It's an exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While fans were recently treated to the debut on VisionQuest for those with a Disney+ subscription, all eyes are on the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday. The Russo Brothers will follow that up with its sequel Secret Wars, although Sebastian Stan's recent comments about the latter have me a bit confused.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, but all will be revealed when it hits theaters in just a few months. Stan's Bucky Barn is part of the Doomsday cast list, and fans can't wait to see how the New Avengers interact with the other three team of heroes. I assumed that whoever survived the fight with Robert Downey Jr.'s villain would automatically be brought into Secret Wars, but that might not be the case. During an interview with IndieWire the 44 year-old actor spoke about that mysterious project, offering:

Wait, what? Not only is Stan not confirmed to appear in Secret Wars, but he doesn't even know if he's going to have a role in Doomsday's sequel. The movie is expected to start shooting in January, so he should presumably be locked down if Bucky is going to have a role. I'm so confused.

Of course, Stan might not be telling the truth here, as Marvel's tight security often requires actors to guard its secrets. For example, Andrew Garfield lied for months about his Spider-Man: No Way Home role. Still, the Fresh actor's comments have me asking questions.

I have to wonder just how bloody Avengers: Doomsday is going to be. There are four teams of heroes in the cast, and I assume that not everyone makes it out alive. I've been nervous that Chris Hemsworth's Thor might die during its mysterious runtime, and now Stan has me equally worried about Bucky.

It's unclear what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for Secret Wars, but if it follows the comics then we should expect to see Doctor Doom create Battleworld and pit Marvel's heroes against each other. Although if the filmmaker haven't nailed down their cast yet, seemingly anything could happen in the developing blockbuster.

The pressure is on for The Russos to deliver with the next two Avengers movies, especially after how wildly successful their MCU credits are. There have been some disappoints in the years since Endgame hit theaters, so crushing it with Doomsday and Secret Wars might help bring fans back into the fold. Hopefully Bucky is along for the fun either way.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow, thanks to exciting new projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which features multiple teams of superheroes. Jeremy Renner recently made a funny prediction about the film, although I have to admit I'd prefer to see him in that movie over Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, leading to countless theories and rumors about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves. A number of major names were left out of the Doomsday cast list, including Renner's Hawkeye. During a recent interview that's circulating on Twitter, the 55 year-old actor was asked if he's going to have a role in that mysterious blockbuster, and he responded with:

Shots fired. Renner joked that he's on the side of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom for the next Avengers flick. Namely because he seemingly wasn't brought in for the fun of Doomsday, despite being an OG member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. We'll just have to see if the heroes end up losing as a result of missing Hawkeye in the lineup, as well as if Kate Bishop ends up showing up.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order watched Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton go to the small screen with the Hawkeye series. He formed a strong bond with Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop throughout the six-episode season, but it's unclear if they're still working together. There are rumors that Steinfeld has a role in Doomsday, but I think it would be a misstep to see her pop up instead of her mentor. They could at least include them both if we're going to get an archer in the blockbuster!

Kate Bishop was briefly seen at the end of The Marvels, but she and Clint haven't had any significant roles in the shared universe since Hawkeye's finale. I'm eager to see her return, but not at the expese of Renner's hero. Sorry not sorry.

Doomsday isn't the first time that Jeremy Renner has been noticeably missing from a major Marvel crossover. Hawkeye was noticeably missing during Infinity War, although he had a significant arc in Endgame. The actor's joke about the good guys losing in the next Avengers movie might make sense given this history; Hawkeye wasn't there to help fight Thanos and half of the universe ended up being snapped out of existence.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Who knows? Maybe Renner will have a role after all and he's just lying about it. Stranger things have happened in the top-secret franchise.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Despite this pace of releases, Marvel is also known for its tight security, especially when it comes to crossover events like the Avengers movies. Case in point: actors are not even given full scripts for those projects. It's pretty mind-blowing to think about, and Bucky actor Sebastian Stan got real about how difficult that can make the job.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have heard stories about the great lengths the studio goes to in order guard spoilers. This is especially important for Avengers films, and during a video for GQ, Stan spoke about the experience of playing his signature character in this top-secret setting. In his words:

Honestly, this makes a great deal of sense. Most actors require access to a movie's full script in order to properly track their characters' story, and how it fits into the movie's overall message. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen for the Avengers movies. While Stan is part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list, he might have just gotten the pages where Bucky appears.

Luckily for Sebastian Stan, he's been playing his Marvel role since Captain America: The First Avenger shot back in 2010. As such, he's able to slip back into character for upcoming Marvel movies even if he doesn't have the context of a full script. The 44 year-old actor spoke about this dynamic by offering:

This is an interesting perspective. Not having a script might be challenging, it sounds like it can open up the Avengers sets to more play. Actors are able to rely on their instincts and understand of their characters, rather than being able to rely on what's on the page.

The stars of these blockbusters sometimes don't even know their character's fate in the shared universe. Stan opened up about this dynamic, saying:

That's one way to keep fans in the dark about each new movie until its release. Because if not even the actors know if their actors know if they survive, how can the information leak?

Indeed, there are a number of beloved characters whose fate is still unclear. Fans have been debating whether or not Wanda is alive since she seemingly died at the end of Doctor Strange 2. One can only imagine how many characters might perish during the next Avengers flick.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Sebastian Stan's Bucky survives the fight again Doctor Doom.

The latest upcoming Marvel flick, Avengers: Doomsday, will draw millions of superhero fans to cinemas later this year and pick up some of Endgame's plot threads. Returning to the directors' chairs for the superhero team-up movie are Joe and Anthony Russo, who have plenty of experience working within this franchise. Still, as one can imagine, making these movies isn't easy, and Anthony revealed one particularly challenging aspect of crafting this fifth installment that fans may not believe.

What's known about Avengers: Doomsday is that it'll see heroes from multiple universes to face off against the villainous Doctor Doom. But, with so many fan-favorite heroes in one movie, that, of course, can create story-building challenges. In a Q&A held after an Avengers: Endgame Encore screening, Anthony Russo (via GamesRadar+) explained how hard it was to bring returning characters into a new story while still respecting other key players fans love:

This obstacle is definitely understandable, considering just how much fans love these characters and how much real estate the Russos have to cover in a given film. There are plenty of massive expectations for Doomsday as well, especially considering Avengers: Endgame killed it at the box office, surpassing Avatar as the top-grossing movie of all time.

As Marvel fans still flock to theaters to see their favorite characters' journeys of their favorite heroes, it’s natural that the Russo Brothers want to make sure they do them all justice for Doomsday. While it appears the sibling directors want to make sure that audiences have an enjoyable experience, they’re also realistic about not being able to please all fans if certain characters go in a different direction than fans expect. Anthony also said:

The Cherry co-director makes a great point, as some people may like a specific take on a character, while others may not be as receptive. For example, fans seem to love the Russo's handling of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, but many are divided (including Hemsworth's own kids and their friends) on the comical way the character is depicted in Ragnarok and Love and Thunder. But, based on the trailer for Doomsday, it looks like Hemsworth will return as a more “serious” Thor as he motivates his superhero cohorts on the importance of taking down Doom as a team.

Character growth is very important to the actors as well. Tom Hiddleston, for instance, promised that Loki’s hard-earned development from his eponymous Disney+ series will not be discarded in the upcoming Avengers movie. All in all, I'm hopeful that the Russo Brothers will make continuity efforts to ensure that our favorite Marvel characters will be honored as they come together for the 2026 movie release.

Joe and Anthony Russo deserve some serious credit for the way in which they've handled ensemble casts in the MCU thus far, and this latest film may be their greatest undertaking. Doomsday has such a stacked cast with actors portraying Avengers, the Fantastic Four, X-Men, the Thunderbolts/New Avengers and more. It remains to be seen if everyone' stories will be serviced accordingly but, if anyone can accomplish that, it's the Russos.

See Earth's Mightiest Heroes and their allies assemble to face Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18th. In the meantime, prepare by streaming other MCU films with a Disney+ subscription.

Hugh Jackman has been busy this past year, as he’s been promoting his 2026 movie schedule entries and teasing what he’s working on. Simultaneously, fans have been eager to know whether the Australian actor might reprise his role as Logan/Wolverine in an upcoming Marvel movie. Jackman – who’s more than media-trained at this point – has remained coy in regard to whether he’ll be donning those adamantium claws again. Still, I wasn’t expecting him to give such a screwball answer when he was recently asked about a reprisal.

To put it mildly at this point, the Death of Robin Hood star is definitely no stranger to fielding questions about his beloved Marvel role, which he’s played for over 25 years now. To be honest, it’s actually gotten to the point where it’s become funny to see Jackman try to dodge questions about Ol’ Wolvie. During an interview with Variety, Jackman was asked about whether he’d return for the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars. Not only did the actor not give a concrete answer, but he also spoke about his “internal chip:

Jackman is, of course, cheekily referring to the heavy level of caution he needs to exercise when fielding queries about Marvel Cinematic Universe-related projects. It would be an understatement to say that Disney – like other major studios – aren’t exactly keen on details being leaked by scoopers or actors and crew members. So, while there isn’t anyone actually controlling a physical chip in Jackman’s head, I’m definitely sure he wouldn’t want to get an earful from his team or any execs at the House of Mouse.

The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are expected to bring back various characters, with some of them being from continuities that lie outside the MCU proper. It’s known, for instance, that Doomsday will feature the OG actors from the X-Men movie franchise. That’s a major reason why there’s been a lot of speculation regarding a possible role for Jackman’s Logan. And that’s not the only detail that has some fans convinced that the cigar-smoking mutant will return sometime soon.

Even though Hugh Jackman has been swatting down Avengers rumors in recent months, he also posted some workout videos over the summer, prompting further speculation that he was working out to play Wolverine again. And, in August, Jackman appeared as part of a “hostage video” shared by Deadpool, er…. Ryan Reynolds, in which Jackman asked that Logan and Wade Wilson be included in Doomsday. That piece of marketing also came after it was rumored that Logan and Wade would appear in the film.

It’s honestly hard to say what’s really going on right now, but I would be very surprised if Jackman didn’t reprise his role in either of the MCU’s upcoming team-up movies. Secret Wars, in particular, has been teased as a massive culmination film that will feature plenty of pinch-me moments for fans. So, between that and the fact that Marvel is saying goodbye to the OG X-Men ahead of its reboot, it’d be weird if Jackman didn’t appear. In the meantime, though, I’d expect Jackman’s “internal chip” to keep him from spilling details.

Check out Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18, and Secret Wars will be released on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, grab a Disney+ subscription to stream MCU movies and shows.

The MCU is known for its tight security, with its cast and crew tasked with guarding the secrets of each upcoming Marvel movie and TV show. All eyes are on what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for Avengers: Doomsday, and Sebastian Stan is shocked that Chris Evans was confirmed to return as Captain America. As a fan who has spent years watching the Marvel movies in order I have to agree.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is extremely limited, and the return of Steve Rogers is one reason why anticipation is so high. Chris Evans wasn't originally included in the Doomsday cast list, but we've already seen footage of his return as Captain America. In a clip from Happy Sad Confused podcast host Josh Horowitz's Instagram, Stan got real about his reaction to this reveal, offering:

Ouch. Chris Evans might be making Marvel fans' days by returning as Steve Rogers, but the reality of filming Doomsday sounds super isolating. His role was top-secret, which meant he had to be housed away from the movie's announced cast. News of his role broke the internet, so maybe it was worth it. Still, Sebastian Stan is shook that the studio revealed his role so long before it actually arrives in theaters this December.

Avengers: Doomsday's trailer showed some brief footage of Steve Rogers, who is wearing casual clothes rather than a Captain America suit. Luckily he'll be wielding Mjolnir, which he famously did in Endgame's final battle. Later in the same interview, Stan revealed a conversation he had with Evans about his surprise role, saying:

I don't know about you, but I'm dying to hear Evans' recollection of shooting Doomsday. It would have absolutely gone viral if his role was revealed, but the studio was able to control that narrative. Although Sebastian Stan is still shocked that his inclusion was revealed so long before the next Avengers movie was released.

Fans are eager to see how the MCU's heroes will react to Steve Rogers' return, especially Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson and Sebastian Stan's Bucky. The latter actor didn't reveal what's going to happen when they reunite in Doomsday, but he did speak about the unique challenge of bringing his signature character to life in the crossover event. In his words:

This sounds like a funny dynamic, and I'm suddenly even more excited to see how Bucky interacts with the entire teams of heroes that will be part of Doomsday. Namely The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and the New Avengers aka Thunderbolts. He's currently part of the lineup for the latter, but Bucky's got history with plenty of other characters as well.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully Sebastian Stan's character doesn't get killed off so we can see more of his dynamics with the rest of the shared universe's heroes.

It's an exciting time in the MCU, as we're only a few months away from the release of the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are psyched about seeing the Doomsday cast united against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, but they're also curious about what surprise actors might appear. There are rumors about Hailee Steinfeld's Kate Bishop appearing, and apparently even her husband Josh Allen doesn't know the truth.

Steinfeld and Allen are a hot celebrity couple who recently welcomed their daughter into the world. Obviously they're a dynamic pair, but apparently not even marriage and parenthood can get in the way of Marvel's tight security. The Sinners actress recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the host tried to get her to reveal if she's going to appear in the next Avengers movie. Fallon said he didn't see her chair in the cast announcement, and she responded with:

I guess the "Love Myself" singer takes her NDA seriously. Because apparently not even her famous husband gets all the information about her future in the MCU. Josh Allen is apparently so in the dark about what's next for Kate Bishop that he had to call Steinfeld and ask.

While I'm not buying that the Hawkeye actress herself doesn't know if she's in Doomsday, I love that she's kept her husband in the dark about it. Marvel actors are expected to guard the shared universe's secrets, and she's clearly doing a good job. You can see Hailee Steinfeld's conversation with Fallon below, where she refuses to give away anything.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, which is why there are so many rumors and theories about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the blockbuster. Kevin Feige confirmed that the cast list didn't include every actor, a sentiment that was confirmed when the Doomsday Captain America trailer confirmed that Chris Evans was returning. Anything can happen in the multiverse, so why not bring Kate Bishop along for the fun?

Hailee Steinfeld debuted as Kate in the Hawkeye series, where she was trained as the title character's protégée. Fans really responded to her performance, as well as her chemistry with Florence Pugh's Yelena. After a few years away Kate returned to the shared universe during The Marvels' ending, which saw Kamala Khan starting to assemble the Young Avengers. It's currently unclear if/when we'll see that team; Iman Vellani was also included in the Doomsday cast announcement.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that we get to see Kate Bishop appear on the big screen sooner rather than later.

I think I’ve seen every Marvel movie in the order they came out, and I’ve kept up with most of the Disney+ shows. (OK, I didn’t watch Moon Knight.) I like to think of myself as a casual-but-invested MCU fan. I’m not someone who is skipping movies or (usually) complaining about the franchise. I honestly even really liked the critically panned The Marvels! However, I just can’t deal with this Avengers Endgame: Encore situation.

The Russo brothers, in my opinion, have done a great job drumming up interest in Doomsday after Marvel kicked things off with that big, live chair announcement. They’ve been doing the rounds. They’ve had a lot of fun and emotional posts about their history with the franchise. Plus, they’ve made some comments heavily teasing the upcoming movie, particularly when it comes to Encore additions. It’s this latter part where they are losing me.

For example, they were asked by Empire about one of the additional sequences that was added to Encore specifically for the release. It’s a post credits scene set in the TVA where we learn Earth-10005 (Fox’s X-Men’s Universe) and Earth-1127 collide, leading to a chain reaction and Ke Huy Quan stating “the multiverse is collapsing.” Per Joe Russo, this is going to have a “great level of importance” moving forward.

It’s been clear given all of the casting the multi-verse was going to collide for a while. I just really hate that this scene is coming out months before the release of the actual movie I want to see. It's supposed to be super important, but if I want to see it in person I have to go pay to see another version of a movie I’ve already seen in theaters. If it was of such “great” “importance” to the upcoming Marvel movie, why has it been dumped into the lore like this?

