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.

Chris Evans spent nearly a decade turning Steve Rogers into one of the defining superheroes of the MCU. But, of course, Captain America was not his first trip through new Marvel movie territory. Years before donning the shield, Evans was yelling “Flame on!” as Johnny Storm in two Fantastic Four films. Apparently, going back to the Human Torch after all those years required very little warming up. He even has a pretty funny take on playing that character compared to the Sentinel of Liberty.

Evans recently reflected on his surprise Deadpool & Wolverine return as Storm during an appearance at Fan Expo Boston. In a video from the convention posted on YouTube, the actor was asked what it was like to slip back into Johnny Storm nearly two decades after Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He explained:

Steve Rogers is honorable, disciplined and (usually) focused on the greater good. Johnny Storm is the guy who would discover he can burst into flames and immediately start wondering how much attention he can get with it. The longtime Marvel Cinematic Universe star first played him in 2005's Fantastic Four and returned for Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007, four years before Captain America: The First Avenger completely changed his career and put him down a different superhero movie path.

That history helped make his Deadpool & Wolverine appearance such a great fake-out. When Evans appeared, audiences had every reason to expect Captain America. Instead, Johnny shouted his old catchphrase and joined the collection of Fox-era Marvel characters Ryan Reynolds' movie gleefully dragged back into circulation. The Gray Man star clearly enjoyed being allowed to act like a jerk again.

Evans explained that spending so many years playing Steve eventually gave him a new appreciation for just how much freedom he once had as the Human Torch:

That makes complete sense. Captain America can be funny, and Evans got some fantastic jokes during his MCU run. However, Steve is still the guy everyone looks toward when the building is collapsing. Johnny can enter the same building and immediately start running his mouth. I can definitely understand why there would be something freeing about returning to a character whose internal filter barely exists.

Of course, the Red One actor isn't finished with Steve Rogers either. He's set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, after recently discussing how carefully he considered bringing the character back following Endgame. The movie hits the 2026 movie schedule on Dec. 18.

As someone who's watched every Marvel movie in release order since I was in middle school, obviously I love Steve Rogers. But, after hearing Chris Evans talk about Johnny, I'm starting to think I need to revisit his tenure as Storm, given those Fantastic Four flicks are streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, consistently treating folks to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But while folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have been treated to the shiny final product, actually making each upcoming Marvel movie is far more challenging. And The Russo Brothers recently got real about how difficult it is to please all of the A-listers involved in the Avengers movies.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but moviegoers are hyped that the Russos are once again behind the camera. During an interview with CBR about their work on Infinity War, Joe Russo spoke about a unique challenge to the crossover films: making sure that the cast is happy. In his words,

Honestly, I never thought of this. Since The Russo Brothers filmed Infinity War and Endgame back to back, I assumed that the biggest challenge was the mere scope of those movies, and the scheduling puzzle that it must be to get the cast together. But the directors are also careful to make sure that the starring cast feels good about their character's stories, and that the titles are fulfiling for the talent. Is anyone else's head spinning?

Luckily, The Russo Brothers are accomplished filmmakers who are behind some of the best Marvel movies of all time. While they bring spectacle and action to projects like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and their Avengers flicks, they're rooted in emotionally-driven stories. And I have to assume that's a big reason why the cast was able to feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work.

Joe Russo's comments have me thinking about the size of the Avengers: Doomsday cast. If it's hard to make sure all the actors are happy, then it must have been even more challenging for their next blockbuster. After all, there are entire teams of heroes in the movie, namely the Avengers, New Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Add in the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, and that's a ton of characters to service and actors to keep happy.

Of course, The Russos have lots of goodwill from both the actors and Marvel fans thanks to their acclaimed work on the shared universe so far. Still, reading the above comments are sure to alter the way I Watch the new Avengers movies.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. For now, fans can re-watch the Russo Brothers' previous MCU credits over on Disney+.

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!

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.

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.

Fans have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Throughout much of that time Chris Evans played Steve Rogers, starring in seven movies (in addition to some A+ cameos). He'll once again be back as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast, and recently joked about how the Russo Brothers love to beat Captain America up. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but the Captain America teaser confirmed that Evans is back playing his signature role. While appearing at Fan Expo Boston (via Twitter), he joked about the way Steve has been treated by The Russo Brothers over the years, saying:

I mean, he's not wrong. The Russos directed both Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Civil War before moving over to the Avengers franchise with Infinity War and Endgame. Poor Steve Rogers has taken a ton of blows in those projects, although as Evans points out, he always ends up getting back up. After all, he can "do this all day."

With the pair of filmmakers once again for the next two Avengers flicks, fans are especially invested in the upcoming Marvel movies. And if the Materialists actor's comments are any indication, we should probably expect Steve Rogers to get beat up during their runtimes. We'll just have to wait and see what the Russo Brothers have up their sleeves when these highly anticipated blockbusters are released.

These comments will likely inspire more theories and questions about what's going to happen when Doomsday hits theaters this December. Fans are curious about exactly how Chris Evans' character will join the fray after Steve got his happy ending in the last Avengers movie. The limited footage of the next blockbuster shows him once again wielding Mjolnir, and rocking street clothes rather than Captain America's suit. How will he be convinced to take up arms again and fight Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom? Only time will tell, but I have to assume that leaving Peggy won't be easy.

If history continues repeating itself, we should probably expect Steve to get beat up a bit during Doomsday. But with Marvel's tight security guarding the movie's secrets, we will probably have to wait until the movie's release for any real answers.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get more footage sometime soon.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for being a massive franchise, one that constantly puts out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But it had humble beginnings, and when the original Avengers movie was shot and released it was a big risk. Chris Evans recently recalled getting matching tattoos with the rest of the Avengers cast, and trying (and failing) to peer pressure Mark Ruffalo into getting one as well.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have a special affinity for the original Avengers lineup, who changed the film world forever. Those actors have a close bond, and most of them got matching tattoos during Infinity War. During an appearance at Fan Expo Boston (via Twitter), Evans recalled this by saying:

It sounds like most of the original Avengers actors love tattoos, so it seemed logical for them to get one in solidarity as they filmed Infinity War and Endgame. Those two movies saw the departure of actors Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. from their signature roles. Although the latter two are returning as part of the Doomsday cast list.

Later in the same convention appearance, Evans gave ScarJo credit for getting the ball rolling on the matching Avengers tattoos. Although he laments not being able to get Mark Ruffalo to join the fun. As he put it:

So why didn't the 13 Going on 30 actor join the rest of his buddies on this adventure? Mark Ruffalo previously revealed why he didn't get the tattoo, saying it was a mixture of not liking needles and wanting to be "punk rock" and not go with the group mentality. I guess you can say that he's an original.

Chris Evans might not have succeeded in peer pressuring Ruffalo, but he'll settle for encouraging fans to give his co-star a hard time about his lack of a tattoo. And just like. that, the story will continue living for the foreseeable future.

Evans and RDJ will return to the MCU when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Ruffalo recently appeared in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, but it's unclear if we'll see him in any of the next two Avengers movies.

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.

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.

