Quick Links Doctor Doom & The Fantastic Four Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom Pedro Pascal As Reed Richards A.K.A. Mister Fantastic Game Of Thrones (2014), The Mandalorian (2019), The Last Of Us (2023) Vanessa Kirby As Susan Storm, A.K.A. The Invisible Woman The Crown (2016–2017), Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018), Pieces Of A Woman (2020) Ebon Moss-Bachrach As Ben Grimm, A.K.A. The Thing The Punisher (2017), Andor (2022), The Bear (2022–2024) Joseph Quinn As Johnny Storm, A.K.A. The Human Torch Stranger Things (2022), A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), Gladiator II (2024) Thunderbolts Sebastian Stan as James "Bucky" Barnes, A.K.A. The Winter Soldier Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, A.K.A. Black Widow Wyatt Russell as John Walker, A.K.A. US Agent David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A. Red Guardian Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr, A.K.A. Ghost Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov, A.K.A. Taskmaster The Avengers Benedict Cumberbatch As Stephen Strange, A.K.A. Doctor Strange Several important figures within the MCU are steadily confirming cast members for Avengers: Doomsday. The fifth Avengers movie, previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, pivoted into a new direction as of San Diego Comic-Con 2024, officially confirming that Doctor Doom will be the central villain instead of Jonathan Majors" Kang the Conqueror. The Avengers: Doomsday release date, meanwhile, remains May 1, 2026. While story details emerge, what is certain is that it will begin to conclude the MCU"s Multiverse Saga before Avengers: Secret Wars brings it to a definitive end one year later.
Avengers: Doomsday will have been seven years in the making as the first Avengers movie to hit theaters since Avengers: Endgame raked in a record-breaking $2.5 billion worldwide gross for Marvel in 2019. Suffice it to say that the success of the MCU"s last Avengers movie was largely thanks to its ensemble cast, with Avengers: Doomsday likely to follow suit. While many cast members are expected to return for the next big team-up in Avengers: Doomsday alongside some newer faces, these are the cast members that have been confirmed so far.
Doctor Doom & The Fantastic Four Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom Close It"s safe to say that Robert Downey Jr. stole the show at SDCC 2024. The confirmation that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning vindicated rumors that had been swirling for several months. His casting as Doctor Doom came as a big surprise, however, as his potential return to the MCU was previously presumed to be as a variant of Tony Stark. Until further details about Avengers: Doomsday emerge, it remains unclear whether this will be the case for Robert Downey Jr."s version of Doctor Doom, or whether he will embody an entirely original character.
Robert Downey Jr."s MCU Movies
Year
Iron Man
2008
The Incredible Hulk
2008
Iron Man 2
2010
The Avengers
2012
Iron Man 3
2013
Avengers: Age of Ultron
2015
Captain America: Civil War
2016
Spider-Man: Homecoming
2017
Avengers: Infinity War
2018
Avengers: Endgame
2019
Since leaving the MCU after Tony Stark"s demise in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. has starred in 2020"s Dolittle as the eponymous character and 2023"s Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the latter. While there is no doubt a deeper reason for bringing him back, Robert Downey Jr. is one of Marvel"s strongest casting decisions with an unassailable track record as one of the MCU"s most iconic contributors. For now, the only comment that the actor has made about his new role is the cryptic, "New mask, same task."
Pedro Pascal As Reed Richards A.K.A. Mister Fantastic Close Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that Pedro Pascal"s Reed Richards will star in Avengers: Doomsday at SDCC 2024. This will mark his second appearance in the MCU after debuting alongside his eponymous teammates in The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025, notwithstanding cameo appearances in intervening MCU productions. His MCU casting was announced alongside his fellow Fantastic Four members on Valentine"s Day, February 14, 2024. Pedro Pascal is the second actor to portray Reed Richards in the MCU, after John Krasinski in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Related Every Actor Cast In MCU's The Fantastic Four Movie (So Far) The cast of Marvel Studios" The Fantastic Four reboot has begun to be revealed, ahead of the highly-anticipated movie"s release on July 25, 2025.
Pedro Pascal is one of the MCU"s most famous contributors, joining the franchise after riding high on a wave of popularity. His breakout role was Oberyn Martell in 2014"s Game of Thrones season 4. Since then, Pascal has earned acclaim for his roles as the titular character in The Mandalorian and as Joel Miller in The Last of Us. Pascal"s most recent superhero movie role was in the DCEU"s Wonder Woman 1984, where he portrayed Maxwell Lord. His take on Reed Richards is likely to strike a wildly different tone, however.
