Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have stirred excitement with the announcement of an additional 26 cast members for the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, hinting that more surprises are on the way. During a recent livestream, Marvel unveiled the extensive cast list that will join Robert Downey Jr., who transitions from Iron Man to Doctor Doom, signaling the start of production.

Among the notable names, Channing Tatum is set to reprise his role as the beloved X-Men character, Gambit. You can explore the full cast list for Avengers: Doomsday right here. However, fans were quick to notice the absence of several key Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) figures such as Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Chris Evans' Captain America, and other fan-favorites like Hulk, Hawkeye, Nick Fury, and Rhodey. From the X-Men universe, characters like Deadpool, Wolverine, Storm, and Jean Grey are also missing from the initial lineup.

Despite the omissions, fans shouldn't lose hope. Robert Downey Jr. took to Instagram to tease that the cast announcements are far from over. "That's what u call a deep bench of talent," he commented. "Actually it's more like a row, but an extra long one... That must be it.. right?" Marvel chimed in with a comment suggesting "there's always room for more," while the Russo Brothers, the film's directors, added cryptically, "It’s time…"

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

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It's clear that Marvel has more up its sleeve for Avengers: Doomsday. Speculation is rife about who else might join the fray. Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.

The Russo Brothers have expressed their vision for Avengers 5 and 6 as a "new beginning," setting the stage for Phase 7 of the MCU. Joe Russo shared insights into their approach, 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 kickoff of Phase 6 with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July.

Additionally, Marvel Studios has added three untitled movie projects to its 2028 release schedule, with dates set for February 18, May 5, and November 10. Speculation suggests that one of these could be the long-awaited X-Men film.