Avengers Absence in Doomsday Hints at Secret Wars, X-Men

Get ready, Marvel enthusiasts: Avengers: Doomsday is officially rolling into production. Marvel Studios unveiled a live stream cast announcement for the upcoming blockbuster, leaving fans buzzing with excitement—and confusion. The reveal showcased an unexpected lineup featuring numerous X-Men actors, with several key characters notably missing entirely. The marathon announcement lasted a staggering five and a half hours, but the real head-scratcher for fans is: Where are all the Avengers in this new "Avengers" movie?

The video confirmed 27 characters, yet only a scant few are traditional Avengers members. The bulk of the cast includes actors from the Fox X-Men franchise, the Thunderbolts, and the Fantastic Four, leaving fans pondering the absence of core Avengers. Delving into both the in-universe and real-world implications could offer major clues about the narratives of Avengers: Doomsday and the upcoming Secret Wars. Let's dive deeper.

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

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Why 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. Danny Ramirez’s Falcon and Letitia Wright’s Black Panther are likely to join the Avengers, despite Joaquin Torres and Shuri not being typical team members. There are also mentions of characters like Namor or the Fantastic Four who have occasionally been part of the Avengers in the comics, yet aren’t central to the team's history.

So, where are the heavy hitters like 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 with the Thunderbolts*, and the intriguing asterisk that has sparked fan theories for months. While some international posters suggest the asterisk indicates "Avengers are not available," this might just be a clever marketing ploy.

Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and the Sentry are confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Why focus on a team perceived as less powerful (except for the Sentry) and not typically associated with the Avengers? The MCU seems poised to shift this narrative dramatically. With the Thunderbolts stepping into the spotlight, the asterisk could signify their transition into the New Avengers by the film's end. In the trailers, Red Guardian appears fond of the "Thunderbolts" moniker, but Bucky is adamant they "can’t call ourselves that." This could be a recurring gag throughout the movie, yet with Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine purchasing Avengers Tower and her comments on the Avengers' absence, it's clear the Thunderbolts are poised to take over as the MCU's premier superhero team.

This rebranding to the New Avengers aligns perfectly with the Sentry's pivotal role and the anticipated confrontation with his evil alter-ego, the Void. Introduced in 2000, the Sentry was reintroduced to the Marvel universe in 2005 as part of Brian Michael Bendis’ New Avengers comic, adding weight to this theory.

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

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Once established in the MCU, the Thunderbolts could be tapped to bolster the Avengers' roster, likely under the leadership of Sam Wilson’s Captain America. Recall the plot in Captain America: Brave New World where President Ross recruits Sam to rebuild the team. Without access to many traditional Avengers, Sam might have to rely on the less formidable Thunderbolts, setting the stage for a challenging initial encounter with Robert Downey, Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

Are the X-Men Doomed in Avengers: Doomsday?

One of the critical challenges for Avengers: Doomsday is establishing Robert Downey, Jr.'s portrayal of Doctor Doom as a formidable adversary. Since Doom is absent from the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot, where Galactus takes the villain's role (though a cameo might appear in a post-credits scene), Doomsday must set the stage for Doom's emergence as the Multiverse Saga's ultimate villain. What better way than having Doom eliminate several beloved characters fans thought were safe? Much like Thanos' snap in Infinity War, Doom could eradicate a significant portion of the Doomsday cast, with the Fox X-Men appearing most vulnerable.

Doom wiping out the Fox X-Men would not only create a shocking moment but also free up resources and screen time for the traditional MCU cast to return in Secret Wars. Given that Incursions—a key plot element from the 2015 Secret Wars comic—have been mentioned in Multiverse of Madness, an Incursion caused by Doom could set the stage for Secret Wars. Destroying the Fox X-Men universe would serve as a dramatic prelude, allowing characters like Spider-Man, Hulk, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, and others to return and confront Doom in a climactic battle, avenging the destroyed universe. This approach could be Marvel Studios' best shot at recreating the epic finale of Endgame, which they have been trying and failing to replicate in Phases 4 and 5. We'll have to wait until May 1, 2026, to see if this theory holds, but it currently seems the most plausible explanation for the scarce presence of Avengers in the Doomsday cast.