Look, I know there’s a rundown of all of the scenes all over the Internet already. I have read them, obviously, and these scenes have been confirmed to have been shot during the production of Doomsday. So, I can go in with the info without having seen the four minutes, and I probably will.

I also get why Marvel wanted to bring back Endgame; it’s a great movie. I understand why they wanted to add some new stuff to entice people to come to theaters and for the superfans to get jazzed. I get even with only four minutes of extra footage the re-release did big dollars and has been good business for theaters overall.

I just have no interest in re-seeing a slightly different version of this movie, and I also don’t want to have to consume even more Marvel content before I go to the theater this December. It's already been a lot to take in, and it bums me out there's stuff that could be THAT important that feels like it is being inserted into an old movie. If it's not so important I need to see it ahead of time, then it feels like we're really overselling everything, and if it that important it kind of feels weird and inappropriate to make people go see an old movie to see it inserted in there. It's bumming me out.

It's an exciting time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with fans hyped for the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday. The release of Avengers Endgame: Encore included four new scenes that set up the next crossover, one of which featured Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner. Fans have questions about what it all means, and The Russo Brothers recently teased what's to come.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, which is why the new Endgame scenes leaked and promptly went viral. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are desperate for any information, and during an interview with Empire, the filmmakers teased that Doctor Doom might trying to recruit more than just The Hulk. In Joe Russo's words:

Well, I'm certainly intrigued. Not much is known about what Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom is planning, but it sounds like he might be bringing together his own group of characters to battle the various superhero teams that are part of the Doomsday cast.

Speaking of the cast, Mark Ruffalo was not included in the big announcement about who would make up the next Avengers movie. In the same interview, Joe Russo addressed this by saying:

This echoes Kevin Feige's comments about more actors being included outside of the Doomsday cast announcement. This was proven when The Captain America Doomsday teaser confirmed Chris Evans was returning as his signature role. Mark Ruffalo is seemingly going to appear as Bruce Banner, and I can't wait to see what other surprises might come.

In addition to being a tease for Doomsday, the Banner scene in Endgame: Encore also has a connection to Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Joe Russo addressed this by saying:

During the last Spider-Man movie, Sophie Turner's Jean Grey was able to get into Bruce Banner's head and force him to transform into Savage Hulk. It seems like he put himself into exile afterward, although Doctor Doom was still able to track him down. Only time will tell what happen when they come face to face.

The stakes feel sky high for the next Avengers movie, and plenty of fans will be re-watching MCU projects with their Disney+ subscription to prepare. If Hulk ends up on Doom's side, I feel worried for the rest of the heroes.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a giant place, one that's constantly expanding thanks to new titles hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, and fans are desperate for any information about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeve. The pair of filmmakers recently teased what to expect from Chris Hemsworth's Thor, but I'm mostly worried that the God of Thunder might die during its runtime.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, so there are countless rumors and theories surrounding the title online. Luckily the directors recently spoke to CBM, with Joe Russo speaking about what Hemsworth has brought to Thor over the years. In his words:

Points were made. Anyone who has spent years watching the Marvel movies in order can understand what Russo is saying. Hemsworth's hero was originally quite serious, before Taika Waititi made him a bigger comedic presence in Ragnarok and Love and Thunder. His appearances in Infinity War and Endgame was a mixture of both, and that's seemingly what he'll return to for Doomsday.

During Infinity War Thor was ruled by vengeance, vowing to murder Thanos as after he killed Loki in the movie's opening sequence. Joe Russo went on to share what to expect from the hero in the next Avengers movie, offering:

He's not wrong. The Doomsday trailer shows Thor going full beast mode on Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Or at least trying to; the villain was able to hold off his strike with just a few fingers. One can only imagine how he'll react to feeling so powerless, especially with the entire multiverse at stake. Since Hemsworth has been playing his role for so long, I'm personally worried he might get killed off to end his run as the beloved hero.

From the looks of things. Hemsworth's Thor will be one of the leading characters of the Doomsday cast list, which is massive and features entire teams of heroes. It sounds like the God of Thunder will end up being less funny this time around, something that fans might appreciate after Love and Thunder failed to impress.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Thor survives his encounter with Doctor Doom.

Sure, Alan Cumming is returning as Nightcrawler for Avengers: Doomsday, but don’t ask him to explain the plot. Aside from the fact that the actor is afraid to say anything so that he doesn’t get in trouble with Marvel, he seemingly doesn’t understand what’s going on well enough to risk it. Given how top secret as everything in the Marvel Universe is, that’s probably a good thing, for his sake.

The upcoming Marvel movie is set to hit theaters on December 18^th as part of the 2026 movie schedule, with anticipation building after that initial epic cast reveal and brief appearance by Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. For the first time, The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The New Avengers, and The X-Men will be teaming up to battle the feared villain, which is sure to bring plenty of superhero shenanigans and mayhem as they work together to save the world and themselves. In a recent Hit 1 interview on SiriusXM, Alan Cumming stated it very plainly:

When you’re an actor in a Marvel project, you have to get used to spending a lot of time in front of a blue screen where things will be added later. As a result of that, it’s not surprising that it would be challenging to completely understand or fully track what’s going on at any given time. The Traitors host seems to have found it more beneficial to just focus on what he’s supposed to be doing in a scene, rather than knowing how it fits into the Marvel multiverse. He said:

As the host of The Traitors, Alan Cumming has become accustomed to treating things as though they’re top secret. But even then, he had an instance when he was talking about his experience working on the mega blockbuster and something he said got misconstrued. After all, the fans are always there to speculate.

With as highly anticipated as Avengers: Doomsday is, the behind-the-scenes tidbits that The Good Wife star shared are really fun to hear. It was particularly wild to know that while Nightcrawler and Yelena Belova shared a moment together, Cumming didn’t actually get to work with Florence Pugh but rather her body double. He explained:

After hearing that, I know that I, for one, will absolutely try to pinpoint which moment that is when I see Avengers: Doomsday. I’m so curious to know whether it will seem like the two actors were actually there together for the scene. It’s not unheard of, in working on a movie as large as this one, that production would have to split cast members across multiple filming days to accommodate scheduling and that body doubles would be needed to step in. Still, it definitely makes me curious to see how it will all come together in the final edit. If you want to watch how Cumming described the experience, here is the full clip:

With a Disney+ subscription, you still have plenty of time to catch up on or revisit all of the Marvel movies in order before Avengers: Doomsday is released, or you can just watch the recommended list of essential projects if you want to understand the next installment in the MCU better than Alan Cumming.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be wildly popular nearly two decades after its premiere. Fans have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, both on the big screen and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Upon its release Avengers: Endgame (briefly) became the highest grossing movie of all time, and its heading back to theaters for an encore presentation with some new scenes. And the Russo Brothers have made "one last request" to folks seeing the new version of their film.

There's always hype for upcoming Marvel movies, but Avengers: Doomsday is on another level. Fans can't wait to see Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, as well as the teams of heroes that make up the Doomsday cast. The Russo Brothers took to Instagram to share that they'll once again be sneaking into theaters for Endgame's re-release, saying:

Avengers: Endgame's reaction videos went viral after the movie's release, as fans were shook by plot twists such as the portal scene and Captain America wielding Mjolnir. While many of us have re-watched that title in the years since its 2019 release, even the most hardcore fans have the opportunity to be surprised by these new scenes.

Unfortunately, the new Avengers: Endgame scenes have already leaked online. Still, The Russo Brothers are asking fans to keep things under wrap, as they wrote in the same IG post:

Marvel's security is notoriously tight, but the studio can't control when fans record and spoil movies on social media. Avengers Endgame: Encore is now in the hands of the fans, and The Russo Brothers are begging moviegoers to keep the new scenes to themselves, allowing others to feel the full impact of those surprises. Hey, it's a good thought at least.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, so these new Endgame scenes are doubly exciting. Fans are curious to see how the multiversal story will come together, and exactly how teams like the Avengers, New Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men end up coming together.

Avengers Endgame: Encore is in theaters now, and Doomsday will follow suit on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Luckily we have just a few more months before that highly anticipated title finally hits theaters and (hopefully) answers our questions.

There’s a lot of hype that typically accompanies Marvel Cinematic Universe films, and that’s certainly been the case with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Unfortunately, leaks have also been a recurring problem when it comes to these high-profile releases. It would seem this is also the case with the forthcoming Avengers: Endgame Encore, which was previously confirmed to have direct ties to Doomsday. Those connections have since leaked (and it’s further evidence that we can’t have nice things).

Several scenes from Encore have been making the rounds on X following early screenings, and they’ve been getting scrubbed due to copyright violations. Be warned, that we’re mentioning light details about four scenes. One of those involves Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, who’s set to return in Doomsday.

Without getting too specific, this Rogers-centric moment is an extension of a scene from the original Endgame cut and sees him interacting with a surprising visitor. Other leaked scenes involve the TVA – Time Variance Authority and Bruce Banner, which provides context on his whereabouts after his arrest in the box office hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Finally, there’s a moment involving Doctor Doom (played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.), which serves as a parallel to a major moment from Tony Stark’s own history.

Obviously, it's not legal that this material has somehow made its way online, and it's being scrubbed rather quickly, but it's not a surprise there are folks out there doing this. We've seen this with big Disney releases in the past. Remember all the leaks Star Wars faced? With all of the rumors swirling, I can't say I'm surprised the footage is getting around.

Over the past few months, Marvel Studios and directors Joe and Anthony Russo have been hyping up Encore and saying that fans must see it before checking out Doomsday later this year. The Russos previously confirmed that the movie would contain additional footage that was set amidst the story of their upcoming Marvel movie. So, on that token, it makes sense that some of Encore’s scenes would have the content lightly described above.

The Russos have been keeping Doomsday secrets close to the vest and, of course, they’ve been incredibly tight-lipped about what to expect from its 2027 follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. However, producer Kevin Feige did confirm that while Endgame was all about “endings,” Secret Wars is more about “beginnings” and setting the table for the future. I read that as the cap-wearing studio head teasing that MCU continuity will look quite different within the next few years.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves on that, we still have Encore and Doomsday to look forward to. While it’s a shame about the leaks, fans who don’t want to be spoiled entirely can actively work to avoid them. I can say that, for myself, my opening night screening of Endgame back in 2019 was truly sweet, and that was not only because of the film’s quality but also due to me going in with fresh eyes.

Check out Avengers: Endgame Encore when it hits theaters on September 25, and check out Avengers: Doomsday, which opens on December 18. Also, grab a Disney+ subscription and catch up on other MCU films of the Multiverse Saga.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly releasing new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The next upcoming Marvel movie heading to theaters is Avengers: Doomsday, and there are countless rumors about what The Russo Brothers might be bringing to the table. One new one claims Chris Hemsworth's Thor is going to fight another Avenger, and I really hope it ends up being legit.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, so folks have been filling in the blanks with viral theories and rumors. Only time will tell which ones end up being legit, but with the multiverse in play just about anything is possible. A rumor from scooper James Mack (via SHH) claims that the God of Thunder will end up fighting none other than Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange. Let's break it all down.

We should probably take this with a grain of salt for the time being. The rumor claims that Thor will fight a variant of Strange called Boris, who will allegedly be a sidekick to Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Although the idea of seeing the Sorcerer Supreme and the God of Thunder coming to blows is thrilling enough I hope this rumor ends up being true.

Benedict Cumberbatch wasn't included in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement, so fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are very curious to see whether or not Strange actually appears in the blockbuster. For his part, Cumberbatch claimed he was in the movie multiple times. Still, he hasn't been seen in Doomsday's trailers or promotional material so far.

The last time we saw Cumberbatch's hero was at the end of Doctor Strange 2, when he had a recently formed third eye. Specifically the Multiverse of Madness credits scene, where Charlize Theron's Clea appeared and took him off to some unknown destination. Fans think that these two actors might end up being the Latverian Witches whose costumes were shown at San Diego Comic-Con. That's just one theory circulating online; the fandom is largely in the dark about the next two Avengers movies.

Given how wildly powerful both Strange and Thor are in the MCU, I'm fascinating to see how their battle might go down in Doomsday. The God of Thunder is full of raw power, while Strange uses a variety of spells usually make for thrilling action sequences. I mean, who can forget him battling Thanos on Titan during Infinity War?

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Strange has a role, and a battle with Thor to boot.

Among the late night personalities, Jimmy Fallon is not known for being particularly political. In fact, he’s actually spoken out about why he doesn’t really get into politics much on The Tonight Show in the past. Of late though, he’s dipped his toes in tepid water when it comes to Donald Trump jokes, and this week he unexpectedly dropped a zinger about the President of the United States and the behemoth box office run that has been Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has already hit some global box office milestones in recent weeks, and now it’s back with a domestic record. It’s beat Star War: The Force Awakens to become the highest-grossing movie domestically. The news was all over the interwebs before Jimmy Fallon busted out the fact on his late night show, but his commentary came with a little bit of flair and a Trump joke.

Ba-dump bump. That's pretty light fare for late night Trump content. Yet, it was an unexpected joke, to be sure, and it served a dual purpose, as Fallon then launched into a bit about the Kennedy Center also changing its name (but everyone still calling it the Kennedy Center). It was a good segue, and marked the comedian delving further into political jokes.

In general, the monologue on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wednesday was honestly really funny. He kicked off with Spidey, worked into a bit about the Kennedy Center name change and Trump, and tied it all together with a really funny bit about US senator’s last names. If you didn’t give it a watch yet, it’s well worth it.

Fallon has earned a bit less ire from President Donald Trump than some of his fellow late night hosts like Stephen Colbert (whom Trump wildly spoke about after The Late Show ended), Jimmy Kimmel and even fellow network alum Seth Meyers. Of course, the NBC program hasn’t faced some of the same scrutiny from the FCC Jimmy Kimmel Live! and others have faced in recent months, but Trump did once call Fallon “talentless,” so he’s been a social media target before, too.

It’s a weird landscape out there right now, but at least Spider-Man is still out there killing it at the box office. Plus, we have the upcoming release of another Marvel movie, yes I'm talking about Avengers: Doomsday coming up. Whether Fallon will make connections to that film with the administration remains to be seen though! Stay tuned as the holidays roll around.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is nearing its 20th anniversary, and it's a well-oiled machine at this point. And while moviegoers are always excited about upcoming Marvel movies, the hype surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is on another level. The Doomsday cast announcement revealed its huge ensemble, but more names were added like Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell. And it turns out they had some adorable code names while on set.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans are eager to see entire teams of heroes unite against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. The viral teaser with Captain America confirmed that Evans was returning as Steve Rogers, but the studio went to great lengths to hide both him and Hayley Atwell on set. Let's break it all down.

What Hayley Atwell Said About Her Doomsday Code Name

While recently appearing at For the Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi (via YouTube) Hayley Atwell got real about Marvel's tight security for the next Avengers movie. We previously learned that Chris Evans was given the code name "Luke Cage" for the blockbuster, in order to keep his appearance secret. It turns out that Atwell was given her own, and fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will appreciate it. In the Mission: Impossible actress' words:

Honestly, I love this. Obviously this is a reference to Jessica Jones, a character famously played by Krysten Ritter in the MCU. In both the comics an onscreen Jessica and Luke Cage have a romantic connection, just as Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter are soulmates in the shared universe. And while we presumably won't see Luke and Jessica in Doomsday, at least they were there in spirit via these secret code names.

Later in the same convention appearance, Atwell also revealed that she was surprised she wasn't included in the Doomsday announcement with all those chairs. In her words:

Could you imagine? Despite knowing that she had a role as Peggy Carter, Hayley Atwell began to worry she got cut after not being included in the Doomsday cast announcement. But Kevin Feige assured audiences that it wasn't the full cast, and eventually we got separate reveals about both Atwell and Chris Evans. We'll just have to wait and see how these characters factor into the action, after finally getting their dance in Endgame.

