No Spidey, No Cap: Already Doomsday for Avengers?

Marvel Studios recently created a buzz with an extensive livestream revealing the cast of Avengers: Doomsday and the fans are going nuts. Some are anticipating the return of their favourite characters, while others are still hoping for their beloved ones to make the cut.

The event showcased name drops of 27 major stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Paul Rudd, Pedro Pascal, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hiddleston, and Sebastian Stan. However, fans quickly noticed the absence of characters such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, Star-Lord, and Daredevil.

Downey, who is set to return as Doctor Doom, praised Russo Brothers for assembling such an impressive lineup.

He also hinted that the revealed list might not be final, a notion reinforced by Marvel’s cryptic response: “There’s always room for more.” The absence of actors like Chris Evans, Tom Holland, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Ryan Reynolds has only fueled speculation about potential surprises.

Adding to the excitement, are the concept art floating around. The images featured characters such as Doctor Strange, Vision, Star-Lord, and Hulk, along with a medieval setting where Doctor Doom sits on a throne, seemingly overseeing a captured Reed Richards. One piece of artwork showed an alternate Black Panther, possibly signaling a recasting.

The leaks also hinted at Thunderbolts, suggesting the return of Sentry. Or possibly The Void. The Avengers vs. X-Men narrative appears to be set in motion, though Hugh Jackman, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Ryan Reynolds remain unseen for now. Given the billion-dollar success of their respective franchises, it seems logical that Marvel will bring them back.

With Avengers: Doomsday slated for a May 2026 release, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027,, the two will serve as a grand culmination of the multiverse saga. It seems that the formula is, to keep the biggest surprises for the end.