Robert Downey Jr. returns as Doctor Doom in the Russo brothers' Avengers sequel, set for December 2026. The cast spans X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts characters.
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The first official trailer for "Avengers: Doomsday" arrived, pulling together characters from across the MCU's history. The film brings back the Russo brothers, who directed "Infinity War" and "Endgame" – two movies that grossed over $4 billion combined.
"Doomsday" was originally set for spring 2026. Disney pushed it to December 18, 2026, the same day as "Dune: Part 3," which cost Marvel its IMAX exclusivity.
Robert Downey Jr. leads the cast as Doctor Doom, a role that replaces Kang as the franchise's big-picture villain. Marvel fired Jonathan Majors in 2023 after his conviction on assault charges. The "Loki" season two finale had already weakened Kang's multiverse role, setting up the switch.
Downey Jr.'s casting surprised fans who watched Iron Man die in "Endgame." The multiverse provides an explanation. Marvel has introduced alternate-universe versions of Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Deadpool, and Wolverine in recent projects. Downey Jr.'s Doom likely comes from a different universe than his Iron Man.
Doctor Doom is the Fantastic Four's main comic-book enemy. The 2005 "Fantastic Four" movie had Julian McMahon in the role. Kevin Feige confirmed the new Fantastic Four reboot takes place in a separate universe. In that world, Joseph Quinn plays the Human Torch, and Tony Stark may have chosen villainy.
Comics precedent exists. A 2010 "What If?" issue had Victor Von Doom body-swap with a young Tony Stark. Doom took the Iron Man mantle in 2016's "The Infamous Iron Man."
The internet split on the casting. Some fans said it would ruin Downey Jr.'s "Endgame" exit and Doctor Doom's legacy. Rob Mitchell, director of theatrical insights at Gower Street Analytics, told Business Insider the move makes business sense.
"The chances are people are going to go, 'This is interesting. What are they doing? I've got to see this,'" Mitchell said. "Will he look like Tony Stark, or will they do something to make him look different?"
Marvel confirmed the lineup through an hours-long livestream in March 2025. Returning MCU veterans include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, and Simu Liu as Shang-Chi. Anthony Mackie and Danny Ramirez reprise their roles from "Captain America: Brave New World."
The "Thunderbolts*" cast joins: Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier, Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Lewis Pullman as Sentry.
The Fantastic Four cast moves straight from their reboot: Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" stars Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, and Winston Duke return as Shuri, Namor, and M'Baku.
Disney's $71 billion Fox deal brings X-Men characters into the mix. Kelsey Grammer is confirmed as Beast after his "The Marvels" end-credits cameo. Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops) are all on the cast list. Channing Tatum's Gambit from "Deadpool & Wolverine" will appear.
Chris Evans was not in the initial announcement. He appeared in a December 2025 teaser showing him holding a baby with the title "Steve Rogers Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday." The full trailer shows him greeting Thor and lifting Mjölnir. Evans could be playing Steve Rogers, a multiverse variant, or even Johnny Storm again – he played the Human Torch in 2005's "Fantastic Four" and cameoed as a variant in "Deadpool & Wolverine."
Notable absentees from the confirmed list: Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), and Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch). More announcements or cameos remain possible.
"Thunderbolts*" includes a post-credits scene filmed on the "Doomsday" set. It shows the team, rebranded as the New Avengers, in the Watchtower when the Fantastic Four spacecraft enters orbit. Director Jake Schreier told Variety he contributed to the scene. The Russo brothers directed it.
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" introduces Franklin Richards, the super-powered son of Reed and Sue. The villain Galactus tries to bargain for the baby. After the heroes win, a mid-credits scene jumps four years forward. A man in a green cloak – almost certainly Doctor Doom – approaches the toddler Franklin. The screen cuts to "'The Fantastic Four' will return in 'Avengers: Doomsday.'"
Michael Waldron ("Loki") and Stephen McFeely ("Endgame," "Infinity War") co-wrote the script. Loki is now holding the multiverse together, so events from that show will factor into the plot.
Marvel appears to be adapting two comic story arcs from Jonathan Hickman's mid-2010s run: "Time Runs Out" and "Secret Wars." In the comics, an alien race called the Beyonders creates living bombs to destroy the multiverse. Earths from different universes collide, wiping out both. Doctor Doom, Doctor Strange, and Molecule Man kill the Beyonders, steal their power, and create a new world with Doom as its god. Other heroes survive in life raft machines, then defeat Doom and restore the universe.
"Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" already alluded to incursions – universe collisions caused by prolonged multiversal travel. Something in "Doomsday" will likely trigger an incursion in the main MCU universe.
"Avengers: Secret Wars" arrives December 17, 2027, directed by the Russo brothers. It mirrors the "Infinity War" / "Endgame" two-film structure.
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