Vanessa Kirby As Susan Storm, A.K.A. The Invisible Woman Close Vanessa Kirby will reprise her role as Sue Storm in Avengers: Doomsday. In the absence of confirmed story details, it is safe to assume that Sue Storm, along with her Fantastic Four family, will be closely linked to Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers movie should it adapt their longstanding rivalry from Marvel Comics. Although The Fantastic Four have not been part of the Avengers as a team, each of them has been a member at some point in their Marvel Comics career.
Both Kirby and her on-screen brother, Joseph Quinn, are English actors joining the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland to portray American characters in the MCU.
Vanessa Kirby rose to prominence from her role as Princess Margaret in the Netflix show The Crown from 2016 to 2017. Her acting career began on stage, however, including in two Shakespeare productions, A Midsummer Night"s Dream, and As You Like It. Kirby was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Martha in Pieces of a Woman in 2021. Her most recent role was as Josephine Bonaparte in 2023"s Napoleon before she was announced to be joining the MCU in February 2024.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach As Ben Grimm, A.K.A. The Thing Close Ebon Moss-Bachrach"s Ben Grimm - also known as the Thing - will join the rest of The Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday. Kevin Feige confirmed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will not be an origin story, meaning Moss-Bachrach will likely be appearing in his rocky guise from the jump, with the acclaimed actor previously jesting that he has been "looking at rocks" to prepare for the role. Ben Grimm is one of Marvel"s most tragic and nuanced characters, making it likely that much of the pathos in Avengers: Doomsday will stem from him and his loving relationship with his teammates.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach"s casting as Ben Grimm was met with widespread approval. He recently earned recognition for his role as Richie Jerimovich in the Netflix comedy-drama The Bear, for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award. Now that the Defenders Saga has been confirmed as MCU canon, Moss-Bachrach will join the litany of actors who have played multiple roles in the MCU after he portrayed David Lieberman in The Punisher. He also joins his Fantastic Four co-star, Pedro Pascal, in being part of the Star Wars franchise after starring in the acclaimed Andor as the rebel Arvel Skeen.
Joseph Quinn As Johnny Storm, A.K.A. The Human Torch Close Like Pascal"s Reed Richards, Joseph Quinn"s Johnny Storm will be the second iteration of the character to appear in the MCU, after Chris Evans recently reprised the role in Deadpool & Wolverine. Quinn"s will be the definitive version of the character as he joins The Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday. The Human Torch is an impetuous hothead who will be an interesting addition to the MCU lineup, given very few characters match his personality. His interactions with Spider-Man, meanwhile - with whom Storm is best friends in Marvel Comics - are also an exciting prospect for the next ensemble movie.
Joseph Quinn has been a prolific figure in Hollywood for two years after starring as Eddie in Stranger Things season 4. Quinn already has experience working with Pedro Pascal as he stars alongside the Reed Richards actor in Gladiator II, where Quinn portrays Emperor Geta. While Joseph Quinn"s Hollywood legacy is already on the rise, his role as one of Marvel"s most beloved characters is likely to accelerate this significantly.
Thunderbolts Sebastian Stan as James "Bucky" Barnes, A.K.A. The Winter Soldier Close Bucky Barnes first appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger as the best friend of Steve Rogers. Following his death in that film, and his subsequent revival, Bucky appeared in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as the titular villain, and spent the rest of his time in the MCU trying to move past the brainwashing inflicted upon him and what he did when he was The Winter Soldier.
Related Thunderbolts* Cast & Marvel Character Guide Several MCU characters return for Phase 5"s Thunderbolts, a team of antiheroes and reformed villains attempting to follow in the Avengers" footsteps.
1 Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes has been a staple since the MCU"s Phase One and will reprise his role as the character in Thunderbolts*. Based on the official trailer for Thunderbolts*, Bucky Barnes seems to be tracking down a few members of the team, including US Agent, Yelena Belova, and Red Guardian. Bucky Barnes will join the rest of the Thunderbolts during the film, and they are rumored to play a significant role in Avengers: Doomsday.
Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, A.K.A. Black Widow Close Yelena Belova was introduced as the "sister" of Natasha Romanoff in Black Widow, where Romanoff"s history was seen including her surrogate family"s time undercover as Russian spies. Following the events of Black Widow, Yelena Belova goes off on her own, appearing in Hawkeye where she confronts Barton about her sister"s death. Her MCU journey continues in the upcoming film Thunderbolts*.
Positioned as the new Black Widow for the MCU, Yelena Belova looks to be one of the main focuses of Thunderbolts* as the trailers shown have often followed her perspective. Yelena still has a lot to work through regarding her sister"s death and her purpose after breaking free of the Red Room"s influence, which looks to continue in Thunderbolts*. Like her sister before her, she might have an integral part in Avengers: Doomsday.