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.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding with new projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will arrive this December. The Doomsday cast was recently shown in an official poster, although a fan pointed out a "funny outcome" related to Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but fans are hyped to see entire teams united against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Former Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park recently took to Instagram to show off an epic post for the forthcoming blockbuster. Check it out:

I mean how awesome is that? This image is the first real glimpse at what costumes various heroes will be wearing in Doomsday. This includes the new looks for the OG stars of the X-Men movies, although one character is especially turning heads. Namely Chris Evan's Steve Rogers, who is shown wearing a casual pants and t-shirt rather than his signature Captain America suit.

This poster quickly went viral online, and fans started sounding off on social media. One tweet that's gotten at on of attention poked fun at Steve's casual outfit for Doomsday, claiming:

The lack of a costume for Chris Evans' hero is definitely turning heads, although it's unclear if the above claim is accurate. Although Captain America: Brave New World bombed at the box office, so perhaps that's what this user is referencing about The Russos "not trusting" Sam Wilson's version of Cap to lead the upcoming Avengers movie.

There were plenty of response to the above Tweet, many of which were fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order and aren't pleased about Steve's casual outfit. Check it out below:

• Chris Evans is playing the hero Shirtpants. You can tell it's him because he is wearing a shirt and pants.
• Secret Wars is not a captain america movie at all, its more Doom/Fantastic Four story (with other marvel heroes invovled)
• I don't mind Steve not having the mantle BUT AT LEAST GIVE HIM SOME DAMN BATTLE SUIT HOW WILL HE FIGHT USING A PLAIN BLACK SHIRT COME ON
• Watch it become a twist where this is not our Steve rogers but Captain Hydra hence no actual suit

The latter post is particularly intriguing, as there were rumors we'd see a villainous variant of Captain America in the blockbuster. But Marvel's tight security has been keeping the movie's contents under wraps, so there's no telling what's actually coming.

Despite Steve Rogers getting his happy ever after during Avengers: Endgame, a teaser for Doomsday confirmed that Chris Evans would be reprising his signature role once again. Check it out below:

While Chris Evans cameos as the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, the next Avengers movie marks the first time he'll play Steve Rogers since Endgame changed the shared universe forever. The pressure is on, and it should be fascinating to see how the character changed since we last saw him.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get a full trailer sooner rather than later.

As we prepare for some of our old favorites to return for the upcoming Marvel Movie Avengers: Doomsday, I do think it’s worth a reminder there’s a reason we love the original gang so much. Their banter is some of the best in the game. Case in point: That time Chris Evans trolled Scarlett Johansson over the best-looking MCU actor, and then she took her sweet time getting revenge.

Chris Evans Thinks Chris Hemsworth Is The Best-Looking MCU Cast Member

Back in the day, MovieManiacsDE talked to some of the major players ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the topic of attractive MCU cast members came up. When asked who was “the best-looking” in the MCU, Chris Evans immediately blurted out “Hemsworth,” despite literally being seated next to Scarlett Johansson at the time. The two had a funny exchange about it, and eventually got on the same page.

It’s worth pointing out that Samuel L. Jackson insta-answered Black Widow earlier in the interview, so she got some brownie points there, and Chris Hemsworth was not involved in this specific conversation himself. Yet, I do love a little tale of petty revenge, and the perfect opportunity came up for Johansson years later.

The Insult Lobbed At Chris Hemsworth Years Later

Thank goodness we get a new Avengers movie every few years, because Scarlett Johansson got the chance to get a great “ugly barb” in years later. She and Hemsworth were paired together as part of Endgame’s press tour, and joined a BBC bit called “Playground insults” in which she just dumped on the Thor actor’s looks right out of the gate. What did she say?

Chris Hemsworth did fumble around a bit to get his own barb in, but the poor guy was out of his depth trying to go toe-to-toe with Scarlett Johannson’s perfect timing. He could only think to target her brain while she gets in the best barb about him wearing a “grandma’s sweater.” Take a look.

I’m not sure Hemsworth was even aware of the prior conversation between Johansson and Evans, but he has to know it’s a recurring theme where his stunningly good genetics come up. He was Sexiest Man Alive in 2014. Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen agree he’s got that dreamy thing going on. In fact, he’s so good-looking the likes of other handsome men like Kevin Costner have even remarked on it unprompted. Though Hemsworth himself is known to be humble when it comes to his own looks.

Honestly, it’s probably a good thing people aren’t focusing on Scarlett Johansson. The actress has been open about how a lot of roles she was offered early in her career were often good-looking-but-shallow characters like the “side-piece” or “bombshell." Her Black Widow character, despite being a bit of a sex symbol in Iron Man 2, really helped to change that. So, if people want to focus on how Hemsworth’s arms are the size of Elizabeth Olsen’s head instead of her own Black Widow looks, she’s probably OK with that narrative.

Just give her all the props for that Grandma sweater joke.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe consistently puts out new content for fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, resulting in countless theories and rumors about what The Russo Brothers' blockbuster will include. And a new rumor claims that Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom is "obsessed" with one hero, and it ain't Reed Richards. Let's break it all down.

Because what we know about Avengers: Doomsday is so limited, fans have been filling in the blanks online. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order can't wait to see the Fantastic Four interact with Doctor Doom, but a report from scooper MTTSH claims that the villain will instead be focused on Chris Evans' Steve Rogers. It reads:

Well, I'm interested. If this rumor ends up being legit, it sounds like we'll see lots of scenes between RDJ and Chris Evans in the forthcoming blockbuster. This would likely be thrilling for longtime fans, although some might be surprised if the movie doesn't build to a conflict between Doctor Doom and Reed Richards. After all, he's typically known as a Fantastic Four villain in the comics and other media.

While he wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, the brief but impactful Captain America teaser confirmed Evans was returning to the MCU as his signature character. And if this rumor is to be believed, he'll be Doom's biggest target.

Of course, it's more than possible that the above rumor won't end up being legit. Lots of Marvel fans are throwing everything at the wall, thanks to how little we actually know about Doomsday's contents. But with the movie's December release getting closer, I have to assume that we'll be treated to more content and actual trailer soon. At least that's what I'm hoping.

This latest claim about the next Avengers movie stands in juxtaposition to earlier chatter that Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards would be the main character of the blockbuster. Although given the scale of Doomsday, it would make sense if The Russo Brothers were actually putting the focus on long-running characters like Steve Rogers. We'll just have to wait until this coming December to see which rumors about the movie actually end up coming true.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday finally hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. With so many rumors surrounding the project it feels like just about anything could happen when it finally hits the big screen. Fingers crossed we get some concrete information sooner rather than later.

It sounds like Chris Evans knows how to get a party going and, back in the day, the original Avengers cast was apparently more than happy to go along with his shenanigans. The stars of the Marvel franchise previously opened up about a particularly fun night that they had together, and it's since become the stuff of legend. At the center of this story is a text is an "assemble" text, and Evans apparently sent that to Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and more. What followed was a full night that we'll break down.

The evening in question took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico while the stars were shooting one of the Marvel films. During a panel at New York Comic Con, Clark Gregg, who played Phil Coulson in several Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, recalled getting Evans' text. Unsurprisingly, his great take on receiving it garnered applause from the crowd:

While those on the dais joked that a lot of details from that night should not be said legally in public, the giddy cast did seem excited to unpack some of the exciting details from that night. Tom Hiddleston -- who was also present for the panel -- hilariously recounted an exchange between Evans and Chris Hemsworth that was undeniably funny, and it involved Evans trying to figure out how Hemsworth obtained his physique for playing Thor. Hiddleston also dropped light details about the activities that proceeded that query:

So, even when the actors were all in superhero shape, they were apparently still trying to figure out how to be as ripped as Chris Hemsworth, who definitely achieved a look fit for a norse god. Even if they weren’t all like Hemsworth, they all looked pretty good, including Scarlett Johansson, who also joined the boys for the partying that evening as well.

