The Avengers are assembling once again for Avengers: Doomsday, and Marvel Studios has officially unveiled the star-studded cast for the highly anticipated film. The studio built suspense by revealing the full roster in a livestream event on Wednesday morning, confirming a mix of returning fan favorites, long-awaited debuts, and shocking comebacks.
Among the biggest surprises was the return of Robert Downey Jr., not as Iron Man, but as the film’s central antagonist—Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom. Downey, who bid farewell to Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame (2019), teased his villainous role at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con, cryptically stating, “New mask, same task.”
A Multiverse of Heroes—And Villains
The core Avengers team features several returning MCU veterans. Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Thor, alongside Anthony Mackie as Captain America, a mantle he officially took on in Brave New World. Danny Ramirez joins him as Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, while Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man also make their return. Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, Letitia Wright’s Shuri (the new Black Panther), and Winston Duke’s M’Baku are all set to play key roles.
However, the biggest shock of the livestream was the inclusion of several X-Men characters, marking their official integration into the main MCU timeline. Patrick Stewart is back as Professor X despite his character’s on-screen deaths in Logan and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Ian McKellen reprises his role as Magneto, while Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique also return. Channing Tatum, whose portrayal of Gambit was first teased in Deadpool & Wolverine, officially joins the mutant ensemble.
The Fantastic Four are also making their MCU debut ahead of their standalone film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing in July 2025. Pedro Pascal steps into the role of Mr. Fantastic, alongside Vanessa Kirby as the Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.
Marvel’s Expanding Roster and ‘Doomsday’s’ High Stakes
Several recent Marvel characters are also joining the action. Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (U.S. Agent), and Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost) return from Thunderbolts, while Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor will play crucial roles in the story. Lewis Pullman joins as the mysterious “Bob,” a yet-to-be-revealed character.
The last time audiences saw the Avengers assemble was in Endgame, which closed the chapter on the original team. With Chris Evans’ Captain America retired and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow gone, Avengers: Doomsday marks a bold new era for the franchise, blending classic heroes with new blood.
Directing duo Joe and Anthony Russo, responsible for The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame, return to helm Doomsday, bringing their expertise in large-scale, interconnected storytelling.
Marvel’s ambitious slate continues with Thunderbolts hitting theaters on May 2, 2025, followed by The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025. Avengers: Doomsday is set for a worldwide release on May 1, 2026, promising a game-changing event for the MCU.