Wyatt Russell as John Walker, A.K.A. US Agent Close John Walker first appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier as the government"s official replacement for Captain America following the end of Steve Rogers" story in Avengers: Endgame. Despite Rogers passing on the shield to Sam Wilson, the US government saw it best to let Walker take up the shield, but his actions during The Falcon and the Winter Soldier saw Walker being stripped of his Captain America title.
Depending on what happens in Thunderbolts*, US Agent could play a part in Avengers: Doomsday alongside the other members of the team.
It"s unclear what journey John Walker will go through in Thunderbolts*, but he looks to be a significant member of the team. Hopefully, he will be attempting to make amends with his actions as Captain America while operating under a new name, US Agent. Depending on what happens in Thunderbolts*, US Agent could play a part in Avengers: Doomsday alongside the other members of the team.
David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, A.K.A. Red Guardian Close Alexei Shostakov was the adoptive father to Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova as they worked undercover as Russian spies. In fact, he was Russia"s answer to Captain America, as he was injected with the super soldier serum and became Red Guardian. Though his prime is behind him, Red Guardian seems to be a major team player in Thunderbolts* and the trailer even hints at him being the character to give them their official team name.
Related Marvel's Thunderbolts*: Cast, Release Date & Everything We Know With an MCU Thunderbolts* movie officially in development, here"s everything that"s known so far including potential cast, story, & release date.
The Avengers will need all the heavy hitters they can get in Avengers: Doomsday, and Alexei Shostakov can provide some much-needed muscle as Red Guardian. David Harbour has been fun as the character during his appearance in Black Widow, and Thunderbolts* sees him reunited with Yelena Belova, working together once again after he seems to be living alone in squalor prior to the events of the film.
Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr, A.K.A. Ghost Close Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost made her first MCU appearance in Ant-Man and the Wasp, as the antagonist of the titular characters. She has the ability to make herself tangible as well as generate huge amounts of power, but her biggest issue in Ant-Man and the Wasp was her lack of being able to control them to the extent that she wanted to, making her a liability.
Thankfully, Ghost seems to have her powers better under control than her appearance in Ant-Man and the Wasp, which could make her a powerful asset to both Thunderbolts* and Avengers: Doomsday. She never quite felt like a complete villain, while Thunderbolts* seems to make her out as more of an anti-hero following her first appearance. Her story could be an intriguing one to follow as she evolves throughout the events of Thunderbolts*.
Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov, A.K.A. Taskmaster Close Taskmaster was one of the main villains of Black Widow, as she attempted to hunt down and kill Natasha Romanoff. During the events of the film, it is revealed that Taskmaster was actually Antonia Dreykov, daughter of General Dreykov. General Dreykov has a significant history with Natasha Romanoff as he was the overseer of the Red Room, with all the Black Widows under his influence.
After Antonia Dreykov was almost killed, her father installed a chip in her body which allows him to fully control her every move while also giving her a handful of interesting powers. Her main power is the ability to copy the fighting styles of anyone she has seen, making her a dangerous combatant. If she makes it through Thunderbolts*, she could be a strong addition to the roster in Avengers: Doomsday.
The Avengers Benedict Cumberbatch As Stephen Strange, A.K.A. Doctor Strange Close Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed in an interview with Netflix on June 21 that Doctor Strange would be returning in Avengers: Doomsday. Strange was bound to be a part of the next two Avengers movies, as his most recent MCU outings in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw him wrestle with the issue of colliding universes. As the first movie to conclude the Multiverse Saga, Strange will likely play a pivotal role in the narrative that is expected to involve significant multiversal shenanigans.
Benedict Cumberbatch"s MCU Movies
Year
Doctor Strange
2016
Thor: Ragnarok
2017
Avengers: Infinity War
2018
Avengers: Endgame
2019
Spider-Man: No Way Home
2021
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
2022
Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed Doctor Strange for eight years after debuting in 2016"s Doctor Strange. Cumberbatch is one of the most prominent and decorated actors in the MCU, with a Primetime Emmy Award under his belt for his work on Sherlock, as well as several Academy Award nominations and a CBE for his contributions to performing arts and charity. While he has confirmed his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday, it also remains likely that Cumberbatch will star in Doctor Strange 3 before Avengers: Secret Wars - though this movie is still to be confirmed.
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert DOwney Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Director Anthony Russo , Joe Russo Release Date May 1, 2026 Studio(s) Marvel Studios Cast Vanessa Kirby , Joseph Quinn , Pedro Pascal , Robert Downey Jr. , Ebon Moss-Bachrach , Benedict Cumberbatch Character(s) Sue Storm , Johnny Storm , Reed Richards , Victor von Doom , Ben Grimm , Doctor Strange Franchise(s) The Avengers Expand

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