"Avengers: Doomsday" Cast Reveal Shocks Fans—But Who’s Missing?

And what names they were. From long-lost X-Men icons to Fantastic Four newcomers and a few multiverse wildcards, the cast list sprawls like a comic-con fever dream. It all ended with a dramatic crescendo—the Avengers theme swelling as a final chair spun to reveal “Robert Downey Jr.” in bold print, confirming that he would return not as Iron Man, but as the villainous Victor Von Doom.

But as the smoke cleared and the final chair settled, one thing became just as noticeable as the reveals: who wasn’t there.

What we got: A superhero smorgasbord

Let’s start with the confirmed ensemble—because it is massive. The confirmed returning MCU veterans include Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Danny Ramirez (Falcon), and Winston Duke (M’Baku).

Joining them are the stars of Thunderbolts, Marvel’s gritty anti-hero team, including Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman. A bold inclusion, considering the team’s power levels are arguably underwhelming compared to multiverse-bending threats.

Then came the mutants. Marvel dusted off the chairs of the original Fox-era X-Men with Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and Kelsey Grammer all returning. Channing Tatum’s long-awaited Gambit is now canon thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, and he’s suiting up again for Doomsday!

And let’s not forget the Fantastic Four reboot cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn are stepping into their superhero identities just months before Doomsday drops.

As for genuine surprises, Tenoch Huerta’s return as Namor raised eyebrows and questions. Following past allegations and subsequent controversy, many thought his days in the MCU were behind him—but here he is, throne intact and presumably ready to stir political tensions (and possibly romantic ones, given comic lore) with the Fantastic Four.

But what’s missing feels even bigger

Despite the colossal roster, many fans were left reeling over the notable absences. Chief among them: Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Given Peter Parker’s centrality to modern Marvel and the multiverse narrative, his exclusion felt almost too glaring. Is Marvel holding something back?

Then there’s Chris Evans. For months, rumors have swirled about his possible return—either as an evil Hydra Cap or a multiverse variant—but his name never showed. He’s publicly denied involvement, but then, so did Andrew Garfield before No Way Home. Coincidence?

Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch was another name many expected—if not hoped—to see. Her character’s arc, last seen crumbling beneath Mount Wundagore in Multiverse of Madness, seemed destined to weave into Doomsday, especially given Wanda’s complicated ties to Doctor Doom in the comics. But Olsen has confirmed she’s sitting both Doomsday and Secret Wars out, citing a need to explore projects outside Marvel’s shadow. That’s her choice, of course—but it’s undeniably a blow to fans who’ve followed her evolution from side character to potential linchpin of the Multiverse Saga.

Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk is also absent. While less shocking given his dwindling presence post-Thor: Ragnarok, his exclusion still adds to a growing list of OG Avengers MIA. And with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord also absent, you start to wonder—are we really getting an Avengers movie, or just a multiversal meetup?

A team without its heart?

Let’s be blunt: Avengers: Doomsday has a massive cast. But it doesn’t necessarily have the core. The original emotional weight of the Avengers came from the bond between characters like Tony, Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Clint. Without Spider-Man’s youthful heart, without Wanda’s tragic power, without Hulk’s raw fury, and without Cap’s moral compass, this new team has a lot to prove.

And it’s not just about nostalgia—it’s about narrative cohesion. Can these newcomers and legacy characters mesh into a compelling story, or will the film collapse under the weight of its own ambition? Marvel’s track record post-Endgame has been hit-or-miss. For every WandaVision, there’s a Quantumania. And fans are wary.

Final thoughts: A showstopper with shadows

The livestream did what it was meant to do: dominate headlines, trend globally, and fuel speculation. It worked. We laughed, we cheered, we squinted at every chair. But amid the hype is a gnawing question: is Avengers: Doomsday truly a passing of the torch, or just a scramble to recapture lightning in a bottle?

If this is the final Avengers roster, Marvel’s got work to do. Not just in plot mechanics, but in giving this new team the heart, conflict, and connection that made audiences care in the first place. Because if it’s all spectacle without soul, even 27 characters won’t be enough to save the day.

Until then, we wait for May 1, 2026—with hope, skepticism, and probably more than a few conspiracy theories.

Where to watch the original Avengers Saga: All past Avengers films are streaming on Disney+.

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