Following the excitement of revealing an additional 26 cast members for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have hinted that more surprises are on the way. The cast announcement came during a detailed livestream, which not only confirmed the star-studded lineup but also marked the beginning of production for the superhero blockbuster.

A notable highlight from the announcement was the return of Channing Tatum as the beloved X-Men character, Gambit. Fans can explore the full cast list of Avengers: Doomsday for more details.

However, some key Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) figures were notably missing from the lineup. Absentees include Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Chris Evans, who had been rumored to return as Captain America, and other fan favorites like Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey. On the X-Men front, there was no mention of Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, or Jean Grey.

The absence of these beloved characters sparked disappointment among fans, but hope remains. In an Instagram post, Robert Downey Jr., who will portray Doctor Doom after his iconic run as Iron Man, teased that the cast list is far from complete. "That’s what u call a deep bench of talent," RDJ remarked. "Actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one… That must be it.. right?"

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

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Marvel further fueled speculation by commenting, "there's always room for more." The Russo Brothers, the film's directors, added to the anticipation, stating, "It’s time…"

With these teases, it's clear that Marvel has more announcements up its sleeve for Avengers: Doomsday. Who could be the next to join this epic ensemble? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Earlier this month, the Russo brothers expressed their vision for Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning," setting the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo elaborated on the focus on complex villains, saying, "The only thing I’ll say about the movie is this: we love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional and they become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a three-dimensional, well-shaped character for the audience. That’s where a lot of our focus is going."

Avengers: Doomsday is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Secret Wars in May 2027. Leading up to these films, fans can look forward to Thunderbolts* in May 2025, the TV series Ironheart in June, and the launch of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

Additionally, Marvel Studios has scheduled three untitled movie projects for 2028, set for release on February 18, May 5, and November 10. Speculation suggests one of these could be the long-awaited X-Men film.