Chris Evan's Previous Comments About His Coe Name

Chris Evans spoke about his Doomsday codename in a video from Fan Expo's YouTube, where he told the audience about how the studio guarded his top secret role. At the convention he shared:

As fans know, Luke was famously played by Mike Colter in the Netflix Marvel TV shows, including Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and The Defenders. Fans have been missing him, but luckily Colter will reprise his role in Daredevil: Born Again Season 3, alongside other members of The Defenders. As such, I have to wonder if new code names will have to be thought up for Avengers: Secret Wars.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see how Atwell and Evans (and their nicknames) factor into the mysterious blockbuster's contents.

Bucky Barnes has survived falling from a train, decades of HYDRA brainwashing, being snapped out of existence and more superhero brawls than I can reasonably count. Yet as we get closer to Avengers: Doomsday's release on the 2026 movie calendar release, longtime Marvel fans are growing increasingly more concerned, looking at the Winter Soldier like someone in an action movie who just announced he’s two days from retirement. Which can only mean an almost certain untimely demise. Well, True Believers, Sebastian Stan is well aware of your concerns, and he has a pretty great take.

With the upcoming Marvel movie bringing Bucky back alongside a ridiculously crowded collection of Avengers, the MCU’s Fantastic Four members and returning Fox-era X-Men, theories suggesting the longtime MCU hero could finally meet his end have been circulating for months. During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, which was shared on Instagram, the Thunderbolts* star shared his take:

Sir, I appreciate the very thoughtful answer. But it is also precisely the sort of answer you’d expect from an actor who’s spent more than a decade in the Marvel moviemaking machine. He knows where his bread is buttered, and he ain’t about to cross Mr. Kevin Feige (the head of Marvel Studios).

Stan has played Bucky since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, meaning Doomsday arrives more than 15 years after he first stood beside Steve Rogers. In that time, Bucky went from Steve’s best friend to one of Marvel’s most effective assassins, then spent years trying to claw his way back toward something resembling a normal life.

His most recent appearance in Thunderbolts* finally gave him another team, this time as its leader. Killing him immediately after all that would be so mean. Which, unfortunately, is not to say that sort of action would be beneath Marvel. Au contraire, mon frère. If you’ve watched all the Marvel movies and shows, then you already know the comic book movie juggernaut has a long history of landing a well-placed emotional punch to fans’ bread boxes. So, I don't rule out any possibility.

Though there is no clear-cut reason for so many fan speculation about Bucky's death, in particular, the theories have stuck around. Part of that may be because Stan is confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, but he hasn't been part of the currently announced Avengers: Secret Wars lineup. His move into, for him, a new superhero movie franchise with The Batman: Part II also caused fans to wonder whether his Marvel days might be winding down, even though there is no real reason he couldn’t work in both universes. His Batman role remains unconfirmed.

Then there is the movie itself. Marvel describes Doomsday as bringing heroes from three universes into a collision with an existential threat, with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom sitting at the center of the chaos. This is the first Avengers movie since Endgame, and I have a hard time believing the Russos will send every beloved legacy character home without making us mourn somebody. We are just getting RDJ back as the new baddy, and Evan’s Cap returning after his happy ending; it would be insane for them to kill either of them off. But, you know who would hurt? Bucky would hurt.

Still, I’m not ready to start engraving the tombstone. Stan recently revealed that he even pitched Kevin Feige a smaller, Sicario-style Winter Soldier movie centered on Bucky becoming obsessed with someone connected to his brainwashed past. That hardly sounds like an actor desperate to toss the metal arm into storage forever.

Then again, Marvel actors politely smiling through questions they absolutely cannot answer is practically an MCU tradition. So I’ll take Stan’s advice and live with the uncertainty. Even if I don’t appreciate the way he said it, Mr. Barnes' fictional life hangs in the balance.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on Dec. 18 and, in the meantime, fans can catch up on Bucky Barnes' journey by streaming MCU movies and shows with a Disney+ subscription.

Timothée Chalamet is one of the most in-demand actors working in Hollywood right now but, lately, he’s been taking some time away from the public eye. It’s a good idea, considering he’s about to be part of one of the biggest movie events of the year. His film, Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday come out on the same day on the 2026 movie schedule and make up what's being calleds "Dunesday." At present, though 30-year-old Chalamet just shared a wholesome update regarding what exactly he’s been up to.

Overall, Chalamet is relatively private when it comes to matters not pertaining to his career. The Oscar-nominated actor, however, just shared some gorgeous photos from a recent vacation. Check out the photos below:

As the Marty Supreme actor shared on Instagram, he just took some time off to hike Italy’s Dolomite mountains with his dad. Timothée Chalamet looks like he had a blast of a time having some father-son bonding time. His papa is Marc Chalamet, a French journalist who has been working as an NY correspondent for Le Parisien since 2019.

It's likely that Timothée Chalamet -- alongside his A-list cast, including Zendaya, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Robert Pattinson, Jason Momoa and more -- will be doing a world press tour to promote Dune: Part Three in the fall. Ahead of the actor doing so, it’s great to see him get some quality family time in. It looks like it was just the Wonka star, his dad, great views and yummy food, and that’s so lovely to see.

As for their destination, the Dolomites sit in northeastern Italy and are actually part of the Alps. Based on the photos, it looks like the Chalamet men had a great time taking in the fresh air and venturing down a bunch of hiking trails. It looks like they went quite high, too!

Dune: Part Three is set to be the final film in Denis Villeneuve's Dune trilogy, which is based on the classic sci-fi series from Frank Herbert. This movie sees Chalamat’s Paul Atreides in his “villain era” following the events of Part Two, and outside forces will be looking to dethrone him as Emperor. There seems to be considerable buzz surrounding the movie, especially given its simultaneous release with Avengers: Doomsday. And, per box office analysts, presale ticket presales suggest suggest both films could be massive hits.

Chalamet actually deserves some credit with helping to build hype for "Dunesday." He and Doomsday star Robert Downey Jr. actually coined the name to begin with, and both seem very cognizant of the fact that come this December, they're going to be linked to a major box office event that mirrors Barbenheimer. What's more is that this all comes roughly a year after a whirlwind of an awards season for Chalamet.

Late last year, Chalamet heavily promoted his A24 film, Marty Supreme, and it became the studio’s highest-grossing movie ever (before Backrooms took the record this year). He was even a top contender for Best Actor before Michael B. Jordan ultimately took home the award.

There’s clearly been a lot going on for Timothée Chalamet! Because of that, I'm glad to see he's been taking it easy as of late. So, theoretically, he should be nice and refreshed by the time he has to promote Dune: Part Three, which opens in theaters on December 18.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping the fandom on its collective toes, thanks to exciting new titles arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks are always looking forward to upcoming Marvel movies, but the anticipation surrounding The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday is on another level entirely. The revealed Doomsday cast list includes Tom Hiddleston's Loki, and the actor was recently asked if his signature character was going to die ... yet again. His attempts to not reveal any spoilers were almost comical.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, and there are countless rumors and theories about what might go down. Hiddleston recently appeared in the podcast Happy Sad Confused, where he was asked if he or Patrick Stewart will win for most onscreen Marvel deaths after the forthcoming blockbuster hits theaters. After debating how many times Loki has perished before our eyes, he said:

There's a video of the podcast, and watching Hiddleston struggle to respond without giving anything away is truly hilarious. Listen, Marvel's security is notoriously tight, and the man's been guarding the franchise's secrets for a decade and change. So, while he nearly said something he wasn't supposed to, the 45 year-old actor managed to get through the interview without revealing too much (much to my chagrin).

A number of MCU actors are known for accidentally revealing things they shouldn't, but Tom Hiddleston has historically not been one of them. For instance, Tom Holland has let a number of things slip over the years. Then there's Mark Ruffalo, who spoiled Infinity War's ending before the movie had officially hit theaters. The Thor star was not about to join those ranks, and managed to keep tight-lipped about Loki's fate in the next Avengers movie.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall that Loki has already "died" a number of times. He died in Thor's arms during The Dark World, although this was later revealed to be an illusion. The original version of the character then perished at the start of Infinity War, after unsuccessfully trying to take out Thanos. After that storyline was tidied up, there was Loki's Season 2 finale, which saw an alternate version of Tom Hiddleston's character physically hold the entire multiverse together at the End of Time.

Given his new multi-versal position, it should be interesting to see how Loki factors into the action of the next Avengers film. He was briefly shown in Doomsday's trailer, but there are more questions than answers about his role. And that includes whether or not we might see the God of Mischief die once again.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that Loki makes it out of the mysterious blockbuster alive.

When I learned that Doctor Doom was being ushered into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I never would have predicted that we’d be seeing Iron Man behind the mask. Robert Downey Jr. is, of course, taking on the role of Victor von Doom and will make his debut in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. And the more I see of the upcoming Marvel movie, the more excited I become, especially when it comes to Doom. As shocked as I initially was about Downey's casting, though, I'm even more shocked that Sebastian Stan wasn't in the know beforehand.

Stan spoke with Josh Horowitz about all things superheroes and pop culture, and the latter brought up the big Doom reveal. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Horowitz recalled Stan being at San Diego Comic-Con when Downey's involvement was announced. The journalist opined that Stan "must have known it was coming." Yet the Oscar nominee got real about not having gotten a heads up:

I think he perfectly sums up what many of us were feeling that night. I can’t imagine what Downey's various Avengers castmates must have been thinking. The crowd in Hall H eventually erupted upon seeing Downey, and that excitement remains, even if some people aren't convinced he's the right choice for Doom.

What doesn’t surprise me about all this are the lengths that Marvel went to in order to keep the Downey news a secret until the epic announcement. Marvel is well-known for making actors keep secrets (or at least attempt to do so). So, when Horowitz asked Stan if he had any intel, the actor said he didn’t even cross paths with RDJ or directors Joe and Anthony Russo at Comic-Con aside from the panel. He continued:

That secrecy aside, I'm just happy RDJ is back in the fold. And, funny enough, this was a recycled casting idea dating back to Tim Story’s Fantastic Four (2005). Downey was apparently being circled for the role before it went to the late Julian McMahon, who reprised the role for the sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). McMahon's performance was also a big reason why I loved the villain so much.

As for Stan, he's been relatively tight-lipped about what's to come in this latest Avengers movie. However, some of his choice comments did have fans concerned that Bucky might be killed off in Doomsday. In addition to the mortality of the characters, I'm also hoping a few details pay off, including a Loki plotline dating back to Endgame that has bugged me since I saw it. That particular details centers around the fact that there's no indication as to how Steve Rogers' decision to return to Peggy impacted the timeline.

Much of that may or may not be undone by Doom if he has his way, and I remain curious as to how Downey will play out the character's arc. I can only assume that at this point, Sebastian Stan is a bit more in the know. But, given how actors don't even receive full scripts for MCU films at times, I could imagine him being shocked a few more times when he finally sees the finished movie.

Check out Robert Downey Jr.'s Doom when Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, catch up with the required MCU viewing list by streaming movies with a Disney+ subscription.

Go ahead. Call me a hater. I know you want to. But I don’t care. I’m still not feeling Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

I know I’ve had plenty of time to warm up to the idea, as we’ve known since as far back as 2024 that Downey would play the character. In all that time, I’m STILL not convinced that RDJ is the best choice for Doctor Doom, and I know I’m not alone.

However, this isn’t about other people. It’s about me, and why I still don’t think Robert Downey Jr. should be the ruler of Latveria. Here’s why.

The Most Recent Trailer Didn't Do Anything To Change My Mind

Honestly, I was hoping to marvel (pun not intended) at a trailer featuring Doctor Doom. As someone who wasn’t blown away by the X-Men trailer, I was really banking on Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doom to be what finally got me excited for this film. Then I saw the trailer, and let me tell you: I was NOT marveled.

In fact, underwhelmed might be a better word. I think it’s the voice, as it does nothing for me. Sure, I’m glad that we haven’t seen Robert Downey Jr.’s face yet, as that would probably completely ruin it for me, but Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom just doesn’t feel intimidating to me, which is a major letdown.

I’m the kind of person who’s never seen a Fantastic Four movie that he didn’t like. And while First Steps is my favorite FF film, I greatly enjoyed the Chris Evans Fantastic Four movies, and even liked the Michael B. Jordan one…for the most part. The biggest weakness out of those aforementioned films was definitely Doctor Doom, as neither of those movies got the character right. I was hoping this trailer would change all of that for me, but it didn’t, and I’m kind of putting that squarely on RDJ's shoulders. There’s another reason why I’m not convinced that he’s the best choice.

I Don't Want Doctor Doom To Feel Connected To The Old MCU

I’ve been off the MCU hype train for a LONG time now, and a lot of that is because I don’t feel like the MCU has been adventurous enough lately. Sure, I’m the only person on the planet who loved Eternals - mostly because it was so adventurous - but I feel like the MCU has been going back to the tried-and-true well that is 2012's The Avengers a bit too much lately, and bringing back RDJ doesn't help.

I mean, bringing back Chris Evans as Cap seemed desperate enough, but bringing back Robert Downey Jr. still feels like we haven't gotten past 2008, when RDJ kickstarted the MCU with Iron Man, and that's the last thing I want.

I'm still kind of bummed that the MCU abandoned the Kang storyline, but if they were going to pivot to Doctor Doom, they should have AT LEAST started fresh. RDJ doesn't feel that way, though. It feels like we're languishing in the past. That said, maybe I just feel this way because I wanted another pick for Doctor Doom…

Maybe It's Just That I Still Wish We Got Mads Mikkelsen As Doctor Doom Instead

Okay, I'll be frank with you. Even before we were made aware that Doctor Doom was coming to the MCU, I had already dreamcasted Mads Mikkelsen in the role.

This isn't just a ME thing either, as Mikkelsen himself said he would like to play the character. He would literally be perfect for the role. I mentioned before how I don't find RDJ intimidating, but I find Mikkelsen terrifying in pretty much anything he does, so I could only imagine what he would be like as Doctor Doom.

So, perhaps I'm just unfairly comparing RDJ to Mads Mikkelsen, but unless the former blows me away as Heath Ledger did in The Dark Knight, I'll likely always believe that RDJ just wasn't the best choice for what is arguably Marvel's greatest antagonist.

It’s been a while, but Simu Liu is finally about to reprise his role as Shang-Chi (in a live-action capacity) in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday. Joe and Anthony Russo’s sprawling team-up film is set to bring together characters from different corners of the multiverse. With that, Liu’s character gets to rub shoulders with some interesting individuals, including Channing Tatum’s Gambit. Liu recently spoke about filming with Tatum and revealed one key element that they had in common amidst the shoot.

One of the most exciting scenes that’s teased in the Doomsday trailer is the fight between Shang-Chi and Gambit. The quick shots showed the two heroes manipulating their signature weapons – playing cards and enchanted rings – while coming to blows. While the two characters are shown to be at odds with each other (at least for a time), Liu and Tatum apparently got along just fine on set. The Jackpot! star recently spoke to Marvel Studios (as shared on Instagram) about working with Tatum and had some kind thoughts:

It’s true that both Liu and Tatum are both actors committed to their craft, and I love the idea of them connecting over that while working on their upcoming 2026 movie release. And, as a fan, I also appreciate them wanting to do as many of their own stunts as possible. Liu is definitely correct in that not every actor is willing to do that, though several of their Marvel colleagues are of the same mentality. The general public has only seen a snippet of Tatum and Liu’s fight but, given their approaches, I think the entire sequence will be great.

This upcoming Marvel movie marks an auspicious occasion for both Tatum and Liu. When it comes to the Barbie alum, his character hasn’t been seen on the big screen since his 2021 solo film. Liu has continued to field questions about Shang-Chi 2 but, at the same time, he’s been hyping up his Doomsday experience and dishing on getting to work with big names. Liu also says Shang-Chi will have matured a bit by the time he reappears in the film, and that certainly signifies the passage of time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Meanwhile, Tatum reprises Remy LaBeau/Gambit following his debut as the character in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, and he’s shared some BTS details, including his approach to that thick cajun accent this time around. He’ll be just one of the X-Men to factor into the narrative, as X-Men veterans like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and James Marsden are also in the mix.

