Who’s Missing from the ‘Avengers Doomsday’ Cast and More!
Marvel fans were buzzing with excitement on Wednesday when the cast of Avengers: Doomsday was revealed. The list of nearly 30 stars included heavy-hitters like Chris Hemsworth and Patrick Stewart, but fans were shocked by the absence of several major Marvel stars. Some heroes who have been key parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for years were notably missing from the announcement. So, why are so many favorites missing from the Doomsday cast?
The Missing Marvel Heroes
One of the most notable absences was Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland. Fans were surprised to see that Holland, who has been a staple in the last few Avengers films, was not listed. Although Holland is set to lead his own Spider-Man film in July 2026, just two months after Doomsday hits theaters, his absence is puzzling, especially since he appeared in both previous Avengers films.
Other significant MCU characters left off the cast list include Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord, Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch. These characters have been fan favorites for years, and many assumed they would return for the highly anticipated film.
Fans even speculated that Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) might have cameo roles after their successful collaboration in Deadpool 3, but they too were left out of the cast list. Even more surprising was the absence of Chris Evans, who had previously been rumored to return for Doomsday.
Why Are These Heroes Missing?
Marvel has a tradition of keeping surprises under wraps until the last minute, so it’s possible that some of these missing heroes will appear in the movie unannounced. The studio itself hinted that more casting announcements could be coming, commenting on a video of the cast reveal, “there’s always room for more.” This suggests that there could be additional characters yet to be confirmed for Doomsday.
Another possibility is that some of these heroes might be saving their big return for the follow-up film, Avengers: Secret Wars, which is set to be released in May 2027. Marvel has often used a balance of character appearances to spread out the storylines across multiple films. For example, in 2018, both Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) were absent from Avengers: Infinity War, only to return in a major way in Avengers: Endgame. Their absence in Infinity War was actually a key plot point, so it’s possible some characters are being saved for Secret Wars for similar reasons.
Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch: The Actors Speak Out
While some fans are holding out hope that the missing characters will show up in Doomsday after all, a few key actors have confirmed their absence. Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange, previously stated that his character wouldn’t be in Doomsday, explaining that Doctor Strange’s storyline doesn’t align with the current film’s direction. However, he later walked back his comments, confusing fans further by saying he would indeed appear in Doomsday.
Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Scarlet Witch, was more definitive in her statement. She confirmed that she won’t be appearing in either Doomsday or Secret Wars, which means fans will have to wait longer to see her character again.
A Focus on the X-Men?
Another interesting twist in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement is the heavy focus on X-Men characters. Several original X-Men stars, including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Jackman, have been confirmed to return for the film. This suggests that Doomsday will have a significant focus on the X-Men, potentially involving multiple universes coming together. The inclusion of X-Men characters could be one of the reasons why some MCU heroes are sidelined in this film.
Will Fans See Their Favorite Heroes Soon?
If Marvel is holding back on certain characters for Secret Wars, fans won’t have to wait too long to see them again. Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars will follow closely behind, releasing on May 7, 2027. The excitement is building, and with so many characters still up in the air, it’s clear that Marvel is saving some surprises for later.
The Missing Cast List
Here’s a quick look at the notable Marvel actors who were missing from the Avengers: Doomsday cast list:
- Paul Bettany
- Don Cheadle
- Charlie Cox
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Chris Evans
- Tom Holland
- Oscar Isaac
- Hugh Jackman
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Brie Larson
- Evangeline Lilly
- Elizabeth Olsen
- Chris Pratt
- Jeremy Renner
- Ryan Reynolds
- Mark Ruffalo
- Hailee Steinfeld
- Tessa Thompson
- Iman Vellani
- Benedict Wong
Conclusion
With such a star-studded lineup already confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s clear that the film will be a major event in the MCU. While several beloved heroes may be missing, fans are holding out hope that Marvel’s traditional secrecy means there are surprises in store. And with Avengers: Secret Wars coming just a year after Doomsday, it seems likely that some of these heroes will return for that film instead. Until then, fans will have to enjoy the X-Men-heavy storyline and the exciting new faces coming to the MCU.
