doctor Doom.
MCU regulars returning include:
- Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
- Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
- Anthony Mackie (Captain America)
- Paul Rudd (Ant-Man)
- Letitia Wright (Black Panther)
- Simu Liu (Shang-Chi)
- Winston Duke (M’Baku)
- Danny Ramirez (The Falcon)
From the Thunderbolts*, the casting includes:
- Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier)
- Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
- Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent)
- David Harbour (Red Guardian)
- Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost)
- Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry)
And the 20th Century Fox’s X-Men legends are officially back:
- Patrick Stewart (Professor X)
- Ian McKellen (Magneto)
- James Marsden (Cyclops)
- Rebecca Romijn (Mystique)
- Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler)
- Kelsey Grammer (Beast)
- Channing Tatum (finally making his debut as Gambit)
The new Fantastic Four cast members also joins the action:
- Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic)
- Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman)
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing)
- Joseph Quinn (Human Torch)
And in a surprise addition, Tenoch Huerta Mejía is returning as Namor, despite past controversy. His involvement signals Marvel is moving forward with his character after all.
Downey, Doom, and the Directors
Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom is a big moment for Marvel. He’s switching sides, from Iron Man to one of the most iconic villains in Marvel history.
He’ll reunite with Joe and Anthony Russo, the directing duo behind Infinity War and Endgame. They’ve come back to the MCU after a break from Avengers: Endgame, and they’ve said organizing such a massive cast has been a challenge.
Marvel boss Kevin Feige reportedly pitched the Doom idea to Downey, and it was Downey who helped convince the Russos to come back. Once longtime screenwriter Stephen McFeely delivered the story pitch, the team was in.
What’s Next?
Even with 26 revealed characters, Marvel says more announcements are coming. Notably missing from this lineup: Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Chris Evans’ Captain America, though Evans is rumored to appear in at least one of the two upcoming films.
Avengers: Doomsday is the first of a two-part finale for the Multiverse Saga, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming on May 7, 2027. It’s clear that Marvel is aiming for something massive and this cast is just the beginning.
