Patient MCU fans learned which Avengers would face the next Thanos-level threat this week.
Disney’s protracted announcement highlighted the gargantuan cast for “Avengers: Doomsday,” set to hit theaters in 2026.
Old favorites like Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Ant Man (Paul Rudd) and the new Captain America (Anthony Mackie) will battle Doctor Doom (Robert Downey, Jr.) in the film. Other superheroes will be on hand, too, including most of the “Thunderbolts” crew (like Florence Pugh and David Harbour).
The X-Men will be well represented by stars Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming and Patrick Stewart.
And, since “Avengers: Endgame” said goodbye to both Iron Man and Captain America, there’s no chance either will fight Doctor Doom in the film.
So what about these missing heroes?
The Hulk
Mark Ruffalo’s mean and green warrior has been a critical part of the “Avengers” timeline. Ruffalo is always in demand, but he’s made himself available for MCU purposes in recent years. What changed?
Hawkeye
Jeremy Renner’s alter ego lacks supeheroic strength, but his pluck powered more than a few “Avengers” moments. Could the actor’s near-fatal accident in 2023 mean he can’t physically play the character moving forward? He appears to have made a remarkable recovery, but superhero films can be taxing for the stars in question.
Doctor Strange
It looked like the mystical figure might conquer Thanos by himself in some “Avengers: Infinity War” battle scenes. That’s how powerful Benedict Cumberbatch’s character is at his best. The actor hasn’t disparaged the MCU and should be in good standing with the franchise, but his absence is notable. The star insists he’ll appear in character in the second part of the two-part saga, “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
Spider-Man
Tom Holland’s web slinger played a major role in the fight against Thanos in “Infinity War.” He also gave “Captain America: Civil War” a comic jolt. Oh, and he’s absurdly popular as a solo MCU player. So why isn’t he assembling to stave off a new intergalactic threat?
Scarlett Witch
Elizabeth Olsen got her start in smart indie films like “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” She vaulted to stardom via her Scarlett Witch character, who shifted to the small screen for Disney+’s “WandaVision.” She was paired off with The Vision on screen, much like their Marvel Comics storyline, but Vision died during the last Avengers outing. She still could have joined the new project without ruffling any canon feathers. Why not?
She-Hulk
Tatiana Maslany’s divisive turn in the Disney+ series has yet to yield a second season. Many mocked the show’s wobbly FX and woke narratives. Still, she seemed like a prime candidate for an Avengers upgrade. Apparently not.
Captain Marvel
Brie Larson became the most divisive MCU member in short order. Her origin story, 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” made serious coin but showed Larson’s Oscar-winning chops weren’t a snug fit for the saga. Her 2023 follow-up, “The Marvels,” proved disastrous, making her absence understandable.
The Wasp
Evangeline Lilly found her inner hero in “Ant Man and The Wasp,” and she graduated to Avengers status in “Endgame.” “Doomsday” will feature Paul Rudd’s Ant Man once more, but Lilly’s name is missing from the latest roll call.
That seems odd. Could it have something to do with the actress’s anti-COVID-19 vaccine stance in recent years? Marvel previously had her back, the actress told the media in 2023. Is that still the case?
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