According to Gregg, Johansson was showing off some particularly incredible dance moves, which came as an absolute shock to some other people who happened to be celebrating a birthday in the same VIP lounge. Gregg recalled:

I can’t imagine just casually celebrating my birthday party with my friends and turning around to see the Avengers cast breaking it down, especially someone as cool as Scarlett Johansson. This sounds like a glorious night, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are some details that these movie stars are keeping to themselves that we will never know about.

Of course, sometimes stories come out over time so who knows what they’d reveal if they were asked about it now. All in all, though, what I love is just how close the Marvel actors are and that they've been able to make such great memories together. Matching tattoos are one thing, but a drunken night that goes into all hours in the middle of a random city will bond you for life.

We as fans might not be privy to all the behind the scenes fun on the Avengers movies, but we can still revisit all the on-screen moments by streaming the films now with a Disney+ subscription. We can also look forward to more cast reunions, thanks to Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026. Hopefully, the press tour for that movie yields some more funny anecdotes involving the cast.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to be a wildly popular franchise, with new releases hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a ton of heroes introduced, starting off with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark in Iron Man. While Jon Favreau's 2008 movie was a huge gamble, the Oscar-winning actor recently shouted out two of his Avengers co-stars for playing two heroes that were especially difficult to pull off.

Moviegoers can't wait to see RDJ as Doctor Doom in the next Avengers movie, but the 61-year-old actor is also looking back on what came before. During an interview with CBR, Downey spoke to the two actors he thinks had the hardest job when bringing their heroes to life on the big screen. In his words:

Honestly, I get his perspective. On paper, both Captain America and Doctor Strange are two Marvel heroes who might be challenging to play, and could potentially end up coming off pretty goofy. Luckily, the studio had stellar actors like Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch playing those roles, respectively. And Robert Downey Jr. is (rightfully) giving flowers to his co-stars for making Cap and Strange into beloved figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I can definitely see RDJ's point, especially when it comes to Benedict Cumberbatch in particular. When Doctor Strange arrived in theaters 2016, it was the first time the MCU brought magic into the shared universe (aside from Loki's abilities). The Sherlock actor had an uphill battle in pulling this off, as well as making Stephen Strange feel like a real person. He balanced humor and heart in the movie, while casting spells and bringing trippy visuals into the universe. Fans really responded to it, and he's become an important presence in the MCU as a whole. As for Chris Evans, he succeeded in making Steve Rogers the heart of the entire franchise.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but both Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch are expected to reprise their roles in the mysterious blockbuster. Fans are eager to see how the mysterious story will go down, and how the Avengers will react when meeting Doctor Doom... especially since he'll be having the same face as their dead friend Tony Stark.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. And with the press tour coming up, hopefully Robert Downey Jr. will grace us with more of his Marvel hot takes.

Ever since the teaser trailer for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday confirmed Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers, Marvel fans have been trying to figure out whether Captain America is back for one last mission or whether the actor's comeback extends beyond a single flick to even more upcoming Marvel movies. Well, we have finally gotten our answer, and it's in one of the least Marvel-like ways imaginable.

A fan-recorded Instagram video featuring Evans has been making the rounds online after the actor seemingly confirmed that he'll also appear in Avengers: Secret Wars. Not through a Hall H presentation or a carefully staged press release, but during what appears to be a Cameo video bought for a fan by her husband. In the clip, Evans discussed his upcoming schedule and revealed:

That's about as close to an official confirmation as fans are likely to get from Marvel this far out. And it's sure to excite the generations of fans out there.

Steve Rogers' Story Apparently Isn't Ending With Doomsday

Evans is already expected to have a major role in Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives on the 2026 movie calendar this December. But confirmation that he'll continue into Secret Wars immediately reignited debate about what Marvel ultimately plans to do with Steve Rogers.

Will this be the character's final farewell? Is Marvel preparing a permanent return? Or could this be one more Multiverse Saga appearance before the shield is passed again?

Those questions have become even more interesting because Evans isn't the only familiar face returning. Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU as Doctor Doom, while multiple Fox-era X-Men actors have reportedly joined the expanding cast. The next two Avengers movies increasingly look like a celebration of Marvel's cinematic history as they set up the future of the company's IP.

Of course, not everyone agrees that Steve Rogers should return permanently. Avengers: Endgame gave the character a heartfelt ending, and both The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World attempted to establish Sam Wilson as the new Captain America.

Still, Steve Rogers remains one of the MCU's most beloved characters, and Evans' return has generated enormous excitement.

Secret Wars Could Be Getting Even Bigger

Meanwhile, another Marvel rumor continues to gain momentum. An insider recently claimed that Sadie Sink is "100%" playing Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with reports also suggesting the Stranger Things actress could continue into Secret Wars.

Nothing about Sink's role has been officially confirmed by Marvel, but speculation has only intensified as Brand New Day's marketing campaign ramps up. There have been several toy leaks revealing the character to have pink powers of some kind, only making fans more confident that we are about to see the actress take on one of the all-time favorite Marvel mutants.

That movie has already generated plenty of theories of its own. Recent promotional events featuring Tom Holland and Zendaya have teased the involvement of The Hand, though Marvel remains tight-lipped about exactly how the ninja organization factors into the story.

Honestly, I kind of love that we learned about Evans' apparent Secret Wars return this way. Marvel spends years constructing elaborate reveal strategies, only for one of its biggest stars to casually drop the information while talking to fans. It feels pretty fitting. After all, Steve Rogers has always been one of the MCU's most straightforwardly honest heroes.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives Dec. 18, with Avengers: Secret Wars following one year later. Between those films and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Marvel's future is looking increasingly crowded with familiar faces. And one of those familiar faces remains Chris Evans.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping fans on their toes, thanks to consistently releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably, the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is the shared universe's next big crossover. The movie will feature the return of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, and they recently clashed on the stage of CinemaCon, to hilarious results.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but that changed a bit thanks to the footage that debuted at CinemaCon. In a video making the rounds online on Instagram, Downey and Evans had a faux fight, with the latter talking crap about the villain Doctor Doom. In his words:

Considering the fact that Doctor Doom is a threat to the entire multiverse, can you blame him? Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. clearly have a ton of love for each other, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are ready to see them play adversaries. They hammed it up a bit for the crowd at CinemaCon, with RDJ responding by saying:

The Russo Brothers personally broke up this "fight" as fans cheered. This give and take, as well as the new footage, have never made the next Avengers movie feel more real. And while Chris Evans wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, it seems like he's going to be back in a big way for the forthcoming blockbuster.

The Captain America Doomsday teaser confirmed Evans would be returning, and fans can't wait to see exactly how Steve Rogers is brought back into the fold. It seems like he'll have a major role in the next Avengers movie, rather than a small cameo. You can see the clip of him and Robert Downey Jr. below:

Anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday has been steadily building, with the movie finally being released this December. The pressure is on for the Russo Brothers to deliver, as they did so flawlessly in Infinity War and Endgame. This is especially true given the peaks and valleys that have come to the MCU since then, including box office bombs like The Marvels. But seeing RDJ and Evans back onscreen together might be exactly what the universe needs.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully, we get a full trailer soon, as the movie is only a few months away.