I’m still very curious as to how the Russo Brothers are going to wrangle all these characters together to take down Doctor Doom, but I’m definitely eager to see how it happens. And, from a behind-the-scenes standpoint, I can also appreciate the amount of work that’s been put in by the cast and crew. Hopefully, Simu Liu and Channing Tatum’s shared desire to do their own stunts pays off in a big way.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars hits cinemas on December 1, 2027. In the meantime, catch up on MCU movies by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Anticipation is at a fever pitch for the next upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday, especially with The Russo Brothers back behind the camera. And the pair of acclaimed directors recently shared the upside of filming the blockbuster without a completed script.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but information and footage is slowly trickling out as we get closer to its release this December. In an interview with The Associate Press, Joe Russo spoke about what it was like filming the big crossover movie, and the upside of not having to strictly follow a script. In his words:

Honestly, I see this appeal. While in theory not having a finished script would be chaotic, The Russo Brothers found a serious silver lining. Specifically that the movie's dialogue and scene work could be changed by improvisation and a deep collaboration with the Avengers: Doomsday cast. And I can't wait to see how this pays off when the movie releases this winter.

This way of working sounds like it's in stark juxtaposition to the last time The Russos were working within the MCU. Namely because Infinity War and Endgame were filmed back to back. The directors needed a clear vision of the narrative to make this happen, but it sounds like Doomsday allowed for more exploration and collaboration with the various A-listers involved in the next Avengers flick.

News of the improvisation-based filming might be surprising for fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order. After all, Doomsday features entire teams of heroes, who will somehow unite in order to battle Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Namely the Avengers, the new Avengers (aka Thunderbolts), Fantastic Four, and the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Servicing all these characters seems like a dizzying job, especially without a completed script. Alas, that's not how the pair of directors saw the opportunity.

The pressure is on for the next Avengers movie to deliver, both critically and financially. There have been number of disappointments in the years since Endgame became the highest grossing movie of all time, including box office bombs like The Marvels.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we're treated to more footage ahead of the movie's arrival, but there's no telling given Marvel's tight security.

Few upcoming 2026 movies have the hype going for them that Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday does, though I guess Secret Wars isn’t so far behind it. As news surfaces about the newest cast member to join the MCU, the latest Scarlet Witch reports point to the character being utilized as Doomsday reshoots are wrapping up. Of course, it’s not so cut and dry as “Elizabeth Olsen was clearly seen on set in costume,” because that would be too easy.

As it often goes with MCU hearsay, the latest rumor mill fodder came from online scoopers. Daniel Richtman (via Patreon) claims that the Russo brothers’ reshoots are completed, and that Scarlet Witch and Sue Storm are among the characters who were filmed. Meanwhile, on X, MyTimeToShineHello is saying that it was Elizabeth Olsen’s stunt double that was involved with the additional filming, and that it was for a post-credits sequence.

To be sure, even if these reports are true, it’s still unclear if this would be the only point in the film where Scarlet Witch appears, given Olsen’s unwavering stance that she knows nothing about her next MCU project. Despite other rumors claiming she’ll be a major villain for the Mutant Saga, and that she’s also supposed to be utilized for Secret Wars. Which brings me to this question…

What If Only Scarlet Witch, Not Elizabeth Olsen, Appears In Avengers: Doomsday?

Hear me out. What if it's both true that Scarlet Witch will appear in Doomsday and also that Olsen did not do any filming for the movie, and was purposefully kept out of the loop so that she wouldn't be lying about that when asked during interviews? It'd be the perfect crime. Well, no, not a crime, and not quite a diversion, but still sly and tricky.

In the first place, Olsen was revealed to be pregnant in June, and while that obviously wouldn't rule her out of filming anything, it does make it slightly less likely.

Additionally, I've previously shared my own conjecture that — based on rumors of Wanda being Doctor Doom's henchwitch — the character will be the one under the Latverian Witch mask, and that she was actually the one who appeared to Franklin in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Even if that second part isn't real, Scarlet Witch being masked until the very end would also be a way to have the character in the movie without the need for Olsen to be on the set.

My final totally-not-flimsy piece of circumstantial evidence is the fact that Agatha All Along alluded to Wanda's presence without the need to show her face. So it's not out of the question to think that the Doomsday post-credits scene could involve her being unmasked from behind, so that all audiences see is her long red hair as "proof."

What are we thinking? Am I way offbase? Do we think Olsen has just been lying and that Scarlet Witch is all over Doomsday? What about VisionQuest? [Brain glitches.] Everything is normal. Wanda is not in movies. Olsen is right all along. Continue. Continue. Have good day. [Brain glitches again.]

Check out Avengers: Doomsday in theaters on December 18, 2026.

While Avengers: Doomsday has yet to be released, fans are already starting to ask questions about its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. The 2027 movie release is still well over a year away but, at the moment, it’s in pre-production, which means details are slowly being reported. A big piece of news just hit this week, as the superhero team-up film has reportedly tapped a Marvel Cinematic Universe newcomer for an undisclosed role. Despite that, I have a wild idea regarding who he’s playing.

Avengers: Secret Wars Enlists A Quiet Place Alum

Marvel Studios can certainly attract talent, and it’s just proven that yet again by casting Noah Jupe in Secret Wars, which starts filming later this year. Deadline couldn’t confirm Jupe’s role, but it did allege that the actor is set to play an important role in the film, which serves as the culmination of the Multiverse Saga. Unsurprisingly, none of the bigwigs at the studio have provided any comment on the casting. The lack of concrete details don’t extinguish any of my excitement, though, as I’m more than pleased to see Jupe joining the MCU.

Jupe may only be 21, but he’s amassed a solid number of credits over the past several years. A former child actor, Jupe rose to prominence through his role as Marcus Abbott in 2018’s A Quiet Place and reprised it in the 2021 sequel. (He’ll play Marcus again in the upcoming third movie). The star really garnered attention, though, due to his role in Honey Boy. Shia LaBeouf's 2019 semi-autographical drama film. Since then he’s appeared in films like No Sudden Move, (the Oscar-winning) Hamnet and The Death of Robin Hood.

Another detail that makes this casting so sweet is that Jupe has ties to a relatively new MCU star: Sadie Sink. Earlier this year, Sink made his debut as Jean Grey in the box office behemoth that is Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She and Jupe starred alongside each other in the West End’s production of Romeo & Juliet. Personally, I’d love for the two actors to share some scenes in Secret Wars. Of course, there’s still the matter of who the Carpenter’s Son star is playing in the Marvel flick.

I Think This MCU Newbie Is Playing A Powerful Character

Considering Doomsday hasn’t even hit theaters yet, it’s hard to speculate on Secret Wars’ plot. What producer and Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige has confirmed, however, is that both films take heavy inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars run. That story contains a smattering of different characters, including one known as The Maker, who’s a younger and more dangerous version of Reed Richards from an alternate universe. That’s who I think Jupe might be playing.

Maker was originally the Reed of Earth-1610, which is known as the Ultimate Marvel universe. While this variation of Richards begins as an upbeat and well-meaning man of science, he eventually developed into a malevolent force after experiencing a series of personal tragedies. This Reed eventually becomes a fixture within the main Earth-616 universe and, in 2015’s Secret Wars, he’s amongst those impacted by Doctor Doom’s multiverse-shattering actions. In this story, Maker also forges a shaky partnership with the main Reed.

Jupe definitely has the gravitas to play a character as flawed and layered as Maker and has the ability to be both charming and somewhat unpredictable. While I mentioned the notion of Jupe sharing the screen with Sink, what I’d really love is to see him chop it up with Reed Richards actor Pedro Pascal. What’s more is that I’d completely buy Jupe as a younger version of Pascal’s character.

It may be a while before we get a definitive answer regarding Noah Jupe’s role, but I’m hopeful that directors Joe and Anthony Russo will effectively utilize his talents. And, of course, I’m also curious as to what other non-MCU alums may be tapped to step into this continuity for the first time alongside Jupe. Keep those eyes peeled, folks, because this casting news is surely just the beginning!

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule, while Avengers: Secret Wars hits theaters on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, prepare yourself by streaming the various MCU movies and shows using a Disney+ subscription.

I’ll never forget when I heard Robert Downey Jr. was going to be in Avengers: Doomsday. It happened at the Hall H Marvel panel at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con when the Iron Man actor surprised the audience with the reveal. It was the perfect viral moment to get fans hyped for the next Avengers movie after what happened with Kang. But I just got a reminder recently that not everyone is terminally online like I am.

My Dad Has No Idea About RDJ In Doomsday

Growing up, my dad was the one who got me into comic books and superheroes. We’ve seen most of the Marvel movies in order together over the years, too. I mean, I was twelve when Iron Man came out, so there’s been plenty of daddy/daughter bonding with the MCU. Now my dad is 67 years old, and these days he’s not spending his time scrolling social media, reading the latest on all the Marvel rumors and thinkpieces.

Recently, when I went to see him, we watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps together, which is streaming right now with a Disney+ subscription. When we got to the Doctor Doom tease at the end, something dawned on me… he has no idea RDJ is under that mask. I proceeded to show him the latest Doomsday trailer and realized he doesn’t have to know (and probably won’t) until the movie comes out.

Honestly, I Wish That Was Me Too

There was a moment during our visit when I asked him if he wanted to know who Doctor Doom is, but he declined. I think he made the right move. I actually hope he never finds out until the movie makes the reveal somehow.

I mean, how cool is it going to be for him to experience Doomsday without an awareness that Iron Man is the Avengers' latest greatest villain? Certainly, for most of the movie the team of superheroes won’t have any idea. There has to be a scene when Downey uncovers his mask somehow, and everyone looks in shock and surprise. While I’ll have been anticipating this for years, and probably be let down somehow thanks to all the piled up excitement, but my dad is going to be just as much in disbelief as the likes of Thor or Captain America.

I assume Doomsday has a lot more surprises in store for fans than the Doctor Doom unmasking (which isn’t much of a surprise for most), but now I’m thinking about how much fun it would have been if Marvel never revealed Downey was Doctor Doom. I see why they did it. Too many leaks spoil Marvel surprises all the time, and having RDJ help promote your movie is a great thing to have in your arsenal if you want people to show up for the fifth Avengers movie. But, yeah… I’m jealous of my pops!

I mean, if anything, maybe this is a good reason for me to go see it with him. And maybe you should take note and find your closest family member who doesn’t pay attention to the internet. If you do, you have until December 18 to find your offline Doomsday buddy.

If anyone still has questions about how much audiences are interested in Avengers: Doomsday, that was put to rest in September with the re-release of Avengers: Endgame, dubbed Endgame Encore. The appetite for the upcoming Marvel movie is clearly hungry for more after Endgame crushed it at the box office when it flew back into theaters.

Avengers: Doomsday is coming on the heels of the wildly successful Spider-Man: Brand New Day and will be the first movie to feature most of The Avengers since 2019's Endgame. Of course, it's going to be a star-studded affair as Kevin Feige and his team are assembling a collection of heroes unlike anything the MCU has seen before, with stars from all over the Marvel multiverse assembling for this and Avengers: Secret Wars, which will hit the 2027 movie schedule next December.

That's not all, because the 39th installment of the long-running franchise of acclaimed superhero movies is finally bringing in one of the most feared villains in comic book history, Doctor Doom. And he's being played by Robert Downey, marking his return to the MCU.

Let’s get into who is avenging this time and what else we know about the upcoming superhero movie in our guide to Avengers: Doomsday.

What Is The Avengers: Doomsday Release Date?

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

That date coincides with the release of Dune: Part 3 on the same day of the 2026 movie schedule, and fans have taken to calling it "Dunesday." It's set up a perfect double feature for hardcore movie fans, though it's going to make for a long day, as it's expected both movies will have runtimes around the two-and-a-half-to-three-hour mark.

Avengers: Doomsday Trailer

After years of anticipation, an epic cast reveal, a brief appearance by Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and a series of teasers featuring different characters, our first real look at Avengers: Doomsday came in July 2026 with the release of the first full trailer. Of course, it was talked about as much for what it didn't show as for what it did.

What Avengers: Doomsday Is About

Here's basically what we know: Avengers: Doomsday will bring together superhero teams from across the multiverse who will converge in one place to battle Doctor Doom. For the first time, the biggest teams in the Marvel canon will be teaming up in the MCU, including The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The New Avengers (or The Thunderbolts), and last but certainly not least, The X-Men.

Previously, the plot of the fifth Avengers film was intended to revolve around a different villain and was going to be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors was dropped by Marvel in 2023 following high-profile legal troubles.

As usual, Marvel has given only a few hints as to the plot of the movie, but we all remember the post-credit scene in The Fantastic Four: First Steps when we saw Doctor Doom holding Franklin Richards, the newborn baby of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Where that leads us is still up in the air. We do know that Doomsday and Secret Wars will conclude Phase Six and The Multiverse Saga. Starting in 2028, the MCU will begin The Mutant Saga with the release of Ghost Rider, Blank Panther III, and a so-far unnamed X-Men movie.

Additionally, Endgame Encore added some additional footage in the re-release, which you can read about here. I'm going to honor the Russos' wish not to spoil things, but there are a few scenes added to hint at what's to come.

The Avengers: Doomsday Cast

As you would expect, the cast for Avengers: Doomsday is huge. The first announcement came way back in the summer of 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con. The Hall H crowd erupted into a roar of excitement and confusion when it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but not as Iron Man. Instead, the Academy Award winner is the one putting the “doom” in Avengers: Doomsday by starring as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.

In March of 2025, Marvel Studios revealed who would be taking on Doom with a live-streamed video on X, which is now available on YouTube, lasting more than five hours. Fold-out chairs bearing the actors’ names were placed next to each other, one by one, every 15 minutes. In addition to established veterans of the franchise, the previewed ensemble also includes the stars of the yet-to-be-released Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as well as a few who are making their MCU debuts but not their Marvel debuts, having previously starred in the live-action X-Men movies.

Check out the Avengers: Doomsday cast, complete with character names, below:

• Robert Downey Jr. (Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom)
• Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
• Chris Evans (Steve Rogers)
• Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X)
• Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto)
• Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America)
• Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes)
• Letitia Wright (Shuri / Black Panther)
• Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau / Gambit)
• Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic)
• Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man)
• Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme / Mystique)
• James Marsden (Scott Summers / Cyclops)
• Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
• Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm / Invisible Woman)
• Simu Liu (Xu Shang-Chi)
• Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
• Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)
• Wyatt Russell (John Walker / U.S. Agent)
• Tenoch Huerta (Namor)
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm / The Thing)
• Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy / Beast)
• Lewis Pullman (Bob / Sentry)
• Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon)
• Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm / Human Torch)
• David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian)
• Winston Duke (M'Baku)
• Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr / Ghost)
• Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler)

There are a few names you might be wondering about who aren't on that list. There are a few actors who have not been officially confirmed for Doomsday, but there is speculation that at least some of them will appear. This includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Also not on the list is Tom Holland as Spider-Man, and that's because it's very unclear if he'll be in Doomsday or only in the sequel, Avengers: Secret War. There is a lot of chatter that Tobey Maguire may appear as his version of Peter Park/Spider-Man in Doomsday. None of this is confirmed as of late September 2026.

Avengers: Secret Wars Is Coming December 17, 2027

Joe and Anthony Russo revealed to Omelete that, while Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were two halves of a finale to the MCU’s first saga, Avengers: Doomsday will be the first half of a transition for the franchise from the Multiverse Saga into The Mutant Saga.

The sixth Avengers movie (Secret Wars) shares its name with the aforementioned comic book arc, which ran for 12 issues from 1984 to 1985, in which an omnipotent being called the Beyonder brings various heroes and villains (including Doctor Doom) to the planet Battleworld and pits them against each other like gladiators.

All of this was potentially hinted at in the post-credits scene in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and could explain why Tom Holland won't be in Doomsday, as his version of Spidey is now seemingly trapped on Battleworld already.

Joe And Anthony Russo Are Directing Avengers: Doomsday

Some of the titles considered to be the absolute best Marvel Cinematic Universe movies include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame – have been directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The brothers previously claimed they would be walking away from the franchise for good after their 2019 smash, but it looks like you should never say never. The Russos are directing both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which, according to Variety, was a top condition for Robert Downey Jr.’s return.

