Following the recent announcement of 26 new cast members for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more surprises are in store. The cast reveal was made during a comprehensive livestream, signaling the start of production and confirming a stellar lineup of actors joining Robert Downey Jr., who transitions from Iron Man to Doctor Doom in this new chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
A notable highlight from the announcement was Channing Tatum returning to the role of Gambit, a beloved character from the X-Men series. You can explore the full cast list of Avengers: Doomsday here.
However, some fans were quick to notice the absence of several key MCU characters from the announced lineup. Missing from the list are Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Chris Evans' Captain America, as well as other fan favorites like Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey. On the X-Men front, notable absences include Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, and Jean Grey.
Disappointment spread among the fanbase over these missing characters, but hope persists. In a subsequent Instagram post, Robert Downey Jr. hinted at further announcements, suggesting that the cast list is far from complete. "That’s what u call a deep bench of talent," RDJ teased. "Actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one… That must be it.. right?"
Marvel Studios chimed in with a comment that "there's always room for more," while the Russo Brothers, the film's directors, cryptically added, "It’s time…"
The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday
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It's clear that Marvel has more up its sleeve for Avengers: Doomsday. The burning question remains: who else will join the fray? Share your guesses in the comments below.
Earlier this month, the Russo brothers described Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning," setting the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo elaborated on their vision, 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 for release on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars following in May 2027. Leading up to these epic showdowns, Thunderbolts* will hit theaters in May 2025, the TV series Ironheart will premiere in June, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps will kick off Phase 6 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 is rife that one of these projects could be an X-Men film, adding to the excitement for what's next in the MCU.