Alba Baptista has steadily been carving out a lane for herself as an actress, landing roles in both movies and TV shows. Her credits include the likes of Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, Warrior Nun and the upcoming A24 film Mother Mary. Like a number of actors, Baptista also seems to have a bit of a support system, and hers just happens to include her husband, Chris Evans. Baptista and Evans rarely speak about each other in public, but the former did have a sweet take after being asked about Evans having her back.

It was during the premiere of Mother Mary – one of the most unique-looking titles on the 2026 movie schedule – that Baptista (28) was asked about her spouse. ET (during an interview shared to Instagram) specifically posed the question of what it was like for the Borderline star to have Evans (44) in her corner. With that, Baptista shared a sweet, five-word answer:

To be completely honest, I’m tempted to say that a lot of fans would agree with the actress’ assessment about her spouse. It’s true that many of us don’t actually know Chris Evans personally but, based on his public persona, he seems to be an affable guy. He’s also endeared himself to fans in a myriad of ways, and that’s not just through his great performances, including his turn as Captain America. All in all, I have no trouble imagining Evans being a supportive spouse to his wife.

Evans and Baptista were first linked romantically around 2021 and, while the pair dropped hints about their romance after the fact, they didn’t go Instagram official until 2023. From there, the two were somewhat more open about their romance, with Evans even sharing a sweet Valentine's Day tribute to his lady not long after they confirmed their relationship on IG. Baptista and Evans took the next step in their relationship later in 2023, as they got married that October during a very low-key wedding in Evans’ hometown, Boston.

After the fact, Evans confirmed the wedding when he appeared at a New York Comic Con panel, and he expressed excitement about having tied the knot with his partner. It was during that same event that Evans was photographed wearing his wedding ring, much to the delight of fans across social media. The Knives Out star also later revealed that he proposed to Baptista in her native language, Portuguese.

Baptista and Evans have also since become parents, as the former welcomed their first child back in October 2025. It still seems like the two are very much in love and standing firmly alongside each other. On that note, Baptista also shared how helpful her hubby had been in regard to her career:

Evans previously revealed that he would help his wife prepare for auditions, and he also said he was open to working with Baptista on something. I like the idea of the couple sharing the screen together at some point. However, what really warms my heart is the notion of them leaning on each other both professionally and personally.

Avengers: Doomsday will be one of the final 2026 movie releases, but Marvel Studios has already gotten a jump start on promoting it. Four teasers for the upcoming Marvel movie were released from late December to mid-January, including one of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor praying to his late father, Odin. However, when Hemsworth was recently asked about the Doomsday rollout, he selected a different teaser as his favorite one.

Among the many things to look forward to in Avengers: Doomsday is the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Although Evans hasn’t been absent from the MCU that long, having reprised Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, this will be his first appearance as Steve since Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Hemsworth brought up his co-star’s Doomsday teaser while speaking with GamesRadar+, saying:

Although there have been rumors of Chris Evans playing an evil Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, in this preview, we appear to be looking at the same Steve who was introduced back in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. You’ll recall at the end of Avengers: Endgame, he ventured back to those alternate timelines to return the Infinity Stones and Thor’s hammer, but then when he returned, he was an elderly man who’d decided to stay in the past to live a “beautiful” life with Peggy Carter. The elderly Steve was last seen giving his shield to Sam Wilson, making him the new Captain America.

Now Avengers: Doomsday is giving us the opportunity to spend more time with the younger Steve, who’s now a father. No official reason has been given yet for how he fits into the story, although it’s rumored that Doctor Doom will recruit him to help gain the trust of the heroes on Earth-616. Whether that’s true or not, Chris Hemsworth was impressed by how Marvel Studios revealed Evans’ involvement in Doomsday, as well as how Steve and Evans are both now fathers. Evans and his wife, Alba Baptista, welcomed their daughter, Alma Grace, in October 2025.

Directors Joe and Anthony Russo said earlier this month that Steve Rogers’ “central role” to the Avengers and wider MCU meant that they couldn’t envision making Avengers: Doomsday without him in it. And then, of course, Robert Downey Jr. is transitioning from playing Tony Stark to Doctor Doom, though it remains to be seen for what reason those characters look alike. Between them and several of the original X-Men movies actors reprising their roles, Doomsday feels like it’ll be a homecoming of sorts.

Though Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t come out until December 18, ideally one of the trailers released will shed some light on what we can expect from Steve Rogers. This is the only 2026 movie Chris Evans is set to appear in, but Chris Hemsworth can be seen in Crime 101 starting this Friday, February 13.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping fans on their toes, thanks to the steady release of content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will be a multiversal crossover event. The Russo Brothers are back behind the camera, and they recently offered a cryptic comment about Chris Evans' return to the MCU. And while it didn't reveal anything about the movie itself, they explained him returning as Steve Rogers for the first time since Endgame's ending.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, leading to plenty of rumors and fan theories arriving online. Following the Doomsday cast announcement, a teaser featuring Chris Evans' Steve Rogers confirmed his return in the blockbuster. In a conversation with Empire Magazine (via Twitter), The Russo Brothers explained their choice to bring the beloved hero back. In their words:

While being careful to guard the movie's secrets, it sounds like the story being told in Avengers: Doomsday is what warranted Chris Evans' return as his signature character. This might be a relief for skeptics, who were worried that the Russos were tarnishing Steve Roger's happy ending with Peggy. Of course, we'll have to wait and see how this all shakes out when the title hits theaters this coming December.

While we haven't gotten a full trailer for the next Avengers movie, fans were treated to a number of brief Doomsday teasers, revealing some crossovers and the return of the stars of the X-Men movies. And it sounds like not only will Evans be back, but Steve Rogers is essential to the project's story.

While the next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, fans are definitely invested in what's coming down the line with Avengers: Doomsday. Folks are eager for The Russo Brothers' movie to get a full trailer, and hopefully reveal more about what the actual story will entail. That includes exactly how Chris Evans' Captain America will join the narrative and presumably help in the fight against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

With both RDJ and Chris Evans back for the next Avengers movie, there's plenty of reasons why longtime fans of the MCU might show up to theaters. I have to assume this is purposeful, especially after projects like The Marvels bombed at the box office. Hopefully some more information comes sooner rather than later.

Avengers: Doomsday is expected to arrive in theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that we get a full trailer in the near future.

There’s a lot to look forward to when Avengers: Doomsday arrives to the 2026 movies calendar at the end of the year. That includes the long-awaited return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, as well as the new cinematic Fantastic Four team meeting heroes being brought into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe following their introduction in First Steps. Well, if a new rumor for the upcoming Marvel movie is to be believed, Steve and the FF have an intriguing scene lined up that we were actually supposed to see last year.

Earlier this month, a different rumor claimed that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will seek out the Fantastic Four on Earth-828 (it’s unclear if he’s native to that world or not) to help stop the incursions affecting the multiverse. From there, they’ll travel to the main MCU Earth, i.e. Earth-616, to warn its heroes, which was teased in the Thunderbolts* end-credits scene. Now, according to The Hot Mic’s John Rocha, the FF and Doom will also recruit Steve Rogers to help gain the Earth-616 heroes’ trust. This scene was allegedly “removed” as First Steps’ end-credits tag, but it could still be used in Avengers: Doomsday.

