The next big Marvel team-up movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to come out on December 18, 2026. The Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and even Deadpool are all in it. There is a new movie with Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom instead of Iron Man.
The movie starts a war in the multiverse that leads to Secret Wars. Fans can read this article to learn about the cast, story, missing heroes like Spider-Man, and what to expect from Marvel’s biggest crossover yet.
What’s the Latest Update on Avengers: Doomsday?
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Avengers: Doomsday will be the next major installment in the MCU, according to Marvel Studios. The movie will pick up where Avengers: Endgame left off and will come out in theaters on December 18, 2026.
The Russo Brothers directed this new Avengers movie, which is a bold return to telling stories that take place in more than one universe. Characters from the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and other Marvel movies are in it. The cast and the early teaser led to a lot of guesswork and fan theories.
Teaser Photo Sparks X-Men Speculation
A black-and-white concept photo shared by the Russo Brothers showed strange shapes that looked like the letters “A” and “X.” This led to rumors of an Avengers vs. X-Men plot. The directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, just like they did in Infinity War and Endgame. At this point, it points to a conflict that may happen in more than one universe and time.
- Return of classic X-Men characters: Magneto, Mystique, Cyclops, and Professor X have all been named.
- Possible AvX adaptation: Based on a popular Marvel comic book plot.
- Connection to Secret Wars: A likely set-up for the last battle in the multiverse.
Production and Release Timeline Confirmed
In April, filming officially began, and the Russo Brothers posted a chair with the name “Victor Von Doom” on it to confirm that Doctor Doom would be in the movie. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Marvel Studios pushed the release date from May to December 18, 2026, to fit the size of the movie.
- Directors: Joe Russo and Anthony Russo will return.
- Writers: The film’s story is being written by Michael Waldron, who is known for his work on Loki.
- Release date: Scheduled for December 18, 2026.
- Next sequel: Secret Wars is set to come out in December 2027.
Why Is Spider-Man Not in Avengers: Doomsday?
Image © 2021 Marvel Studios / Sony Pictures Entertainment
One of the biggest surprises in the Doomsday Avengers cast list was that Tom Holland wasn’t there. Fans thought Spider-Man would come back since there was such a big superhero team. However, the Hollywood Reporter confirmed that he will not be in this movie. Holland is likely to focus on a separate movie called Spider-Man: Brand New Day instead.
Focus Shifts to Street-Level Storytelling
Marvel’s new plan for Spider-Man is based on a real-life story. After the chaos in No Way Home, Brand New Day gives Peter Parker a chance to start over. By adding smaller bad guys and more emotional depth, the movie stays out of the way of Doomsday’s cosmic plot.
- Story focus: A new start for Peter Parker’s character.
- Avoid narrative overload: Separates and keeps Spider-Man’s story clear.
- Comic source: Drawing on a comic arc with a fresh start on emotions.
Sets Up a Bigger Return in Secret Wars
Fans think Spider-Man will come back in Secret Wars, even though Holland doesn’t appear in this movie. All of the main Marvel heroes have to be there for that event, and Peter’s absence here makes people more interested. When he comes back, he might have important things to say to Doctor Doom or the New Avengers.
- Better timing: His story makes more sense in Secret Wars.
- Maintains continuity: Orders events in a way that makes sense.
- Character growth: Gives Peter time to grow up on his own.
Is Avengers: Doomsday Still Coming Out?
Image © 2025 Marvel Studios / Disney
The movie is still on track. Even though there were worries about delays at first, Avengers: Doomsday will come out on December 18, 2026. After the Kang Dynasty plan fell apart, it will continue to look into the multiverse saga.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will not play Iron Man again, but Doctor Doom. This came as a surprise to many fans and changed their expectations.
Massive Cast and Creative Team Confirmed
There are both old and new Marvel characters in the cast, making it one of the biggest groups since Endgame. In March, Marvel told everyone the names at a live event. Heroes from the Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and X-Men universes will be in Doomsday Avengers.
- Returning characters: Thor, Ant-Man, Captain America (Sam Wilson), and Loki.
- New faces: Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Channing Tatum as Gambit.
- Villains and X-Men: Professor X, Magneto, Beast, and more.
Shift from Kang Dynasty to Doom’s Rise
Marvel switched from the Kang storyline after it was said that Jonathan Majors was fired. The multiverse war is now led by Doctor Doom. The writing team is making the necessary changes to the script, and Waldron has been confirmed as the lead writer.
