If you're a Marvel fan, you're in for a treat—or perhaps a shock—with Avengers: Doomsday officially underway. Marvel Studios dropped a live-streamed cast announcement, catching everyone off guard with its mix of X-Men actors, unexpected omissions, and an excruciatingly long runtime of five and a half hours. As fans unpack all the reveals, one burning question stands out: Where are all the Avengers?
Only 27 characters were confirmed in the video, and the list skews heavily toward X-Men actors, the Thunderbolts, and the Fantastic Four, leaving a sparse lineup of core Avengers. This raises intriguing possibilities about the in-universe and real-world implications of the film, particularly regarding the upcoming Secret Wars. Let’s dive into the details.
The Missing Avengers and Surprises in Avengers: Doomsday
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Why the Thunderbolts Matter More Than Expected
Among the announced characters, only Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man are officially Avengers. Letitia Wright’s Black Panther and Danny Ramirez’s Falcon are likely to join the ranks, while others like Namor and the Fantastic Four have dabbled with the Avengers in the comics but aren’t central figures.
But where are Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, Don Cheadle’s War Machine, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange? Part of the answer may lie in the Thunderbolts, hinted at by the film’s asterisk—a mystery that fans have speculated about for months. International posters suggest the asterisk signifies “Avengers are not available,” but this could simply be clever marketing.
Confirmed Thunderbolts include Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and the Sentry. While not all are traditionally powerful, the inclusion of the Sentry suggests a shift in the MCU’s narrative. With Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine acquiring Avengers Tower and referring to the team’s absence, it seems the Thunderbolts will replace the Avengers as the MCU’s go-to superhero squad.
The Thunderbolts becoming the New Avengers or a similar iteration aligns with the Sentry’s introduction in the comics. His evil counterpart, the Void, is likely the film’s antagonist, tying into Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers storyline.
The Complex History of the Thunderbolts
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Once established, the Thunderbolts could form a new Avengers roster, potentially led by Sam Wilson’s Captain America. A storyline in Captain America: Brave New World saw President Ross tasking Sam with rebuilding the team. Given the limited options, Sam might have to work with lesser-known heroes, creating challenges when facing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom.
The Fate of the X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday
Speaking of Doom, establishing his credibility as a major villain is crucial. Since Doom won’t appear in the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, with Galactus filling that role instead, Avengers: Doomsday must set the stage for Doom as the Multiverse Saga’s ultimate antagonist. A Thanos-style elimination of key characters could achieve this.
Doctor Doom eliminating the Fox X-Men would clear the way for the traditional MCU cast to return in Secret Wars. An Incursion, a major plot point from the 2015 Secret Wars comics, has already been referenced in Multiverse of Madness. Forcing viewers to witness such destruction firsthand would heighten stakes for Secret Wars, making the Fox X-Men’s demise logical. Similar to how Infinity War temporarily removed newer characters to spotlight the original Avengers in Endgame, Doom’s actions would allow the classic MCU heroes to triumph in the saga’s finale.
Will the X-Men survive? Only time will tell, but this theory explains the thin Avengers lineup. Stay tuned for updates leading up to the film’s release on May 1, 2026.