After most recently working with the Russos as the co-writer for their Netflix original movies, The Gray Man and The Electric State, Stephen McFeely is reteaming with them to pen Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. He had previously written several classic MCU movies, including Endgame, with his frequent partner, Christopher Markus. This will be his first solo effort with the franchise. Loki creator Michael Waldron previously served as the screenwriter when Daniel Destin Cretton was still on board as the director.

What To Watch In Anticipation Of Doomsday

You still have plenty of time to catch up on or revisit all of the Marvel movies in order before Avengers: Doomsday is released, if you are up for it. However, Disney and Marvel have also released a list of MCU shows and movies that they say are essential viewing, and thankfully, it's much shorter than diving into everything!

All you need is a Disney+ subscription, and you can watch everything recommended.

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

While there have been some left wondering why certain shows and movies were left out, and others are mad that more of what they watched seemingly isn't important to this installment, I am glad the list isn't too exhaustive. It's hard work keeping up with the MCU, but I'll keep doing it and making updates on this story as often as needed!

Head on over to the Marvel section of Disney+, and you'll find a whole section dedicated to movies and TV shows that you should watch in preparation for Avengers: Doomsday, which just so happens to come out on December 18th of the 2026 movie schedule (the same day as Dune: Part Three, making it Dunesday!).

Oh, wait. Did I say TV shows? I meant TV show, singular, as when you go to the “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday” section, you'll find 14 movies you should watch before seeing the film, and just ONE TV show: Loki.

That this is RIDICULOUS! I’ve spent literally HOURS watching MCU TV shows, and you're telling me that only ONE of them matters when it comes to Avengers: Doomsday? Arg. Let's talk.

For A Time, It Seemed Like All Of The MCU Shows Mattered. Now, Almost None Of Them Do

I'll tell you, when WandaVision debuted back in 2021, I was in love. The show was so weird and experimental that it felt like a revelation. What interested me the most, however, was how it would eventually connect back to the MCU movies, proper. Because back then, that was sort of the promise of these MCU shows - They weren't just standalone programs. They would connect to the movies at some point.

The resulting movie following the events of WandaVision was 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which…well, I'll be frank. I didn't love. Even so, I appreciated that my time didn't feel wasted with WandaVision. The same goes for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with Captain America: Brave New World being the result of that series. The point I'm making is that for a time (with Ms. Marvel being another example), the shows fed into the movies, and vice versa.

Then something changed. We started getting shows that didn't really seem to connect to the films at all. Now, with the Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday saying that only Loki really matters when it comes to the events for this movie, well…I kind of feel like I wasted my time watching all of these shows, especially a few in particular, which I’ll get into next.

Certain Shows, Like Moon Knight, And She-Hulk Feel Especially Pointless Now

Moon Knight is my favorite Marvel character, so when there was word that we were getting a Moon Knight TV show, I was seriously losing my mind. However, Moon Knight came and went, and while I liked certain aspects about it, I also greatly disliked other aspects about it. Not only that, but I also felt like it could have been a real turning point for the MCU, but that's neither here nor there.

What bugs me, though, is that, as far as we know, Moon Knight will NOT return in Avengers: Doomsday. Plus, his show was so inconsequential that you don't even need to have watched it in preparation for this film. Same goes with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. I mean, I loved it, but it feels like a forgotten relic now.

Agatha All Along? Unnecessary. Echo? Unnecessary. Hawkeye? Unnecessary. Secret Invasion (which sucked)? Unnecessary. I mean, jeez, now that so many of these shows are not connected to Avengers: Doomsday, they feel like a COMPLETE waste of time to me, which is why…

I Think I'm Done Watching Marvel TV Shows Now...For The Most Part

The other day, somebody asked me what I thought about Wonder Man, and they were shocked when I told them that I didn't even watch it (and now that it's been canceled, I'm glad I didn't watch it).

The truth is, I gave up on the MCU TV shows a while ago. The last one I watched in earnest was Season 2 of Loki (which I guess is a good thing since it's the only show that seems to matter for Doomsday). But Ironheart? Didn't watch. Daredevil: Born Again? Didn't watch. Eyes of Wakanda? Didn’t watch. I probably WILL watch VisionQuest, and because it might connect to Avengers: Secret Wars! And really, that's all it takes.

While this year’s D23 marked the first time we got to see the new X-Men cast, it also featured a very fun reunion between two of Marvel’s most seasoned veterans, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. They were there alongside Hayley Atwell to promote their upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. And in true Cap and Iron Man fashion, RDJ was busy trolling his pal, Evans, behind the scenes of this big industry event.

I don’t expect Robert Downey Jr. to be anything but silly and sarcastic, so it didn’t surprise me one bit that that’s how he was acting in his BTS D23 video on Instagram. It felt remarkably on-brand for it to begin with him trolling Chris Evans too, as they had the following back-and-forth:

• Chris Evans: What is this? What are we doing?
• Robert Downey Jr.: You know, that’s one of those dumb things they always say in movies. They’re like, ‘What is this place?’

It seems only natural that attending an event like D23 or San Diego Comic-Con (which Evans and Downey were also at earlier this summer) would cause this kind of reaction. They’re big and fancy events, and usually guys like them have busy schedules full of presentations and media. So, this interaction felt both understandable and funny. Plus, the Oscar winner is right; I can perfectly picture plenty of scenes that involve people saying "What is this place?" in movies.

Honestly, the whole video is hilarious, though, and you can see it for yourself here:

Personally, after the trolling moment, my favorite bits of this video are Downey’s reunion with Iron Man director and Happy actor Jon Favreau (who was at D23 to talk about his new Oswald project) and the moment when RDJ decided to punch Winnie the Pooh. I also got a real kick out of seeing him, Evans and Atwell read their lines and try to figure out the order in which they wanted to walk out on stage.

Overall, it was a lovely peek behind the curtain, and it really makes me want to be a fly on the wall during the Avengers: Doomsday press tour. I’m sure Downey and Evans will have more jokes up their sleeves, especially since they’ve been regularly trolling each other (yeah, I saw how the Cap and Doom actors acted on stage at CinemaCon).

Now, once we get to December 18 on the 2026 movie schedule, that joke-fighting will turn serious, because Downey is playing Doctor Doom in the MCU. So, I have a feeling we won’t be seeing him and Evans poking fun at each other on the big screen. However, that’s thrilling too, because, personally, I cannot wait to see how exactly they plan to reintroduce one of Marvel’s most iconic actors as a new character and legendary villain.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see that, though, so in the meantime, I’ll be enjoying this BTS content and going back to see Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. during their early MCU days by streaming the Marvel movies in order with my Disney+ subscription.

Throughout its nearly two decades of existence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become synonymous with constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But in order to guard against spoilers Marvel security is famously tight, especially for upcoming MCU movies. And Loki actor Tom Hiddleston recently revealed why he was so happy with the Doomsday cast announcement with all those chairs.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but back in March of 2025 the majority of the movie's cast was revealed in a viral announcement. Hiddleston's return as Loki was confirmed in the process, and during an interview with ScreenRant the 45 year-old actor he shared why he was so happy to be included in that live stream. In his words:

Points were made. Hiddleston has been in the MCU since the OG Avengers back in 2012, so he's had plenty of experience guarding the shared universe's secrets. Luckily for him, his role in Doomsday was confirmed a while back. As such, he didn't have to spend the last year denying it in interviews. And after seeing how Andrew Garfield lied about his Spider-Man: No Way Home role, I can't blame the Loki star for his feelings.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know how seriously most actors take spoilers, so it's understandable that Tom Hiddleston is feeling relieved about his Doomsday role being out in the open. In the same interview he went on to share:

As we know, not all Marvel actors are so good at keeping secrets. Tom Holland has spoiled a number of things over the years, and Mark Ruffalo even revealed Infinity War's ending prior to it hitting theaters.

It's unclear what Loki will be doing in Doomsday, but we've seen a few brief glimpses of him in his TVA jacket. And while his role was confirmed, Tom Hiddleston is still keeping his cards close the chest. As he put it:

Smart man. We'll just have to wait and see how Loki factors into the story of the next Avengers movie. Luckily we're getting ever-closer to that movie's release this winter. So hopefully we get more footage of the God of Mischief sooner rather than later.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Let's just hope Loki doesn't get killed off yet again in the process. Fingers crossed.

Presale tickets for Avengers: Doomsday became available to buy this week. And, it’s looking like the next of upcoming Marvel movies could be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) films on the 2026 movie schedule. So when Simu Liu took some time to promote it this week, he chose to highlight that in a quite funny way.

Liu took to X to ask people to “spread the word” on a movie that everyone’s been talking about by now. Check it out:

Ah, yes. Simu Liu’s ”little indie feature”, Avengers: Doomsday! The Shang-Chi actor decided to do a bit of trolling here and the sarcasm train just kept going. Here’s some more exchanges between fans and Liu following his latest post:

• @wade_burrell: “Proud to do my part to support your unknown project, Simu. 🤞”
  • Simu Liu: “thanks i know you probably haven’t heard of it but i promise it’s good!"
• @WriteOB: “Are you sure it's good? I'm always skeptical about small budget movies”
  • Simu Liu: “yes! we stretched every dollar of our very limited budget. i have no doubt it won't affect your moviegoing experience!”
• @IgorMatviyets: “Are there special instructions how to watch this little Independent movie?”
  • Simu Liu: “check your local theatre to see if they are planning on showing it! we’re not totally sure how many we’ll get, i’ve heard it’s rough out there for indie stuff…”

Across Simu Liu’s career, the actor may have implemented his social media to let fans know about small or even regular-sized movies and TV shows he’s been part of. But, it sounds like Liu feels a bit ridiculous bringing up Doomsday given all the press it’s already getting leading up to its December release.

The latest special look for Avengers: Doomsday amassed over 32 million views on YouTube alone in less than a week as presale tickets came out earlier this week. Take a look:

Avengers: Doomsday is also very much not an indie movie given it’s allegedly one of the most expensive films ever produced. It bodes well that Doomsday’s presale numbers are already tracking ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And, that movie recently crossed $2 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming one the highest-grossing films of all time.

Doomsday marks Simu Liu's first appearance in a live-action Marvel movie since his debut in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Liu has teased that Shang-Chi is a “more lived-in” hero this time around. He’s also talked about how mortified he was to meet Robert Downey Jr on the set of the movie, who’s switching out his Iron Man suit to play the lead villain.

Alongside Liu and Downey, the movie will also star Chris Evan and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Tho and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. There’s also the cast of Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and much of the cast from the original X-Men movies.

Simu Liu may not need to promote Avengers: Doomsday, but you gotta love him showing he’s a good Avengers teammate and doing so anyways.

Avengers: Doomsday will be here before we know it, and it's likely that fans may want to prepare themselves for the showdown between Earth's Mightiest Heroes with Robert Downey Jr.'s enigmatic Doctor Doom. Well, Marvel just dropped a watchlist filled with titles for fans to watch (or rewatch) to prepare for the highly anticipated team-up film. But what’s catching some fans’ attention right now isn’t what’s ON the list, but what’s been left OFF of it. And I can’t blame them for being surprised at this exclusion.

The list that's been released is being considered “essential” for fans ahead of Doomsday's release on the 2026 movie schedule. Pre-MCU films as well as some of the earlier installments in the sprawling franchise fill out this list as well as more recent multiverse-centric shows and movies. Check out what made the cut:

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Truthfully, I wasn’t surprised with some of these choices, especially since the most recent MCU films have set up this epic new Avengers film in key ways. For instance, I don’t think anyone was shocked to see Deadpool & Wolverine to make the cut. I think it's possible that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will actually appear Doomsday. That recent “hostage video” of Hugh Jackman asking for a role in the film (on Reynolds' orders) feels like a marketing ploy.

Despite all the relevant titles, one that was surprisingly left off was 2023's The Marvels, which has an ending that overtly links to Doomsday. Check out what fans had to say on X:

• @michaelp93: It’s absolutely CRAZY that The Marvels isn’t here. That film truly deserved better.
• @undeniablydezzy: Soooo Monica is just stuck then or maybe even another retconned post credits scene that never gets explained? Ugh. I hope that’s not the case!
• @RedHood75: Leaving Days of Future Past and The Marvels out is crazy!
• @MCUPerfectGifs: I don’t get why The Marvels isn’t included on the list of essential projects to watch before Doomsday. Its post-credit scene is directly linked to the multiverse.
• @lil_krispi: Everyone saying “they weren’t needed” when Monica Rambeau is literally in the X-Men universe rn.
• @Sksj002: No The Marvels. No Thor Love and Thunder. No Ms. Marvel. No Moon Knight. The Kang era getting erased from history in real time.

This is a real head-scratcher. And, as can be seen above, what many fans are pointing to is the end of The Marvels, which sees Monica Rambeau waking up in another universe. Not only that, but said world is populated by the X-Men, including Kelsey Grammer's Beast and Binary (a variant of Monica's mother, Maria). It may have just been a small tag, but it's still weird not to include the film on this list.

The fan responses remind me of when Agents of SHIELD was always left out of MCU canon, despite following the timeline set by the films. Hopefully, the events of The Marvels don't ultimately translate into a wasted B storyline of this franchise.

And, while the Nia DaCosta-directed film is being highlighted, fans also pointed out other movies (and shows) left out on the list. Overall, some are worried that they mean Doomsday won't feature characters such as Monica Rambeau, Moon Knight’s Steven Grant/Mark Spector or Kamala Khan (a.k.a Ms. Marvel) again. Another project left out was the original Fantastic Four from 2005, which introduced the origins of Doctor Doom. (Ironically, Robert Downey Jr. was considered for the role then , before it went to the late Julian McMahon.)

It is possible that the events of unlisted films might come into play. Honestly, I just can't see a world where that Monica cliffhanger is left unresolved in Avengers: Doomsday, which includes Beast and other X-Men. We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out when the movie hits theaters on December 18. In the meantime, prep by streaming the films on this list and more with a Disney+ subscription.

Robert Downey Jr. returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom was already one of the strangest casting turns the MCU has ever pulled. This is the guy who spent more than a decade as Tony Stark, helped turn Iron Man into the foundation of a multibillion-dollar franchise and then got one of the biggest superhero send-offs ever in Avengers: Endgame. Bringing him back as Victor von Doom felt completely out of left field. Except, apparently, it wasn't. That’s right, it's a recycled idea that almost happened 20 years ago.

I somehow missed that the Chaplain star was already in the mix to play Doctor Doom roughly two decades ago. In a resurfaced Marvel Studios retrospective conversation between Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige posted on Instagram, Favreau recalled that Marvel had met with the actor about Doom before he ever became Tony Stark. Feige's reaction confirms Favreau's memory, which makes Downey's eventual casting feel less like a wild new idea and more like Marvel opening a very old folder. You can check out the exchange below:

The project in question was 2005's Fantastic Four. Per Favreau, Downey had met about playing Victor von Doom years before Favreau began putting together Iron Man. Julian McMahon ultimately landed the role and played Doom opposite Ioan Gruffudd's Reed Richards in Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer. Three years after that first FF, Downey became Tony Stark instead, and comic-book movie history took a pretty significant turn. As Favreau recalled:

Favreau has said that when Downey came up for Iron Man, his earlier Marvel meetings meant the people involved already knew him. More importantly, the director thought RDJ understood Tony Stark immediately. Kevin Feige has repeatedly credited that casting as one of the decisions that allowed the MCU to become what it did.

Which makes the Doom thing pretty funny in hindsight. Marvel almost tapped the Dolittle star for one of its biggest villains, but luckily for everyone involved, they instead cast him as arguably its most important hero, where he spent 11 years helping the company flesh out a cinematic universe around him. And, now, just like in wrestling, he has returned after the MCU killed off Stark, and he has turned full heel as he comes back as one of the most popular villains.

Downey was officially revealed as Victor von Doom at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, with the Russo brothers returning to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. His casting immediately raised questions about whether Doom would somehow be connected to Tony Stark, though Marvel has consistently presented him as Victor von Doom rather than simply an evil Stark variant.

Now, we are finally close to the film’s release date on the 2026 movie schedule and seeing what Marvel has apparently been imagining, in some form, since the George W. Bush administration. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters Dec. 18.

