"Doomsday's Lack of Avengers Hints at Secret Wars and X-Men"

It's official, Marvel fans: Avengers: Doomsday is now in production. Marvel Studios unveiled a thrilling live stream cast announcement for the new film, which included a surprising number of X-Men actors. However, the absence of several iconic characters left fans puzzled and eager for answers. The announcement, which lasted a staggering five and a half hours, has sparked a major question: Where are all the Avengers in this new "Avengers" movie?

The video confirmed 27 characters, yet only a few are official Avengers members. The roster is dominated by actors from the Fox X-Men franchise, alongside members of the Thunderbolts and the Fantastic Four. This unusual lineup has fans speculating about the plot not just for Avengers: Doomsday but also for the upcoming Secret Wars. Let's dive deeper into the implications.

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

12 ImagesWhy the Thunderbolts Are More Important to Doomsday Than We Thought

The only characters traditionally linked to the Avengers in the announcement are Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. Additionally, Danny Ramirez’s Falcon and Letitia Wright’s Black Panther are likely to be Avengers, even though their comic counterparts, Joaquin Torres and Shuri, aren't typically part of the team. There are also characters like Namor or the Fantastic Four who have had brief stints with the Avengers, but they aren’t considered core members.

So, where are the likes of 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? The answer might lie in the Thunderbolts*, with the asterisk that has fueled fan theories for months. Some international posters suggest the asterisk indicates "Avengers are not available," but this might just be a clever marketing tactic.

Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and the Sentry are all confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. The heavy focus on these characters, who aren't traditionally powerful Avengers (except for the Sentry), suggests a significant shift in the MCU. The Thunderbolts are poised to play a crucial role in Avengers: Doomsday, hinting that the asterisk might mean they'll be called the New Avengers by the film's end. In the trailers, Red Guardian is the only one who seems to like the "Thunderbolts" name, while Bucky insists they "can’t call ourselves that." The lack of a team name might be a running gag, but with Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine purchasing Avengers Tower and commenting on the absence of Avengers, it's clear the Thunderbolts are set to take over the Avengers' role.

The Sentry's prominence, along with his evil counterpart the Void likely being the main antagonist, supports the idea that the Thunderbolts will become the New Avengers. The Sentry was reintroduced in the Marvel universe in 2005 as part of Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers comic, aligning with this narrative shift.

The Thunderbolts: The Tumultuous History of Marvel's Twisted Super-Team

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Once established in the MCU, the Thunderbolts could be recruited to form a new Avengers roster, potentially led by Sam Wilson’s Captain America. A plot point in Captain America: Brave New World involves President Ross asking Sam to rebuild the team. Given that Cap might not have access to traditional Avengers, he may have to rely on the less powerful Thunderbolts, putting them at a disadvantage against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Are the X-Men Doomed in Avengers: Doomsday?

One of the major concerns for Avengers: Doomsday is establishing Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom as a credible threat. With Doom seemingly absent from the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, where Galactus takes the villain role, Avengers: Doomsday must set the stage for Doom as the Multiverse Saga's ultimate antagonist. Just as Thanos decimated half of all life in Infinity War, Doom may eliminate a significant portion of Avengers: Doomsday's cast, with the Fox X-Men most likely to be on the chopping block.

Wiping out the Fox X-Men would not only create a dramatic moment for Doom but also free up space and budget for the traditional MCU cast to return in Secret Wars. Incursions, a key element from the 2015 Secret Wars comic storyline, have already been mentioned in Multiverse of Madness. An Incursion could serve as a powerful way to establish the stakes for Secret Wars, with Doom destroying an entire universe. The destruction of the Fox X-Men universe would allow for characters like Spider-Man, Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, and others to return and confront Doom, setting the stage for a triumphant finale to the Multiverse Saga.

This approach could help Marvel Studios replicate the excitement of Endgame's epic conclusion, which they've struggled to match in Phases 4 and 5. While we won't know for certain until Avengers: Doomsday premieres on May 1, 2026, this theory offers a compelling explanation for the absence of traditional Avengers in the cast.

What do you think will happen in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!