Having Steve Rogers around would certainly go a long ways towards convincing people like Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes and Thor that the Fantastic Four and Doom are worth trusting. And then, of course, since Downey is playing Doom and the character showed Franklin Richards his unmasked face at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, he presumably has Tony Stark’s face. Whether that’s a disguise or if Doom is indeed a Tony variant, his appearance and Rogers’ presence are surely enough to get the Earth-616 heroes to lower their guard.

But we can’t forget that Doctor Doom is Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars’ main antagonist, so whatever ruse he’s carrying out isn’t going to be good for the actual protagonists. Case in point, the earlier rumor I mentioned also stated that the Doom, the Avengers and Fantastic Four will go over to the X-Men universe, allegedly the source of the next multiversal incursion. From the wording, it sounded like Doom would manipulate the Fantastic Four and Avengers into battling the X-Men.

Since Doctor Doom’s true nature will inevitably come to light, how is Steve Rogers going to handle eventually learning the villain was using him for his own agenda? I should also note that while some fans had theorized that Avengers: Doomsday might feature an evil Steve who aids Doom as Captain HYDRA, judging by the Steve-focused Doomsday teaser released last month, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Instead, it simply looks like we’ll reunite with the Steve we last saw in after he embarked to return the Infinity Stones to their proper timelines, but long before he returned as an elderly man who gave his shield to Sam.

In any case, take this latest Avengers: Doomsday rumor with a grain of salt for now. Hopefully we’ll get a better idea of whether it’s legit or not as we move closer to the movie’s December 18 release. You can pass some of that time by streaming Chris Evans’ past Steve Rogers appearances with your Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly treating fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is why there are countless rumors and theories about what might go down during its runtime. The latest of these is related to Captain America's teaser, and how it might relate to Fantastic Four: First Steps. Buckle up.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is super limited, which is why the fandom has attempted to fill in the blanks. A new rumor that's come to us courtesy of CBM claims that Steve and Peggy, who finally got to be together in Endgame, are actually living in Earth-828. This is the alternate universe that the Fantastic Four occupy in First Steps. And they are occupying the same universe, then it would explain a rumored scene from that movie featuring Chris Evans that never saw the light of day.

Obviously this is just a rumor at this point, but it could offer connective tissue between Steve Rogers and the Fantastic Four, especially related to Avengers: Doomsday. Some even think that Cap returning the Infinity Stones and getting his happy ending with Peggy might have created the alternate universe altogether. Is the the anchor being of Earth-828?

If Peggy and Cap are in that alternate universe, it would make the fact that they are seen with a baby in Doomsday far less complicated. Fans went down a wormhole when that teaser was released, wondering if that means Steve Rogers was unknowingly hooking up with a blood relative when kissing Sharon Carter in Civil War. And if the rumor turns out to be true, it would set up that the Fantastic Four are even more important to the events of Doomsday.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed that the recently introduced Fantastic Four were going to get some thrilling crossover moments. The Thunderbolts* credit scene set up them meeting The New Avengers, and the Wakanda Doomsday trailer showed The Thing introducing himself to Shuri and M'Baku. Add in that Doom showed up in the final moments of First Steps, and it seems like Marvel's first family will be an important part of the next Avengers movie.

Of course, this is just a rumor at this point, and we should take it with a grain of salt. It's only one of many theories swirling around the internet, which may be a positive sign for how Doomsday will perform in theaters. The pressure is on, especially after box office bombs like The Marvels.

Our questions will finally be answered when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. While we're still almost a year away rom its release, it's unclear when The Russo Brothers will give us more plot details and a full trailer.

We’re now just 11 months away from the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday landing on the 2026 movie schedule, and speculation around the film is already running hot. One of the biggest recent talking points is the reveal that Chris Evans is returning as Captain America, teased in one of Marvel's four Doomsday teaser trailers. Naturally, fans are eager to hear reactions from anyone even remotely connected to the MCU — including Channing Tatum.

The Magic Mike star was walking the red carpet when he was asked what he thought about Evans’ return. The moment, shared on E! News’ TikTok account, captured Tatum delivering a perfectly evasive and hilarious response. He does a good job of keeping everything locked down.

Clearly, Mr. Step Up has learned a thing or two about keeping Marvel secrets under lock and key. Yes, Tatum is confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, where he’ll once again suit up as everyone’s favorite card-carrying Cajun, Gambit. Judging by his response, he’s not taking any chances, and fans know it.

Fans Are Reacting To Channing Tatum’s Response

Of course, most fans recognize the 21 Jump Street alum is being playfully cagey. A quick scroll through the comments on the video reveals just how much people are enjoying the bit:

• @NBS_MRTZ: “And he doesn’t know what he’s talking about????” – this response is hilarious as it's married to a screenshot of Tatum’s director's chair from the big ten-hour character reveal from last year.
• @Tongue: “He was hyping the movie up a month ago they must’ve got em 😂”
• @HazardTimes: “this is someone who's wanted to play his role for so long he's not risking it in the slightest.”
• @CinemaGravity: He’s loving this and I love it! 😌
• @Krystal_cos.and.more⊗: “He ain't risking losing his baby boy Gambit 😭”
• @Jullius Delagarza: “We gotta figure out what feige doing to these actors 😭😭😭”

It’s true we don’t yet know the full extent of how Cap will factor into Avengers: Doomsday, but that’s what makes the Roofman star’s response so funny. He’s not even willing to comment on something Marvel has already confirmed. The teaser featuring Evans holding a baby, which ends with the message “Steve Rogers Will Return in Avengers: Doomsday,” is already out there for everyone to see.

The Alabama-born A-lister clearly isn’t taking any chances. When it comes to Marvel spoilers, he’s playing it as safe as humanly possible, and honestly, that commitment might be the funniest part.

Tatum’s Long History With The Character Gambit

Channing Tatum’s connection to Gambit has been a saga in itself. He spent nearly a decade attached to a solo Gambit movie that bounced between directors, rewrites, and release dates before being scrapped after Disney acquired Fox. For years, it stood as one of Marvel’s biggest “what could’ve been” projects.

That’s why his eventual debut in Deadpool & Wolverine felt so satisfying. Tatum finally suited up in a comic-accurate look, leaned fully into the Cajun swagger and one-liners, and even joked about the abandoned film. With his return now confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, it’s no surprise he’s staying tight-lipped. Fans will have to wait until the movie hits theaters on December 18, 2026, to see how much screen time Gambit gets and whether he crosses paths with Steve Rogers.

Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have been buzzing about Avengers: Doomsday as of late in great part due to the flurry of teasers that have hit the web. Among those highlighted in the footage is Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, who headlined the first of the four clips released thus far. There’s been plenty of talk amongst fans about Steve’s return to the MCU, and there’s still so much we don’t know. Now, directors Joe and Anthony Russo are teasing the size of Rogers’ role, and one concern I’ve had is growing a bit more.

What Was Said About The Size Of Steve Rogers’ Role?