Until we see RDJ return as Doom in a new Marvel movie, fans can revisit Tony Stark’s final MCU chapter by streaming Avengers: Endgame with a Disney+ subscription.

Spoilers below for the handful of people who maybe haven’t seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day yet, so be warned!

There’s no question Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the most successful movies of all time, with over a billion box-office dollars earned thus far, and many millions more to come. There’s also no question we’re going to see Peter Parker’s Spider-Man again in an Avengers sequel, thanks to that confusing post-credits scene. But the movie did leave me with several questions that I really hope get answers or clarification without before either Secret Wars or Tom Holland’s fifth Spider-Man solo movie hits theaters in 2027 and beyond. My Spidey-Patience is not so powerful.

And I’m not specifically talking about the biggest-picture questions here, like what Peter and Ned’s handshake really meant, and whether or not Doctor Strange’s spell was broken by the power of friendship. They are related, though. Since first watching Brand New Day, my brain has been preoccupied with speculation about the limits of such magical spells, and how it all works within the characters’ own brains.

Where Does MJ Think Her Necklace Came From?

Taken completely at face value, MJ still wearing her black dahlia necklace throughout the entirety of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an oh-so-sweet sign that her love for Peter is pure enough that not even sorcery can eliminate all signs of it. In that way, it's also possibly the biggest clue early on that Doctor Strange's spell left room for certain loophole-esque situations where Peter's friends still have totems from the years they spent together. But I'm baffled by what their brains are doing to fill in the memory gaps.

Peter gives MJ the necklace in Far From Home, inspired by learning the black dahlia is her favorite flower. The pendant doesn't make it out fully intact, but MJ chooses to continue wearing it for all the adorable thematic reasons, and it's as much a symbol of their bond as Peter and Ned's signature hand-smacks is of theirs. So from a creative perspective, of course she's still wearing it in BND.

But from a more logistical real-world angle, I think it's lowkey terrifying to consider MJ compulsively wearing this necklace on a daily basis without any front-of-mind reasoning for it. Like, if I made a point of wearing the same watch for years on end, only to realize one day that I had zero clue where it came from or when I got it, I miiiight be too freaked out to put it back on. Sure, I can't tell you exactly when and where I bought every T-shirt or pair of pants that I own, but I still have the general blueprint of events up there. But if my favorite accessory only inspired blank spots, I might need a therapist.

When MJ sees her necklace in a mirror, or moves it with her hands, does her brain attempt to flash back to where it came from, only to short-circuit before real memories can appear? Or does Doctor Strange's spell intentionally dull the part of her brain that attempt to make such connections? I really hope there's a slide-show presentation explaining it before any other MCU movies come out.

Is Jean Grey's Telepathy Powerful Enough To Reverse Magic?

One of the ongoing fan theories about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey knocks a few mental dominos loose in MJ and Ned when her telepathic powers bubble out and force zillions of New Yorkers to stay locked in place. I don't really buy into that idea, though, since everyone is affected by the "forget about Peter" spell, and it'd be amazingly convenient for two of his friends to be the only ones to have such adverse affects to Jean's actions. A little too amazingly convenient.

That said, I do think it's entirely possible that the vengeful mutant has (or will have) the ability to perform more distinctive tasks within people's brains. Such as making someone think they're a different person, that they can only eat brown foods, or any other kind of behavioral change that a state hypnotist might also use in an act. But is telepathy (hers or anyone's) powerful enough to reverse a spell crafted by such a magically dominant entity as Doctor Strange?

I almost have to think so at this point, because part of me doesn't want to just buy into the feel-good notion that MJ and Ned's love for Peter alone is enough to shatter such an ironclad enchantment. That's a little too pat and smooth for my tastes.

I guess now I can start pondering whether Doctor Strange's spell will continue to work if he gets killed off in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Might as well brew some coffee now, because this could take a while.

Robert Downey Jr. got the best deal one could get out of his Iron Man tenure. He helped start the MCU and told a complete and very satisfying arc for the superhero across many years. I wouldn’t blame him if he was never in another one of the upcoming Marvel movies ever again. Yet, here he is, back to play Doctor Doom in the latest MCU flick Avengers: Doomsday. And he even picked the new role over Tony Stark when he was just asked to choose? This guy is full of surprises.

RDJ was just in Anaheim, California on August 14 for D23 to promote his Marvel film coming out on the 2026 movie calendar. During an interview, he was asked to pick between Iron Man and Doctor Doom. Here’s how he responded:

As Robert Downey Jr shared with Good Morning America, it was “weird” for him to be on the other side of a superhero movie now as a villain. And yet, he did like the change of pace. While shooting Doomsday, he didn’t necessarily like to be the guy all the other characters are against. However, he also ended up enjoying the different perspective, too.

Apparently, being under the helmet allowed him to get to know more of the cast, and really revel in the presence and performances of “everybody else.” I find this to be a super unexpected answer from Downey, and ultimately 20 years from now I have to wonder if he’ll say the same thing. However, I do like his reasoning.

After all, as Iron Man, he probably had a lot more on his shoulders work-wise. Since Doctor Doom seems to be the reason why all the heroes are brought together rather than the main character that Iron Man was, it sounds like RDJ appreciated sitting back a bit more and letting them shine. And the cast is brilliant, so I don’t blame him.

Downey’s words come as D23 debuted a special look at Avengers: Doomsday that was previously only for the eyes of SDCC Marvel Hall H attendees. Check it out:

As we wait for Doomsday, I can’t help but have questions about how RDJ being both Iron Man and Doctor Doom will be handled narratively. Also, who else will be joining the cast that we don’t know about? At D23, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds had a message that’s making me wonder if they’ll be part of it, too, for example.

We’ll find out officially and get to see Downey in this new role when Avengers:Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

Many have been buzzing about Avengers: Doomsday ahead of its release on the 2026 movie schedule, and a large portion of the hype has to do with the film’s cast. It’s been rumored that there are even more players involved that haven’t been officially announced, and Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are among those linked to such reports. Of course, the two actors haven’t explicitly confirmed their involvement. However, Reynolds’ latest “hostage video” involving Jackman has me theorizing about their involvement.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Drop A Funny MCU-Related Video

Disney’s D23 Fan Event is being held in Anaheim this weekend and, on Friday, guests were treated to the Entertainment Showcase, with which the studio laid out upcoming projects. Amid the Marvel Studios portion of the event, head honcho Kevin Feige promoted Doomsday alongside some members of the cast. The presentation also featured a video featuring Jackman, who directly addressed Feige (while seemingly under duress). Reynolds shared the funny video to Instagram, and you can see it below:

As can be seen above, Jackman is humorously being coerced into pitching himself to be part of the massive Avengers: Doomsday cast. The bit involves Reynolds giving Jackman directions, and what’s funny is that Reynolds could easily be playing himself or Wade Wilson (Deadpool) as part of this bit. Both actors are really committing to the gag, too, with Reynolds captioning his video as such:

The longtime Wolverine actor also shared the video on his own IG account, and he also had a humorously honest caption to share:

The friendship between Hugh Jackman and Ryan Ryan Reynolds has produced some funny (and viral) moments, and I’d certainly call this recent video one of them. It’s been rumored that Wolverine and Deadpool will appear in Doomsday, and this feels like a confirmation in some ways. Of course, that remains to be seen, but it’s not stopping me from thinking about how they could play into the sprawling MCU team-up movie.

How Could Logan And Wade Wilson Figure Into Doomsday?

It was rumored earlier this year that Doomsday would involve a scene that pits Wade and Logan against Spider-Man, and I’m talking about Tobey Maguire’s version of the web-slinger. Of course, if the two titular leads of Deadpool & Wolverine are to return in this latest Avengers movie, I’d hope they’d have a substantial role. What I think would be interesting is to see the pair go on a multiversal journey after incursions (collisions of universes) threaten their own world. Theoretically, that could bring them into contact with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their allies.

Such a storyline would do more than just serve as an organic way for Wilson and Logan to interact with the power players of the MCU. Having their world be afflicted by incursions would also up the stakes for them and provide a significant amount of motivation for them to help stop Doctor Doom.

Up to this point, fans have seemed quite convinced that Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds will return for Avengers: Doomsday. One fan even claimed he spotted Wolverine in a poster, and I honestly can’t unsee it now. Regardless of whether this “hostage video” was purely a joke or a funny marketing tease, it seems to have been enough to get social media users talking. They can see whether Reynolds and Jackman return when Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, and stream other MCU films using a Disney+ subscription.

Chris Evans has been a movie star for almost two decades. He first gained prominence in Fantastic Four, but became better known for gracing our screens as Captain America. As the actor gears up to return to the character that made him a household name for Avengers: Doomsday, he is also getting candid about his acting career and how his priorities have changed since starting a family.

For years, Evans felt like a bachelor, with his single status being the talk of the rumor mill. However, this changed when he met Portuguese actress Alba Baptista. After a romantic proposal where Evans asked Baptista to marry him in Portuguese, the two tied the knot in a private ceremony in Boston in 2023. They also welcomed their first child together last October, which the Captain America: The First Avenger star says shifted his outlook on taking projects. He explained at Fan Expo Boston (via Instagram):

Having a new baby is difficult for any couple, but it makes things even more difficult if one parent is constantly traveling. Evans' career has taken him all over the world, from Prague for Snowpiercer to Greece, Bulgaria, and Iceland for Sacrifice just last year. However, it seems like the actor is taking a significant step back from projects like this in the wake of having his daughter.

Even if Evans is stepping back slightly to focus on his family, this doesn’t mean he is giving up acting altogether. There are many “really good reasons” for him to return to the silver screen. For example, he is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is one of the most anticipated projects on the 2026 movie calendar.

He has also expressed an interest in working with Baptista sometime in the future, which would be a great way to keep this family together, and fans would also get to see this real-life chemistry on-screen. Evans already supports her with her auditions, so this opportunity could be right around the corner.

The Materialists star had been practically working non-stop since 2011, putting out multiple films a year that were often physically demanding as well. After making a name for himself, it makes sense that he would want to focus on his personal life. Having a new baby is a big responsibility, and I think he has done enough in his movie star career to allow for a little bit of a break.

After Doomsday, I’m looking forward to seeing him in other projects when he is ready. His commitment to his family is endearing, and seeing him in his true dad era is also a treat for fans.

While there is understandably not a lot of upcoming projects from Chris Evans, you can still see him in Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on December 18, 2026. Fans can also revisit his iconic tenure as Captain America by revisiting the MCU movies now with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for nearly two decades and has become a well-oiled machine of new releases in theaters (and streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Fans who have spent watching the Marvel movies in order know that the OGs have been with us for a long time, including Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan. And while discussing their working relationship, Evans nearly blurted out a spoiler for the next Avengers movie. Let's break it all down.

Evans and Stan both made their MCU debuts in Captain America: The First Avenger, and went on to appear together in The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War and Endgame. While appearing at Fan Expo (via Twitter), the Materialists actor gushed about his co-star by saying:

Marvel is known for its tight security, and while Tom Holland is known for accidentally revealing spoilers, the same can't be said for Evans. And while he almost started talking about what he and Stan are up to as part of the Doomsday cast list, he managed to stop himself. Lucky for fans, we're just a few months away from seeing what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the next Avengers flick. You can see Evans struggle not to spill the beans below:

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, and there are countless rumors and theories about what might be coming down the line. So far, the cast has been good about not accidentally spoiling anything, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Luckily, Evans didn't reveal too much during this recent convention appearance. After all, he doesn't want Mark Ruffalo's reputation for spoilers.

While Steve Rogers got his happy ending during Endgame, the Captain America Doomsday teaser confirmed that Chris Evans would be reprising his role after all. This also opened the door for him to work with Sebastian Stan again, as Bucky is a member of the New Avengers. Of course, it's unclear how the heroes of the shared universe will react when they come face to face with Steve all these years after he hung up his shield for good.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully Steve and Bucky have plenty to do throughout its mysterious runtime.

Anthony Mackie has spent more than a decade inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe machine, so you might assume it takes quite a bit to leave him starstruck these days. Then Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart walked onto the set of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, and suddenly the current Captain America was just another fan trying to work up the nerve to say hello.

Mackie recalled meeting the two X-Men legends while speaking with IMDb, and his story about introducing himself to the returning mutant actors is ridiculously sweet. Marvel announced the first Doomsday trailer confirmed McKellen and Stewart were returning for the new Marvel movie, alongside several other veterans of Fox’s X-Men movies, while He returns as Sam Wilson. The 8 Mile star started by describing just how surreal it was to see the pair on set.

Honestly, “their first name is Sir” is a pretty great summation of what it must feel like to suddenly find Professor X and Magneto hanging around your workplace. What a sight to see, and apparently even Robert Downey Jr. was nerding out over the OG stars.

Eventually, Mackie made his way over to the Lord of the Rings star and introduced himself. He said McKellen greeted him with, “Hello, son,” which already sounds exactly like the sort of thing you would hope Gandalf says when you meet him. Then McKellen asked:

Apparently, nobody had given Magneto the complete MCU orientation packet. The Shakespearean actor's response was only five words, but the Desert Warrior actor clearly has not forgotten it. He continued:

That is a lovely bit of encouragement coming from someone who helped define the modern superhero movie long before Mackie ever strapped on a pair of Falcon wings.

The encounter also offers a fun glimpse at just how strange the Avengers: Doomsday set must be. McKellen first played Magneto in 2000’s X-Men, while Stewart debuted as Charles Xavier in the same movie. Mackie did not enter the MCU as Sam Wilson until Captain America: The Winter Soldier more than a decade later. Now all three are appearing in the same Avengers movie.

Marvel’s enormous Doomsday cast also includes James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer from the X-Men films, alongside MCU veterans including Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright and Paul Rudd. Robert Downey Jr. is returning in a very different role as Victor von Doom.

Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers, which makes Mackie’s place in the movie especially interesting now that Sam carries the Captain America mantle. Whatever happens when all these characters finally meet on screen, the Twisted Metal actor already got one pretty great crossover moment out of the production. Captain America received Magneto’s blessing.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters Dec. 18, 2026. Until then, fans can revisit all the Marvel movies in order, even the Fox era, streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly treating fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, none have as much hype as The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled for the teams of superheroes to crossover, and James Marsden revealed which of his co-stars geeked out the most on set about the X-Men.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but the fact that the OG stars of the X-Men movies are joining the fun has buoyed excitement. During a conversation with IMDb at San Diego Comic-Con, Marsden revealed which members of the Doomsday cast were most excited to be filming alongside the mutants. He responded with:

Honestly, can you blame them? Despite how much genre work this trio of actors has done over the years, even the Avengers and Fantastic Four couldn't help but nerd out over seeing the X-Men on set... especially since they're finally wearing more comic-accurate costumes in Doomsday.

Marsden is playing Cyclops 27 years after filming the OG X-Men, and will be rocking the blue and yellow suit for the first time in the next Avengers movie. Fans are thrilled about this, but it sounds like Simu Liu couldn't get over the new costume either. You can see The Notebook actor's comments about his superpowered co-stars below:

If the cast of Doomsday was freaking out like this, one can only imagine how fans will react when the next Avengers movie hits the big screen this coming December. Fans have waited a long time for the X-Men to finally join the MCU, with Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opening the door for characters like the mutants and the Fantastic Four to get in on the action. And while mutants have been gradually peppered in, this will be the first time we see the X-Men assembled in the shared universe.

Avengers: Doomsday's trailer teased what it'll be like when all these teams of heroes collide, including a skirmish between the X-Men and the Avengers. We see Shang-Chi and Gambit come to blows, as well as Yelena and Mystique. I'm eager to see who James Marsden's Cyclops might fight during this conflict, especially cuz he'll finally be rocking the iconic yellow and blue costume from the comics and animated series.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. That's when we'll see how the cast's excitement and nerdiness translate into the final theatrical cut.

Well, folks, we're almost there. Avengers: Doomsday comes out December 18th (the same day as Dune: Part 3, making it “Dunesday” for many), and I'm pretty excited.

