Avengers: Doomsday, the fifth Avengers film from Marvel Studios, and the first of a two-part arc culminating in Secret Wars, starts shooting in the spring for a May 2026 release date. And if you thought Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame had a lot of heroes running around, then you may not be prepared for how many return in Doomsday. We’ve already had several iconic MCU cast members announced for Doomsday so far, and here is who we know are confirmed to come back:
Robert Downey Jr.
This is the big one, and the “Doom” of the titular “Doomsday.” Marvel Studios announced at Comic-Con 2024 that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the MCU not as Tony Stark/Iron Man, but as Dr. Victor Von Doom. Will he be a Tony variant? Probably. All we know is that he will be front and center in Doomsday, and likely, in Secret Wars as well.
Chris Evans
The second actor of the Avengers’ “Core Four” is returning, but almost certainly not as Steve Rogers/Captain America. At least, not the Captain America of the Sacred Timeline/Earth-616. Will he be evil Hydra Cap? Nomad? With the Multiverse at play, the possibilities are endless.
Anthony Mackie
Whoever Chris Evans may play, Sam Wison is throwing the shield in Doomsday. The Avengers need a Captain America leading the charge in battle, and right now, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson is our Sentinel of Liberty.
Sebastian Stan
Not only will Chris Evans be back, but so will his co-star from three of his Captain America films, Sebastian Stan. Bucky Barnes a.k.a. the Winter Solider returns, after his time among the Thunderbolts. Speaking of the cast of Thunderbolts*…
Thunderbolts* (Some of the Cast)
At Comic-Con, Marvel Studios announced that most of the principal cast of Thunderbolts* returns in Doomsday. Now, we won’t list all the main cast here, because we expect not everyone in this MCU version of the Suicide Squad will make it out alive. Or even most of them. But we expect the surviving characters to appear in Doomsday. Perhaps as the New Avengers? Place your bets on who those might be.
Tom Holland
An article in The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Tom Holland would be swinging in as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Avengers: Doomsday, sometime between working on Chris Nolan’s next film and Spider-Man 4. We can’t wait to see how Tom Holland reacts when the villain looks just like his mentor, Mr. Strark.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Principal Cast
The principal cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps—Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and—were confirmed by Kevin Feige at Comic-Con 2024 as starring in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Given Reed Richards’ famously adversarial relationship with Doctor Doom in the comics, we think it’s fantastic (pun intended) they’re all along for the ride.
Benedict Cumberbatch
We last saw the versatile British actor casting spells as the former Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022. He recently said in an interview he’d be returning as Doctor Strange for Avengers: Doomsday. This will shoot before any potential Doctor Strange 3, so the cliffhanger ending of that second film will be resolved in Doomsday it seems. Or it won’t! Wouldn’t be the first time.
Hayley Atwell
Deadline confirmed that Hayley Atwell will be back as Peggy Carter, a role she first played in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, which she later reprised for her own two-season series Agent Carter. It’s likely Peggy will be a multiversal variant, probably one with powers like her character in the What If…? Animated series.
Charlie Cox
The Daredevil: Born Again actor recently posted about getting back in shape for Avengers filming this summer. Although the Man Without Fear has never been an Avenger in the MCU (or really, even the comics) it looks like he’s going to suit up for Doomsday.
Which Other MCU Stars Might Return for Doomsday?
These names are likey just the tip of the iceberg for Doomsday. So who is unconfirmed but will probably be back? Well, we think the odds are good that Mark Ruffalo is back as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye. And yes, Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff died in Endgame, but this is the Multiverse Saga, baby. We expect to see a Black Widow variant completing the OG six Avengers. However, none of them have been confirmed by any official announcements yet.
Other MCU alumni we expect to appear are Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. The end of The Marvels saw Monica Rambeau lost in a parallel reality, so that likely plays into Doomsday. The end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 said “The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return.” Now that he’s on Earth, will he become an Avenger? Quite possibly. Less certain are Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/the Scarlet Witch, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, or Letitia Wright as Shuri, the new Black Panther. But if they don’t appear in Doomsday, then expect them in Secret Wars. Also, given how much the Multiverse factored into Deadpool & Wolverine, expect those two killer Canadians to make some kind of appearance as well. Like we said, this movie is going to be stacked.