It’s no secret that Doomsday has an extensive cast and will have a considerable amount of characters to service. So it’s hard not to wonder which ones the Russo brothers will zero in on in this film, which is set to be one half of the culmination of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga. The Russos, of course, aren’t exactly keen on spilling the beans on their plans for the upcoming superhero movie. During an interview with Empire Magazine, one of the siblings shared (via ComicBook) their feelings on Steve’s role:

“Central” appears to be the key word here and, while the comments are brief, they do speak volumes. These sentiments seemingly suggest that Steve won’t just be popping in for a handful of scenes. So those who are eager to see their fair share of Steve may indeed have a lot to celebrate. I’ve long been a fan of the heroic (and highly quotable) Rogers, and I’m curious as to what part he’ll play in this next Avengers movie. However, due to his return, I’ve also been concerned about another character’s place within the story.

Amid Steve’s Return, I’ve Been Thinking About Another Doomsday Character

Right now, the MCU has a new Captain America, and his name is Sam Wilson. Anthony Mackie’s wing pack-wearing hero is set to return in Doomsday though, with Steve back in the picture, I’ve been concerned that Wilson could get shortchanged in this latest team-up film. It’s true that we’ve yet to receive confirmation that Steve will indeed don his red, white and blue uniform again, though it did appear in his teaser. So it's hard not to wonder what this all means for Sam.

Given the Russos’ emphasis on Rogers being a “central” element within Doomsday, I can’t help but feel more concerned about the prospect of Sam being somewhat sidelined. It’d be unfortunate if Wilson were to not receive his due as a result of his predecessor coming back into the picture. Honestly, one of the last scenes I want to see in this film is an exchange between Sam and Steve that results in the former handing his shield over to the latter.

I could, of course, just be getting ahead of myself with all of this. The Russos are, after all, skilled when it comes to balancing characters and giving them their just due. So there’s a chance that these two Caps will operate in a balanced way throughout the film. Until I see that, though, I won’t let go of my worries.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, fans can stream the Captain America films and other MCU installments using a Disney+ subscription.

I want to try out a new type of movie quiz this week. Rather than answering questions or solving clues, for this one, we're asking you to put each actor's movies in order. Don't worry, it's just four movies per actor, but it might be challenging, depending on how good you are at remembering when films came out.

I tried not to get too tricky with the actors or their movies, so hopefully even a casual movie fan will have fun with this one. I think the earliest titles referenced go back to the '80s and '90s, and they should be films that most movie fans will know well. Without any further ado, let's get to it!

The upcoming Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t arrive until the tail end of the year, but the marketing campaign is already underway. Marvel Studios has been releasing teaser trailers that debut in theaters before subsequently being released online. The first teaser confirmed something that had long been rumored – the return of Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. There’s a lot of excitement (and some skepticism) surrounding the homecoming of the OG Captain America and, all the while, I can’t help but be concerned about Sam Wilson.

Why I’m Worried About Sam Wilson Amid Steve Rogers’ Imminent Return

During the closing moments of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, an elderly Steve Rogers handed over his shield to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and dubbed him the Sentinel of Liberty. Wilson would fully embrace that role in 2021’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and continue to perform his duties in last year’s Captain America: Brave New World. Marvel Studios did a lot to emphasize that Sam was indeed the new Cap but, given recent events, he now seems to be in an awkward position within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

A lot is already being made of the fact that Steve is back in the picture, and I’m nervous that it means Sam might get pushed back to the sidelines a bit because of his predecessor’s re-emergence. Based on the Steve teaser, Rogers still has his costume, and it’s likely he’ll be suiting up at some point. It’s, of course, a given that Sam will be doing the same but, what happens when both heroes reach for that red, white and blue shield?

It’s rumored that Steve is going to have a big role in Doomsday, and I’m tempted to believe that, considering how he’s been propped up thus far. While I already have mixed feelings about Steve’s return, something I’m firm on is that I’d hate to see Sam be short-changed due to Rogers’ presence. What also doesn’t feel so encouraging is the fact that even Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige told Collider and more that Brave New World underperformed in great part because “It was the first [Cap movie] without Chris Evans.”

Why I’m Still Trying To Remain Optimistic About Sam’s Role In Doomsday

There are two additional points I want to be clear about, with one being that I am a big fan of Steve Rogers (even if I’m mixed on his return). My second point is that I’m trying not to be too doom-and-gloom, as there’s still certainly a good chance Sam will have a substantial role. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo have a knack for handling ensembles, and that talent has shown through in some of the highest ranked Marvel movies.

Of course, a lot of the specifics on Doomsday are being kept under wraps, though it’s known that the film will see the Avengers, the New Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four fight to stop Doctor Doom. As for Sam Wilson specifically, Brave New World ended with him resolving to bring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes back together, and it’s also revealed in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene that he’s suing the New Avengers for trademark infringement.

So, on paper, Sam is in a position to play a big role in this team-up movie, but Steve’s reappearance seemingly muddies up the narrative waters a bit. Until I see the film, I’ll be trying my best to hold onto the belief that Sam will get his moment to shine as a leader ready to lead a team into battle against a major foe. And, considering Wilson’s journey, that feels like the natural progression for his character arc.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. In the meantime, stream past MCU movies and shows using a Disney+ subscription.

It was rumored. It was leaked. It debuted in front of Avatar: Fire and Ash. Now, it has finally arrived online. The first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is here. It confirms that, despite his recent denials, Steve Rogers will return in the big Avengers blowout movie. And he has a kid.

Captain America Is A Father?

The trailer itself is pretty straightforward. It simply shows Chris Evans entering a house, looking at his old Captain America uniform, and then holding a child and smiling. It's quite pretty, honestly, a very simple, and surprisingly peaceful way to get fans hyped for Doomsday. Check it out above.

Fans have been wondering what it all means since the trailer's release was first leaked. The implication is certainly that this is Steve Rogers' own child, likely one he had with Peggy Carter, but that's not entirely certain.

It's unclear if these are even scenes from Avengers: Doomsday or separate sequences shot specifically for this teaser trailer. This could be meant to give a snapshot of the life Steve Rogers has been living post-Avengers: Endgame, without actually letting us see scenes from the movie itself. The movie is still a year away, and with all the post-production work that will certainly be necessary, there's a question how much of the film even could be shown off right now.

Rumors that arrived before the trailer indicated Steve Rogers would be one of the main protagonists of Doomsday, but that too is unknown. It's possible the role could be smaller, though it seems unlikely the marketing would launch with this if the role was going to be a small one.

Three More Doomsday Trailers Are Reportedly Planned

If nothing else, I'm glad this trailer has found its way online only a couple of days after Avatar: Fire and Ash's opening weekend. It sets a precedent that will hopefully be followed by the other trailers. There are apparently three more teasers that have been made that will each run for a week in front of the new Avatar film.

Assuming that we can expect to see them online as well, that means that those people who want to see them early can certainly buy a ticket to Avatar every week but, if you just want to be able to see them, you won't be required to shell out the cash.

The next trailer reportedly features Chris Hemsworth's Thor, who was the first name announced when the official Avengers: Doomsday cast was revealed. It feels like a safe bet that one of the trailers, likely the last one, will include our first official look at Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Although, with a year until the movie's release, it's possible Marvel could be keeping that one in reserve for now.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to new projects hitting theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will once again find The Russo Brothers behind the camera. Rumors about that project are swirling, including reports that Chris Evans' Captain America will have a major role. But I have mixed feelings about the potential return of Steve Rogers.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, so fans have been filling in the blanks online. While Evans wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, a post by scooper Daniel Richtman claims that not only will Steve Rogers be back, but he might even be the protagonist of the blockbuster.