I mean, how could I not be? My favorite Marvel “hero” is Moon Knight, but when it comes to villains, it has to be Doctor Doom. And yet…I kind of wish we weren't getting Doomsday. At least not so soon.

You see, I'm still very much of the opinion that Marvel should have stayed the course with their plans for Kang the Conqueror. Yes, Kevin Feige said to The Hollywood Reporter that Kang “wasn’t big enough” after Thanos, and yes, I know Jonathan Majors was dropped by Marvel after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment. I still think Marvel should have kept with Kang rather than pivoting to Doctor Doom.

Kang COULD Have Been Big Enough With The Right Push

This might not seem like the right time to bring this up, but I want to talk about the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Now, when it was first announced that we were getting a Guardians film, my initial thought was, Are you kidding me? Because look, I grew up in the ‘90s, and I can tell you this: If Spider-Man and the X-Men were considered A-tier Marvel back then, then Guardians of the Galaxy was considered F-tier.

It’s not that Guardians of the Galaxy was a bad series back then, but all of the cosmic stuff (sans Silver Surfer, who was pretty popular even back then) felt pretty obscure in the ‘90s. Nova, ROM, and yes, GotG all felt like SUPER niche characters, and only for the nerdiest of the nerds. So, when we got F-tier Marvel comics as a film… and it was SUPER SUCCESSFUL, well, that just told me any Marvel character was fair game for the MCU… as long as they were handled properly.

Granted, following Avengers: Endgame, the MCU kind of felt like they dropped the ball when it came to introducing new characters (Like my beloved Eternals). That said, Marvel had it in its capabilities to really do something special with Kang the Conqueror if they just did it right!

Which, I understand, they DIDN’T get Kang right when he appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, Kang was so great at the end of Season 1 of Loki, and I feel like Marvel should have kept at it with his character, as he just needed that extra something to push him over the top, even without Jonathan Majors, which I’ll get into next.

If Jonathan Majors Was Also A Factor At The Time, They Could Have Just Written Him Off And Made Him A Variant

Going back to that Kevin Feige Hollywood Reporter session and how he said they were already pivoting away from Kang before the Jonathan Majors incident, fine. I’ll take him for his word, as these things definitely take time, and filling the Russo brothers in that the MCU wanted to integrate Doctor Doom couldn’t have just been some spur-of-the-moment decision. That said, I’m also going to believe that Jonathan Majors' conviction of assaulting his ex-girlfriend had to have at least been a contributing factor to Marvel dropping Kang at the time.

I mean, just look at how fast Marvel dropped James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after his controversy, only to bring him back once the internet had cooled off. So, there's definitely a precedent for Marvel getting squeamish when one of their major players gets a negative spotlight drawn on them. However, the thing about the multiverse is that Marvel could have just written off Majors and put somebody else as a variant of Kang, and I don’t think anybody would have minded.

For example, we got Victor Timely in Season 2 of Loki, and he was a variant of Kang, as well as He Who Remains. And, while sure, these are just different versions of Jonathan Majors, there really wasn’t anything saying that Marvel couldn’t have just gotten another charismatic actor to play a DIFFERENT variant of Kang. Like, instead of David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther (which, you know, cool), perhaps he could have been a variant of Kang. He certainly has the acting chops for it.

Or, I don’t know, anybody besides Jonathan Majors. It could have been done. Because without Kang’s time travel shenanigans, the whole TVA thing kind of feels pointless. Speaking of which…

Plus, Kang's Departure From The MCU Cheapens Loki's Return In Doomsday

If there was ever a time to cry watching anything MCU-related, I can think of two instances: One was when Spider-Man turned to dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, and number two was Loki’s sacrifice in becoming the living embodiment of all of the timelines in Season 2 of Loki, which showed true growth in Hiddleston’s character.

All of this timeline stuff ultimately connects to Kang the Conqueror, who is known for his many variants and time-traveling capabilities. In fact, he’s what made the whole TVA thing feel interesting and alive, and Loki being a part of that really felt like something special. In a lot of ways, Loki and Kang felt intertwined in their destinies.

By just dropping Kang, it kind of weakens Loki’s story and the great finality to his role in the MCU. Now, Loki’s coming back in Doomsday, which is kind of weird. Yes, I know Hiddleston has said to The Hollywood Reporter that his role in Doomsday picks up after his sacrifice in Season 2, but I still can’t vibe with the idea of Kang just being poof, gone, forgotten.

Kang felt so instrumental to everything involving the multiverses and the timeline, and now none of that seems to matter with Kang gone. And this is all just to move on to Doctor Doom, who I really need to talk about now.

Doctor Doom Really Did Need More Time To Cook

Kevin Feige has recently shared his thoughts on Doctor Doom’s lack of build-up, and he’s compared it with Thanos, saying that the big purple dude really didn’t have all that much build-up, either. However, I’d say that was a hell of a lot more than what we got at the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps with Doctor Doom (IF that was even him).

Honestly, one post-credit scene is nothing, and it feels like it really should be something given the existential threat that Doctor Doom should present. I mean, this is Doctor FREAKING Doom we’re talking about here, and we’re really just going to get him introduced to us in this movie…which is also going to bring the X-Men into the fray?

For real? I mean, I do have faith in the Russo brothers, but Doctor Doom is a TOP TIER Marvel villain (I’d say even more so than Thanos), and I think he needed to be built up A LOT more before just throwing him against the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.

Plus, where do we go from Doctor Doom? He’s like THE big bad guy in Marvel along with Thanos. Kang could have been that nice in-between if done right.

Even as the dust is settling from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and its mysterious ending and how it may lead to one or both of the Avengers sequels, all eyes are shifting to the next MCU movie to hit theaters, Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downy Jr. is understandably drawing a lot of attention, thanks to his Marvel return as Dr. Doom. The actor is already showing off his method-dressing skills with a surprisingly dense Doom-themed wardrobe, and I think he may have divulged a major spoiler that possibly also ties back to Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Let’s first dig into why I think RDJ unwittingly let the cat out of the bag regarding Doctor Doom’s second-in-command, and why I think it’s directly related to the final moments from the Fantastic Four’s MCU debut.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Shoes Feature A Coded Reference To Franklin Richards' Sister

If one scrolls through RDJ's post dedicated to his extensive Doctor Doom duds, one will come across a pic and video of some bright green shoes with the same rune-esque language that was emblazoned on the actor's jacket during his San Diego Comic-Con appearance. (That jacket is also included in the pic gallery, and its messages were previously figured out by Popverse.)

Using just the rune key first revealed in an Instagram post about Dom Latveria Coffee, I was able to figure out the word running across the strap above the laces:

For those in the know, Valeria Richards is the name of two important characters related to Victor Von Doom. One is his former lover, with lots of demonic messiness attached to that storyline.

More importantly for this line of theorizing, Valeria is also the name of Franklin Richards' sister, whose name was given to her by Doom, her godfather. Her exact origins changed over time, as comic origins are wont to do, but she is essentially an unborn child of Sue and Reed Richards' who gets saved and brought into existence through her brother Franklin's reality-altering powers. She possesses a genius intellect that leads her to invent advanced technology that allow her to travel through time, which can make her appear older than Franklin at times.

Valeria also crafts an armor for herself that combines elements of the Fantastic Four's costuming with Doctor Doom's metallic protection. Which is what leads us to why I think this reveal is directly related to the ending of Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Could Valeria Have Appeared To Franklin Instead Of Doctor Doom?

SDCC was also the source of another big theory involving Doctor Doom, as the villain's hyper-detailed display statue was joined by a female counterpart of sorts identified only as "Latverian Witch." Fans quickly jumped to conclusions that the character could be Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, or at least a variant of her, but the mask's smooth and sleek look seemed to be too close to the mask seen in Fantastic Four: First Steps' final moments, making me think it's the Witch who appears before Franklin, and not Doctor Doom as previously believed.

I wasn't totally sold on Wanda Maximoff being under the hood in FF, but it would make a TON of sense for that to actually be Valeria instead. Even though it's been confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. filmed that scene, he's very clearly not holding the same mask he's wearing in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer, so it stands to reason that it may not actually be the big bad.

Valeria's comic book existence doesn't match up squarely with what the MCU has set up, so I would expect there to be unforeseen changes made that would match up with what the Russos have planned. But whichever way it goes, I'd fully expect her live-action debut to still feature the same close-knit relationship with Doom that makes everything complicated for the Richards fam. (Especially if she comes from a timeline where Sue and Victor are married. The horror!)

Does this theory hold water, or does it sound like a wash? Robert Downey Jr.'s green shoes also feature lots of runes on the shoelaces and elsewhere that couldn't be fully seen, so perhaps those coded messages are all about former loves and are entirely specific to Victor Von Doom's ex. But I think it's more fun to believe that I unwittingly stumbled into a major Doomsday spoiler.

We'll all find out for sure when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Major spoilers below for the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and its post-credits scene, so be warned if you haven't already watched it!

By the end of Spider Man: Brand New Day, Tom Holland's Peter Parker is seemingly set to usurp the magical power of Doctor Strange's No Way Home spell with the power of friendship, after helping set up the future of MCU's mutant population, and giving Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle a lot of bullets to scatter. But it's that post-credits scene that we're here to talk about, because what a nutty way to set up a connection between this movie and...probably the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Secret Wars, but maybe also Doomsday?

Let's ascend the nearest skyscraper and leap from it right into breaking the scene down with questions and speculation. (And check out CinemaBlend's thoughts on the movie!)

What Happens In Brand New Day's Post-Credits Scene

On the one hand, not a whole lot, but on the other, maybe a whole lot. The interface from Ned's Spidey-Tracker fills the screen, with Peter's icon showing up in Queens. Then, the app chimes with an alert for a "New Spider-Man Sighting. Location Unknown."

The app then zooms out to beyond the planet Earth and shifts a bit past our moon, where a Spidey icon starts blinking seemingly in the middle of outer space, without a specific location getting zoomed in on as it says "Location Found." Cut to the ominous message: "Spider-Man Will Return" and then black. (But not like, symbiote black...probably.)

#1: Does This Mean Spider-Man's Heading For Battleworld In Secret Wars?

As soon as the app made the jump to space, my brain went right to Doctor Doom's patchwork planet Battleworld (assumedly the same as plenty of others watching), since that's presumed to be a major setting for the Russo brothers' Secret Wars after all the incursions go down in Doomsday. However, that theory actually seems highly unlikely for several reasons, barring any drastic changes from the Secret Wars comic arc.

For one, Earth-616 is among the many comic worlds wiped out of existence for Battleworld's creation, and I don't think that's what the app is indicating. I don't even know that the app would work anymore if Earth is destroyed. Second, Battleworld doesn't exist within any Earth's solar system, as far as I'm aware, and the second alert shows up not that far beyond the moon. (The glitching could indicate more distance being traveled, but the stars in the background stars don't change at all.)

#2: Where Else Could Spider-Man Have Shown Up If Not Battleworld?

It's admittedly a lot easier to guess where Spider-Man is not than to guess where he actually is, especially when there are no immediately obvious choices to pick from. If that really is the depths of outer space, then I'm guessing the webslinger re-popped into existence within the confines of a spaceship of some kind, presumably due to the actions of someone on the ship. But what ship?

One guess might be the Fantastic Four's Excelsior, and another would be the Guardians of the Galaxy's Bowie. Not that I have a whole lot of theoretical reasoning for why Spider-Man would get beamed up (so to speak) into either of this vessels, but either of those scenarios is easier to assume than most alternatives.

Wouldn't it be awesome if this somehow tapped into Frank Tieri and Mark Texeira's Space: Punisher, in which Frank Castle blasts enemies...IN SPACE? It's probably not that, but I'm gonna keep quietly hoping to see leaked photos of Jon Bernthal in astronaut duds.

#3: Is That Even Tom Holland's Spider-Man?

I'm not so sure. Given that the Queens-bound icon on the Spidey-Tracker doesn't disappears when the other one shows up, and the "New Spider-Man Sighting" language used, it seems entirely possible that the post-credits scene isn't showing us any weird blips for Tom Holland's Peter, but rather another friendly neighborhood superhero, presumably the one portrayed by Tobey Maguire.

The star of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy returned in No Way Home alongside #3 Andrew Garfield, and had been heavily rumored to appear in Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. (They did both inspire Peter's new suit, FWIW.) And Holland's wishy-washy responses to questions about Maguire appearing are also part of the speculation. So is it possible that it's that version of Peter Parker's Spider-Man that sparks the Tracker's ping, as his Earth gets doomed for incursion? I kinda think so, yeah.

#4: Who Actually Saw Spider-Man And Set That Tracker Alert?

What might seem like the silliest and least important question could actually be pretty vital. Assuming Ned's Spidey-Tracker works like most other mapping apps that directly depend on user input, that means someone with awareness of the app would be in the same unknown location as the new icon, and would have the wherewithal to input the sighting notification.

So who could that possibly be? (Seems like a good time to return to my Space: Punisher wishes.) Could it be that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey, Ned or M.J. is out there? Or will it be someone that has nothing to do with that trio? I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't get explained at all, honestly, but I'm hoping.

#5: Will Tom Holland Return In Avengers: Doomsday Or Only In Secret Wars?

The ominiousness of the final message makes it seem like Tom Holland's Spidey isn't destined for Avengers: Doomsday, but that doesn't mean that the star-studded sequel will be completely absent of arachnid-based superheroes. As discussed above, the Russo brothers may be bringing Tobey Maguire's webslinger into their first Doctor Doom adventure to represent the Sony-verse getting incurred.

Which would theoretically then pave the way for Holland's Peter Parker to make his heroic return in Avengers: Secret Wars. Not that I know what he'd be SO busy dealing with during the events of Doomsday, but it's probably building sweet LEGO sets with Ned. So while the "Will Return" seems open-ended, I think the blank space is actually meant to imply that Spider-Man will return in both of the upcoming projects, if not more.

We're still months away from learning how Avengers new and old will join forces to take down Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, but I feel more optimistic about seeing Tobey Maguire's biowebbing in the mix after Brand New Day's post-credits scene. But I've been disappointed before...

It’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day week, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot more about the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. Between the new trailer dropping online and seeing fresh footage at SDCC’s Hall H presentation, my excitement for the release has really grown. But there are a couple of brain-scratchers I have surrounding Robert Downey Jr. and his Doctor Doom. Let’s get into it.

When Will The Helmet Come Off?

Ever since it was announced that RDJ was coming back to the MCU, I’ve been intrigued. It could be genius if they choose the right moment to reveal the face of Iron Man as the next great villain for the Avengers. I mean, especially after Tony was the one who saved everyone!! So far, Robert Downey Jr’s face has remained completely masked in all the footage I’ve seen of Doomsday, and I’m all for it. I can’t stop thinking about when he might show himself to the Avengers.

If it wasn’t for Marvel Studios making sure we all knew it was the fan-favorite actor, I wouldn’t know it was him at all. There must be a moment when Doctor Doom will be unmasked, and the Avengers will see Tony Stark’s face in front of them in our futures. I’m starting to think that this won’t happen until Secret Wars, but my big question remains. When will they decide to uncover this secret to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

If/When It Does, Will It Include These Key Avengers?

Because I love the drama, I would like the moment to happen when one of Tony Stark’s closest friends is present. Currently, none of them are technically confirmed for Doomsday. Isn’t that crazy?

Let’s start with Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America. He’s in the movie, but he seems to be from another variant. His identity hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m definitely less excited to see Steve meet RDJ’s Doctor Doom without them having the same history.

The other two characters I would want to be present are Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk. Both of them were just in Brand New Day, and I don’t expect them to be in Doomsday at the moment. Hey, I could be wrong; there’s a new Doomsday cameo rumor every other day, but the things are being marketed so far, I’m starting to get less excited about the Doctor Doom reveal with the information in front of me.

Should I Change My Expectations About RDJ's Doctor Doom?

With these two questions in mind, now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t even expect a reveal like this. Maybe RDJ is playing Doctor Doom, but they’re not going to really make the variant aspect a whole thing? As I type this, I don’t believe that’s possible, but what if it was? What if RDJ decided to come into work to be Doctor Doom, and not play the Tony Stark card?