- Doom replaces Kang: Makes the tone darker.
- New direction: More connected to Secret Wars.
- Bigger threat: Doom can do more and is more unpredictable.
Is Dr. Doom Tony Stark?
Image © 2018 Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios
Many Marvel fans were shocked when they said Robert Downey Jr. would be back for Avengers: Doomsday, but not as Iron Man. He will instead play Doctor Doom, a major bad guy in Marvel history.
Early talks led to rumors that Tony Stark might come back, but official sources quickly put those rumors to rest. The casting shows Marvel’s new direction after “Kang Dynasty” and before “Secret Wars.”
Downey Plays Doom, Not Stark
A lot of people thought Downey’s return meant Iron Man was back, especially after seeing concept art that showed a familiar shape. But the truth is not like that. Now, Downey plays Victor Von Doom, who is smart and rules over Latveria. His job has a direct link to the multiverse chaos that will be shown in the next Secret Wars story.
- Different character: Robert Downey Jr. is not going to play Tony Stark again.
- Officially announced: It was confirmed by Marvel Studios in March.
- Story importance: Doom is at the heart of the movie’s plot and multiverse conflict.
Industry Voices React to the Change
Shane Black, who directed Iron Man 3, and others from pop culture praised the casting. Black said Downey could “bring the comic book genre back to life.” Joe and Anthony Russo, who directed the movie, said Downey Jr.’s performance shows a different side of his skills.
- Anthony Russo: In an interview in August, they called the performance “intense.”
- Reported in September: A lot of news outlets, including Hollywood Reporter, wrote about the change.
- Audience impact: Fans are excited to see Downey Jr. play a classic bad guy in a darker way.
Is Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday?
Deadpool is indeed a member of the Doomsday Avengers cast. Ryan Reynolds will play the same character in the movie again, but he won’t be added to the main Avengers team.
Graffiti-themed concept art released in August gave hints of his return, which was later confirmed by a number of news sources. He has something to do with the multiverse themes that were talked about in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Deadpool’s Outsider Role Explained
Deadpool is not a new Avenger, but he is very important to what happens in the movie. His role in Secret Wars could be as a jokester or a wild card. More clues might come with the first trailer, which should come out in December or early in the new year.
- Not an official Avenger: He shows up, but he doesn’t join the main team.
- Multiversal link: Linked to the same events that link Doom and Kang.
- Undisclosed role: His exact role is still a secret.
Marvel’s Strategic Focus on Deadpool
Disney+ thinks that Deadpool is important for getting a lot of people to watch. His success as a stand-alone artist and comedic style give Avengers: Doomsday a new voice. Hollywood Reporter said in March that Disney wanted to get Deadpool more attention before Secret Wars.
- Focus on fan favorites: Keeps fans interested after Avengers: Endgame.
- Composing balance: Has a serious tone but also includes humor.
- Future roles: Possible to show up again in Secret Wars or next.
Final Thoughts
Tony and Joe Russo are set to direct Avengers: Doomsday, which looks like it will be Marvel’s biggest movie since Avengers: Infinity War. The official release date is December 18, and work on the movie is already underway. After the Kang Dynasty internally collapsed when Jonathan Majors was fired, the team turned its attention to Doctor Doom and Secret Wars.
Disney has announced some big events, and soon, there will be a trailer. As was said, this Doomsday Avengers story makes sense for the future of the Avengers, even without Tom Holland. It’s time, even Ash fans will agree.
FAQs
Which Avengers will be in Doomsday?
Avengers Doomsday will include a massive team with heroes like Thor, Ant-Man, Loki, and Captain America, as reported in March during a Marvel event with Anthony Russo and the cast revealed before production began.
Is Dr. Doom stronger than Thanos?
In Doomsday Avengers, Doctor Doom is expected to challenge multiversal power levels, and his role may surpass Thanos before Secret Wars, as revealed by trailer hints in August.
Can Dr. Doom lift Mjolnir?
It’s unknown if Doctor Doom lifts Mjolnir in the film, but the focus is on his power as a central villain; Marvel may reprise the idea post-Secret Wars or in a future Avengers production.
Who is the strongest Avenger?
In Avengers Doomsday, strength depends on the moment, but characters like Thor or Hulk may fly higher in battle power, as seen in the trailer released in September.
Who killed Dr. Doom?
No events have been revealed about Doom’s death in Doomsday Avengers, and Anthony Russo did not direct any scene like that; more info may drop this week near the December release date.