While having the OG Captain America pop up in the next Avengers movie is exciting, I'm not sure that making him the lead character is the right call. He's been missing since getting his happy ending in Endgame, although Evans did a cameo as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine. I would have enjoyed seeing a variant of Steve pop up, but I think making him the lead of Doomsday is a misstep.

This rumor arrived along with reports that we could be getting the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer shortly. Whether or not Evans returns as Steve Rogers the reported teaser remains to be seen, but I have to assume that some fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order might also have conflicting feels about this reported return.

We last saw Evans as Steve Rogers at the ending of Avengers: Endgame. After the Time Heist, he used the time travel machine to return the Infinity Stones (and Mjolnir) to their place on the Sacred Timeline. After briefly popping up as an old man, we learn that he and Peggy finally got their happy ending in the past, with the pair getting their long-awaited dane.

Because of this happy ending, I think it's a pretty huge risk to bring the OG Cap back into the fold for Doomsday. I would have much preferred seeing a variant get a surprise role, especially if he ended up becoming a villain like Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

It remains to be seen if this report turns out to be true, but the cinephiles are definitely invested in whatever The Russos have up their sleeve for the next two Avengers movies. The MCU has had some peaks and valleys in the years sine Endgame hit theaters, so the pressure is on to deliver a similarly must-see event.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to monitor these rumors about the movie, and see if the studio treats us to the first footage anytime soon.

Major spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man are ahead! Read with caution, and watch the latest Knives Out mystery with a Netflix subscription.

I get it, connecting the Knives Out movies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movies feels random and potentially illogical. However, now that we’re three mysteries deep with Benoit Blanc thanks to the release of Wake Up Dead Man on the 2025 movie schedule, a pattern has been created that makes this connection undeniable. So, without further ado, let's talk about the fan theory involving Rian Johnson’s beloved whodunnits and how the MCU plays into their outcomes.

Why Is There A Fan Theory That Mixes Knives Out With Marvel?

Alright, this all starts with the Knives Out cast, including Chris Evans. When that movie came out in 2019, he was the only actor in the ensemble connected to the MCU, and his character, Ransom, killed Christopher Plummer’s Harlan.

Now, cut to 2022. Glass Onion was released, and it featured notable Marvel movie stars Edward Norton, who was in The Incredible Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over as Bruce Banner, and Dave Bautista, AKA Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Notably, the cast also included Kathryn Hahn, who was in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, and Jessica Henwick, who appeared in The Defenders, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. However, those are shows, and this pattern only pertains to actors who starred in MCU movies.

In Glass Onion, Edward Norton’s Miles ended up killing both Bautista’s Duke Cody and Janelle Monáe’s Andi.

So, this all created the theory – which An0nym355 summarized on Reddit – that if a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie actor is in a Knives Out mystery, they will be either the killer or a victim and never an innocent survivor or bystander. An important distinction to make here is that not every victim is an MCU star. Rather, every time a MCU performer has been in one of Rian Johnson’s films, they have either done the killing or been killed. Now, with the release of Wake Up Dead Man, there’s even more merit to this connection.

How Wake Up Dead Man Perfectly Plays Into This Theory

When Josh Brolin and Jeremy Renner were cast in Wake Up Dead Man, I was immediately thinking about this theory. However, I didn’t realize at the time that Glenn Close and Thomas Haden Church were also MCU movie alums.

That’s right, along with Brolin playing the big bad Thanos and Renner portraying Hawkeye for years, Glenn Close played Nova Prime in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thomas Haden Church was Sandman in both Spider-Man 3 and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I will note that they aren't the only actors in Wake Up Dead Man with Marvel connections; however, they are the only four MCU movie stars. Kerry Washington was in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer. Also, Jeffrey Wright voices a character in the series What If…? Neither of their characters was involved in the crimes of Wake Up Dead Man. However, neither of them is an MCU movie actor, either. Washington’s Marvel movies aren’t technically in the MCU – even though Chris Evans’ Human Torch does appear in Deadpool and Wolverine. Meanwhile, Wright has only ever appeared in Marvel TV shows.

With all that being said, I thought this third Knives Out mystery would deviate from the potential pattern due to all these muddy Marvel waters. However, it did not at all; in fact, it made the theory even stronger.

In the whodunnit, the four actors with ties to MCU movies were involved in the crime. Both Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks and Thomas Haden Chruch’s Samson Holt died. And the people responsible for those deaths wound up being Glenn Close’s Martha Delacroix and Jeremy Renner’s Dr. Nat Sharp.

So, in the most brilliant of ways, the well-reviewed Wake Up Dead Man played right into this fan-favorite Marvel theory while also making it more complicated and twisty. Therefore, if we ever get another Knives Out mystery, make sure you pay close attention to the cast and their connections to the MCU.

Despite so many people having problems with Materialists, Celine Song’s anti-romantic comedy about a New York matchmaker trying to find love in the Big Apple, I’ve always stood by it. So, when I remembered that one of my favorite releases from the 2025 movie schedule was streaming with an HBO Max subscription, I decided to give it another watch. No surprise here, but I loved it just as much the second time around.

One of my favorite things about revisiting a movie is that I can catch moments or lines I might have missed the first time around. In the case of Materialists, it was a single line near the end of the movie where Chris Evans’ John opens up to Lucy in a way that has me thinking a whole lot about my own life.

The Scene Where John Talks About Knowing Why He And Lucy Wouldn’t Work Just Kills Me

To be honest with you all, I forgot about the scene near the end of Materialists where John and Lucy have an intense conversation after crashing some random wedding. What starts as a fun getaway and rekindling of a flame long believed to have gone out turns into a heartbreaking revelation where the struggling actor admits that he thinks he’s not good enough for her lifestyle or her desires in life.

Despite still being madly in love with Lucy, even after all these years and the terrible way they broke up, John admitting that he doesn’t think they could work out is utterly heartbreaking. Going from talking about seeing wrinkles, grey hair, and children that look like her, whenever he pictures Lucy, to admitting money will always be a problem just killed me in every way imaginable.

However, there’s a single line following that moment that got me thinking even more…

The Line Where He Talks About Imposter Syndrome Is Especially Relatable

After pretty much telling Lucy that he’s always loved her and always will, no matter what, John says a line that’s been sticking with me ever since revisiting the movie, particularly because it’s just so damn relatable. After calling himself a beggar for his ex, the theater actor and cater waiter touches on imposter syndrome and says why she shouldn’t be with him in the most honest yet heartbreaking way:

As someone who’s battled imposter syndrome for years, the whole “because someone told him he was good at it once” line at the end of the scene resonated so much. There are times when I feel as if I have nothing to say and no talent, and that the only reason I’ve followed this path is that a teacher liked a poem I wrote about Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” back in high school.

I know these are intrusive thoughts that everyone deals with from time to time, but seeing them in a movie (with the guy who played Captain America saying them) was just something that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

Materialists is a project on the 2025 movie schedule that caused quite a stir. While some Materialists' reviews (like ours) were very positive, others pointed out flaws, and online, there was a debate going on about the film. However, along with the “controversy” surrounding Celine Song’s romance has come a lot of success, and there’s no question that this A24 flick is a hit. The director doesn’t really want viewers to know that, though.