I have four and a half more months to think about this, so who knows where my head will go. As curious as I am, I do hope that Marvel Studios does keep this reveal out of the marketing, though. Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

Remember “The Dress”? Back in 2015, one washed-out photo briefly split the internet between people who saw a blue-and-black dress and those convinced it was white and gold. Eleven years later, Marvel fans have stumbled into a sort of sequel fit for a new superhero movie. The new question is whether Ryan Reynolds’ Comic-Con Deadpool suit is blue denim or grey. Depending on the photo, either answer feels perfectly reasonable. Thankfully, the Wade Wilson performer has now stepped in with an answer that is somehow definitive and completely unhelpful.

The Deadpool star shared a close-up of the costume on his Instagram Story with a fan-made fake Pantone-style card laid over the fabric. The color was labeled “9-1963 X-MEN” and, beneath that, “Jean Grey.” Reynolds added the hashtag “#JeanPool” and wrote, “Once you see it, you can’t just unsee it. It doesn’t work that way.” In the pic below, the invented color code appears to reference September 1963, when the first issue of X-Men was published.

So there we have it. The suit is Jean Grey. That answer is so fun because the costume really does sit somewhere between the two colors people have been arguing about. It is designed to resemble denim, which naturally pushes it toward blue, but the fabric has a muted grey cast that connects it to Wade Wilson’s X-Force look. Calling it “Jean Grey” lets Reynolds claim both sides while sneaking in an X-Men pun and play on all those Sadie Sink role rumors.

Reynolds debuted the costume during Marvel’s presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where he initially appeared as a chatty masked fan. He also wore it while wandering the convention floor without handlers or security, posing with fans who did not always realize they were meeting the real Deadpool actor.

The costume keeps Deadpool’s classic look but colorswaps his usual red-and-black colors for a blue-grey denim vibe, with brown/gold accessories and a Canadian flag patch on his chest. This “Canadian tuxedo” idea made the blue choice seem pretty obvious to a lot of folks. On the flip side, fans who know Deadpool’s comic history spotted the grey X-Force influence and made their opinions known.

I feel like the “9-1963 X-MEN” code may be carrying even more weight than just the “Jean Grey” punchline. The X-Men (1963) No. 9 featured the mutants’ first meeting with the Avengers, which feels awfully pointed ahead of Avengers: Doomsday's release. The December 18 entry on the 2026 movie calendar will bring returning actors from Fox’s X-Men films together with MCU Avengers for the first time.

Reynolds also used his surprise Comic-Con appearance to jokingly ask when he should report for filming, even though Deadpool has not officially been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Between the color debate, the Jean Grey pun, the comic-book code and that very public request for a role, there is a lot packed into this meme.

Some fans will inevitably read the X-Men Origins: Wolverine star’s post as a clue about Jean Grey’s future in the MCU. For now, though, the safest interpretation is that Reynolds saw everyone arguing over grey versus blue denim and decided to settle the debate with an official pun. That certainly feels appropriate for Deadpool.

Fans can revisit all three Deadpool movies with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth franchise, one that consistently treats the fandom to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, the hype surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is on another level entirely. And Falcon actor Danny Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend about what it was like working with legends like Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart on the forthcoming blockbuster.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are hyped about the various MCU heroes crossing over with the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con about that title, and spoke about filming with legends like Stewart and McKellen. He told us:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. Both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are legendary actors, who have had long, celebrated careers on both screen and stage. Working with those icons is a dream for many actors, and Danny Ramirez clearly was thrilled to be sharing the screen with them in Avengers: Doomsday. And it sounds like he was all ears in case the X-Men stars (and besties) were ready to drop any advice or tidbits on set.

Later in his same conversation with CinemaBlend, Ramirez went on to share what he learned from working with the great Patrick Stewart. In the Top Gun: Maverick actor's words:

Both Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart definitely have gravitas, and I love hearing how Danny Ramirez even learned from them outside of the Doomsday set. Namely by watching videos from the '80s where they broke down how to properly perform Shakespeare. They've both got lots of experience with The Bard's catalogue of plays, and clearly the videos are still helpful to this day.

During our same conversation with the Last Of Us actor, CinemaBlend's Jeff McCob asked why he thinks A-listers from the Doomsday cast continue to sign up for these types of blockbusters. He responded with:

Fandoms annually travel to San Diego Comic-Con, to cosplay, see panels, and be in the same room as their favorite stars. And it sounds like for Danny Ramirez and other Marvel actors, the love from fans is a big reason why they continue to come back to the superhero genre.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see how Falcon interacts with the likes of Magneto and Professor X.

With the upcoming releases of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, Disney has been promoting a new premium format for movie theaters: Infinity Vision. The tricky thing for the House of Mouse is that the new MCU movies are both getting released against some major competition on the 2026 movie schedule: The Odyssey for Spidey and Dune Part III for Doomsday. What’s even more challenging for Disney is that both of those movies have exclusive holds on IMAX theaters around the world. This seems to be what has motivated the company to come up with Infinity Vision.

Like many, I wondered exactly what the new format consists of, so I went down the rabbit hole to find out. (A different rabbit hole from Alice's, to be sure.)

So What Does Infinity Vision Mean?

For starters, I need to point out that Infinity Vision is not the same as other premium formats, like IMAX. Disney is not designing and building new theaters to create a new experience for filmgoers.

Back in April at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Disney unveiled Infinity Vision, and in a press release, the company describes the certification of movie theaters around the country as having:

• The largest screens for maximum scale
• Laser projection for superior brightness and clarity
• Premium audio formats for fully immersive sound

The Head of Theatrical Distribution for Disney, Andrew Cripps, wrote this in regards to the certification:

If it still seems a little bit nebulous, know that there are clear standards set forth, per the FAQ on the Infinity Vision ticketing website:

• Screen: Minimum of 45 feet wide
• Sound: Theaters with either Immersive sound (like Dolby Atmos) or 7.1 sound
• Projection: Theaters with brightness levels reaching either 14 footlamberts in 2D and/or 6 footlamberts in 3D

Okay, so what does all that mean? Well, it means that only the biggest (non-premium large format screens, or PLFs, like IMAX) and brightest screens in theaters with state-of-the-art sound systems will qualify for the designation. It’s important to note, per Disney’s FAQ that:

According to the Disney press release, there are at least 75 theaters in the United States and more than 300 worldwide that have received the certification, though that number may be low, as thousands have since applied to be included in the designation.

Why Is Disney Doing This?

There is a pretty simple answer to why Disney has made a push for this. Getting locked out of PLFs like IMAX will likely put a serious dent in the box office hauls for their two Marvel tent poles in 2026. The company is also releasing Avengers: Endgame in September, under the new name Avengers: Endgame Encore with bonus footage for screenings in theaters that meet the qualifications for Infinity Vision. Endgame Encore will be the first movie released in theaters with the certifications.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will not be part of the rollout, but almost certainly played a role in the development of Infinity Vision. The Tom Holland and Zendaya-led superhero movie is blocked from IMAX due to Christopher Nolan’s deal to hold exclusivity for The Odyssey for three weeks (partly because he shot the whole movie on IMAX technology). That includes the first week of Brand New Day's run in theaters. When you are counting the upcharge that PLFs enjoy on tickets, it plays an important role in the box office take of any big movie, especially movies like Brand New Day and Doomsday, for which people clamber for PLFs.

Is It Really Just Marketing?

Some of the more cynical critics in Hollywood have dismissed Infinity Vision as a simple marketing strategy for Disney given the situation, but I have a different opinion. I mean, I agree that it is marketing, for sure, but it’s actually helpful marketing. It makes it easy for me and others to identify the best theaters to see the upcoming Marvel movies. I have a pretty good idea which theaters around me would qualify, but seeing it as part of the movie listing on my phone when I go to buy tickets is useful. How much that is worth to people is another question, but for me, it’s worth a couple extra bucks.

I do not doubt that some of those same critics will decry the extra charge for a theater that isn’t really bringing anything new and special to a screening, and that is a fair argument. For me, though, I get it. I get that Disney has to make money here, as losing out on IMAX revenue is certainly going to hurt the overall box office numbers. As I said, I appreciate knowing which theaters will present the movie in the best environment possible. For people who don’t go to the movies as often as I do and who might not immediately know which theaters in their area are the best, this is even more helpful.

Will Infinity Vision Last?

Another question some critics have raised is just how long this format will really be a thing. Again, another fair question. It was invented for the upcoming release of Endgame Encore and, mostly, Doomsday. Will we see it in 2027 with the release of Secret Wars, even if it also gets a more traditional release through PLFs that Doomsday has been locked out of in 2026? I think so, yes. At least for Secret Wars, which will also have stiff competition from Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Beyond that, I’ll just say, I’m dubious as to how long the designation will last.

In the meantime, it seems both Disney and theater owners are all too happy to market the movies this way, and if it works, then I do think we’ll see it more often in the future. If the public decides the differences aren’t worth it, we’ll probably see it quietly go away.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, which has been going strong for nearly two decades... both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans were confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. It turns out the latter actor was pitched for his return or years, and it took RDJ to convince him to finally bite the bullet.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans are invested in Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers, as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s debut as Doctor Doom. During a conversation with EW at San Diego Comic-Con, the Captain America icon spoke about how the studio tried to convince him to pop up in upcoming Marvel movies. In his words:

While Evans had a cameo as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, Doomsday will mark his first return as his signature character. Although it sounds like that wasn't for lack of trying on the studio's part, with Kevin Feige and Louis D'esposito trying to convince the actor to play Steve Rogers again in the MCU. But he turned down idea after idea in the years since Endgame was released in 2019.

The internet exploded when Captain America's Doomsday teaser confirmed that Chris Evans would be continuing his hero's journey. But it was a long time coming; in the same interview the actor spoke about how it took some convincing. As he put it:

So what changed? Well, it turns out it was Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU after Tony Stark's Endgame death. The two A-listers were arguably the leading actors of the entire shared universe, and Evans' interest was piqued when he heard that his Oscar-winning co-star might be returning. He shared:

Honestly, can you blame him? On top of having a great working relationship with Robert Downey Jr., having both he and Evans return for Avengers: Doomsday also makes the blockbuster even more of a must-see event for the fandom. And when you consider how Doomsday's trailer broke YouTube records, it's clear that moviegoers are invested in what The Russo Brothers are bringing to the table.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. The anticipation is steadily building, and should only increase as we get closer to the crossover movie hitting the big screen this winter. And yes, that includes both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a powerful new hero and ended with a post-credits scene that appeared to place him near the center of whatever came next. Nearly five years later, audiences are still waiting for the martial arts hero to headline another adventure. While we fans have waited for some time, franchise star Simu Liu, set to return as the character amid the 2026 movie schedule via Avengers: Doomsday, has now opened up about the long-awaited sequel. According to him, Marvel needs to "do a better job."

During a new interview with Josh Horowitz, shared on the Happy Sad Confused host’s Instagram, Simu Liu was asked when fans might finally see Shang-Chi 2. The actor admitted his guess is as good as anyone else’s, but he left no doubt about how badly he wants to return. He explained:

Liu has been fairly blunt when it comes to the amount of time we've been waiting for a pretty big, well-received Marvel film, but that final line is unusually direct even for him. It's clear he's an actor who understands MCU’s scheduling maze, so he isn't scolding fans for repeatedly asking about the sequel. however, he's also not offering another vague promise to stay tuned.

He clearly recognizes that Marvel introduced a character people loved, teased a larger mystery around the Ten Rings and then left him out of live-action projects for years.

A Shang-Chi sequel was announced in December 2021, with Destin Daniel Cretton returning to write and direct. Cretton, who directed the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, recently confirmed that it remains in development, explaining that changes across the industry following the pandemic contributed to the delay. Marvel has yet to announce a title, production date or release date, as of this writing.

The good news for fans who've been waiting patiently for more than five years is that Liu will play Shang-Chi again before his solo sequel arrives. As a member of the enormous Avengers: Doomsday cast, Liu's character will rub shoulders with a number of others, including Channing Tatum’s Gambit. The martial arts master and the card-throwing mutant apparently get to test each other’s fighting styles as seen in the new Doomsday trailer.

Liu knew Tatum’s background made him more dangerous than the Cajun accent and playing cards might suggest. The Magic Mike star has years of dance and action experience, and Liu said that physical ability became obvious as soon as rehearsals began. He continued:

Shang-Chi fighting Gambit sounds like the sort of comic-book collision Doomsday should deliver. It's going to be one heck of a superhero collision.

Still, a crossover fight cannot replace a proper sequel. Doomsday will finally return Shang-Chi to the larger MCU, but Liu sounds just as impatient to continue the hero’s own story. After years of waiting, “we need to do a better job” may be the most reassuring update fans have heard.

For now, we fans can revisit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, along with all the other Marvel movies, by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

Avengers: Doomsday fans just experienced the biggest promotional week yet for the upcoming Marvel movie, thanks to that gobsmacking trailer reveal dropping and key details being unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con. As it usually goes, Marvel confirming more information leads to more fan theories and rumors getting bandied about. But while a lot of the updated guesswork is seemingly based on pure fantasy, one fan’s Doctor Doom question about Fantastic Four: First Steps has somewhat harder evidence to fall back on.

Doctor Doom’s full movie-specific costume was put on display for SDCC attendees to peep out, and it was later joined by a figure showing off a “Latverian Witch” costume that quickly sparked further theories about the MCU’s most beloved witch, Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, appearing in the Russo brothers’ sequel. And it’s not hard to understand why, even despite the actress saying previously that she’s not in it.

If the general “witch” connection wasn’t enough to sell it, just look at the specific way the left hand is set, as opposed to being straight down like the other one.

Pretty convincing, right? I mean, not like 100%, but better than a lot of other "clues" that fans have used to prop up their theories. But my overall point here isn't even about the Scarlet Witch, per se, so let's swing the focus over to the final non-cartoony sequence from the MCU's Fantastic Four movie.

Was It Actually The Latverian Witch, And Not Doctor Doom, That Appeared Before Franklin Richards?

One fan who commented beneath a pic of the Latverian Witch made a potentially huge connection between that character's silver mask and the one that "Doctor Doom" removes from "his" face at the end of Fantastic Four, since the latter doesn't look at all like the on-camera mask that Robert Downey Jr. is wearing in the Doomsday trailer. (As well as the one on display behind the Witch.)

The biggest and easiest comparison to make from the jump is that both are smooth and curved in the forehead area, while Doctor Doom's mask is more angular, with layered metal and rivets making it not at all as smooth as the one shown in Fantastic Four. It's 100% not the same mask, to say the least.

But to that same end, the mask in First Steps also isn't identical to the Latverian Witch's face covering. The impressions under the eyes appear deeper, at least, though it's not clear what the rest of the design looks like. So there feasibly could be more similarities to address, and there could be possible differences as well.

The biggest piece of evidence that would seemingly disprove this theory is that Fantastic Four star Vanessa Kirby has confirmed that it was indeed Robert Downey Jr. who filmed the mid-credits scene. But doesn't that really prove that it was Doctor Doom and not his witchy cohort? In the sense that, if it was a stand-in actor under the cloak instead of RDJ, the character would still be seen as Doctor Doom by viewers. So it wouldn't really matter who actually filmed the scene if we didn't see their face.

That said, it would be hilariously amazing if the Latverian Witch was another variant of Victor Von Doom / Tony Stark, but it's just RDJ in a wig and lipstick.

To play devil's advocate here, it's entirely possible that Doctor Doom's mask design wasn't fully flashed out before The Fantastic Four filmed that mini-scene, so the prop designers just went with a more generic look that could be expanded upon later. Or maybe it's not even the same Doctor Doom. There's no end to the theories, really.

Of course, if that wasn't Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, that'd mean fans complaining about the lack of Doctor Doom's narrative build-up might have even more fuel for their argument. But how realistic is this idea? Realistic enough, even though it may never get addressed directly either in Doomsday or by cast members if it's totally bogus.

Here's hoping we get more clues about that scene ahead of Avengers: Doomsday hitting theaters on December 18, 2026.