Production Starts, Cast Confirmed – One Chair at a Time
Marvel Studios has begun filming Avengers: Doomsday, the 2026 ensemble film that continues the MCU’s ongoing Multiverse Saga. The start of production was marked with a lengthy social media livestream that gradually revealed the cast — literally chair by chair — in a five-hour-plus rollout that had fans guessing, theorising, and occasionally groaning as the line-up was unveiled at a glacial pace.
The final seat was filled by Robert Downey Jr., who will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Victor Von Doom – a role that was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024.
More on Screen Realm:
Here’s the “Now in Production” video that Marvel dropped after the final chair had finally been unveiled.
Here’s Who’s in Avengers: Doomsday – Confirmed Cast
The confirmed ensemble spans multiple Marvel projects, past, present, and future. Here’s who’s been officially announced:
- Robert Downey Jr. – Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom
- Chris Hemsworth – Thor
- Tom Hiddleston – Loki
- Anthony Mackie – Sam Wilson / Captain America
- Sebastian Stan – Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
- Paul Rudd – Scott Lang / Ant-Man
- Letitia Wright – Shuri
- Winston Duke – M’Baku
- Danny Ramirez – Joaquin Torres / Falcon
- Florence Pugh – Yelena Belova
- David Harbour – Red Guardian
- Wyatt Russell – John Walker / US Agent
- Hannah John-Kamen – Ghost
- Lewis Pullman – Sentry
- Simu Liu – Shang-Chi
- Tenoch Huerta Mejía – Namor
- Pedro Pascal – Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
- Vanessa Kirby – Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach – Ben Grimm / The Thing
- Joseph Quinn – Johnny Storm / Human Torch
- Patrick Stewart – Professor Charles Xavier
- Ian McKellen – Magneto
- Alan Cumming – Nightcrawler
- Rebecca Romijn – Mystique
- James Marsden – Cyclops
- Kelsey Grammer – Beast
- Channing Tatum – Gambit
The inclusion of the original X-Men actors — including Stewart, McKellen, Romijn, Marsden, and others — points to a more direct crossover between the former Fox franchise and the current MCU. Tatum’s Gambit, following his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, also continues the multiverse thread that’s been steadily building.
Who’s Notably Missing (For Now)
Despite the large cast, there are some notable absences. Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), and Charlie Cox (Daredevil) are among those who have not been confirmed. There’s speculation that some, like Cumberbatch, could appear in Secret Wars instead. Holland is currently tied up with Spider-Man 4 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, making his availability uncertain.
Chris Evans is another big name reportedly linked to the project, though whether he’ll be reprising Steve Rogers or playing a different variant remains to be seen.
A Big Swing During an Uncertain Time
Marvel is clearly positioning Avengers: Doomsday as a major tentpole, one that brings together several strands from the post-Endgame era. It also aims to formally integrate the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader universe — something fans have been waiting for since Disney’s acquisition of Fox.
That said, the film arrives at a time when the MCU is facing mixed reactions from both critics and audiences, with some viewers citing superhero fatigue and a growing sense of narrative sprawl. Bringing back the Russo Brothers to direct and anchor the story with Robert Downey Jr. — albeit in a new role — shows that Marvel is looking to capture that heyday magic again by injecting some of the same ingredients. It remains to be seen if the Russos can deliver the same quality in the MCU again (their non-Marvel run has been… bumpy, to say the least) and whether fans will embrace having Downey Jr. in villain form this time around.
Avengers: Doomsday Release Date
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released in U.S. cinemas on May 1st, 2026.