Now, this movie made over $105 million globally at the box office, which is impressive, especially since its estimated budget was $20 million. Plus, according to THR, it’s one of this year’s highest-grossing original films. Now that it’s hit streaming, even more people are watching it, as its No. 1 place on HBO Max proves. However, Celine Song doesn’t really want audiences to be aware of all that buzz, as she told The Hollywood Reporter:

She explained that she doesn’t want her movie to be commodified. She doesn’t want it to be used for corporate interest, and she simply wants Materialists to exist. Song said:

Song’s point here makes sense. I think she’s saying that when a film is used to sell a product, it’s hard to genuinely care for it. However, if a project is simply just art, it’s easier for audiences to deeply care and create a genuine connection with it.

When you think about the message of Materialists, this statement goes right along with it. The movie follows Dakota Johnson’s matchmaker, Lucy, as she tries to work the math of relationships to help her clients. Meanwhile, she’s also grappling with her own love life, as she finds herself having to choose between Pedro Pascal’s rich, steady and charming Harry or her ex, Chris Evans’ struggling actor but deeply caring and kind-hearted John.

The film dives deep into the collision of the math of relationships, the desire for financial stability, and the magic of love. And Materialists’ ending asks audiences to examine how they see love, relationships and the work and acceptance that comes with them. It also slaps audiences in the face with how money plays into all of it. In fact, that point of the movie is what caused the viral “broke man propaganda” debate.

Just like how Materialists ask audiences to examine their relationship with love and the role money plays in how they handle it, Song is hoping that audiences see the movie in a nuanced way, too.

The best way for audiences to do that is to make up their own mind about this film. They shouldn’t let outside buzz or, in Song’s words, “corporate interests” influence their experience if possible (which I think is true for all art); that way, their opinion and reading of the piece can be 100% their own. By doing that, the film can just be itself too.

Now, if you are looking to see Materialists, you can stream it with an HBO Max subscription.

SPOILERS are ahead for Materialists.

With just two months left in the year, I can say confidently that Celine Song’s Materialists is still one of the best 2025 movie releases I’ve seen. It’s been months since I first watched the romance movie starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and it’s among the few films that I’ve continued to think about, and more importantly take into my life. While I absolutely loved it, the movie has been the object of a lot of conversation since its release that I think seems to have steered some people away from it getting its proper flowers.

Now that it’s streaming on HBO Max, and certainly a lot more people will be watching it, and adding to the heated debate, I wanted to add in my thoughts, and talk about why I think the reaction to Materialists is proof we need more modern romances in the world.

My Experience Watching And Falling For Materialists

I went to go see Materialists with a couple of friends over the summer after being taken aback by writer/director Celine Song’s debut movie, Past Lives. (And, of course the Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal of it all drew me in further). It remains one of the most memorable experiences I had in movie theaters this year, not only because of Song’s gorgeous filmmaking, and the really poignant story she tells about modern love, but because of the hours of conversation it sparked among my friends after the credits rolled.

Of course, we had a blast discussing whether Dakota Johnson’s matchmaker character Lucy should have chosen to get back together with her ex, John (Chris Evans), as she does at the end, stuck it out with Harry (Pedro Pascal), a wealthy man who initially sweeps her off her feet, or remained single. But, it ultimately led us to a discussion about our own relationships, and beliefs on being in love versus the practicalities of a longterm partnership. It made me reflect on my own patterns and preconceptions about relationships and marriage, and has continued to in the months since every now and again. As someone who loves romance movies and TV shows, I think it’s important to point out how rare of an experience I found this to be.

Explaining The Controversy Of Materialists

Which brings me to the viral “controversy” around Materialists – which I put in quotes, because the controversial part has more to do with audiences in my opinion than the content itself. Anyways, when I went to see this movie, I had heard about it sparking a lot of conversation about how the romances are handled. Obviously, once I saw it, I could totally understand why. There’s a lot to unpack about Lucy’s journey with John and Harry, and what the movie is perhaps trying to tell us about what’s important when settling down with a partner.

The loudest conversation that ended up ruling the internet’s discussion about it was viewers deeming it “broke boy propaganda” because John is a struggling actor and waiter who Lucy decides to stick with, rather than pursuing a wealthy, more “eligible” bachelor like Harry. When Refinery29 spoke to Song about this dialogue about her movie, she said she found it “disappointing” before saying this:

Alongside Song’s comments on her disapproval of the way the internet has been talking about John, she also spoke to the larger reason it bothers her. In her words:

I think Song makes an interesting point here, because it speaks to our current overarching value systems when it comes to relationships. Isn’t it interesting how the movie was pulled down a tier because it was decided that the message was that it was promoting women being with a man who’s characterized as being “broke,” rather than celebrating the main characters for choosing love over materialism?

I'm Shocked At How Many People Missed The Point Of The Movie

That last question is particularly interesting to me (as someone who did like the ending) because it’s literally just a movie! I find it really interesting that a horde of people criticized Lucy for choosing the man with the least impressive bank account, despite clearly having a long held connection and real spark with him, even in the world of make believe movies, where there’s no actual stakes to her making the decision. One of our prior pieces from another writer also wrote about how she doesn’t believe the ending that Lucy and John will stay together. It felt like everyone decided to be her judgey mom who's like, "But, how much does he make, Lucy? Are you sure it's going to last, Lucy?"

I think the argument that has fueled conversations about Materialists misses the point, because they are treating Lucy like she’s a real person who needs to make this sensible decision, when we should be talking about the movie as a piece of entertainment and commentary on love. It’s a lot more interesting from a story point of view that Lucy chooses John because it’s not the sensible option; it's the human option. They’ve already broken up before. He still lives with roommates, and sure, she could find another Harry-type with a sizable bank account. Love is messy. Love is not logical, and that’s why it’s kind of beautiful. How many of us know someone who's in a relationship that doesn’t fully “make sense,” but absolutely works anyway? I keep going back to one quote in the film when John asks Lucy why people get married. As she replies:

The movie is telling us that love is a leap of faith, and it’s hopeful. You can have a list of have-tos all you want, but ultimately, settling down is choosing someone you think things will work with who you want to grow old alongside. If Lucy had picked Harry, whom she didn’t really love, she would have had security, sure, but that’s not what she was searching for the most.

I Think The Romance Genre Being Largely Dead For Over A Decade Has A Lot To Do With It

To wrap my thoughts up here, I think the reaction to Materialists shows a scary lack of romanticism in the current landscape when it comes to movies like this. A section of the internet wrote off this movie because they decided it was telling women to “settle” for men without deep pockets, when I think it's actually commenting on the human experience of deciding how to navigate partnership in the modern dating pool. It's reminded me that there simply aren't enough mainstream movies being made about people in relationships, now in 2025, and reminded me that there are a lot of interesting conversations to be had about this particular time for people looking for a partner.

I hope to see more filmmakers tell the kind of thought-provoking storylines about relationships that Materialists does, because at the end of the day, I think defining who we love, and why we love is one of the most important and vital conversations we can have. At a time where the romance genre rarely has viral moments like this, I think we might be a little out of practice.

The first full week of November brings a wide variety of movies and series to streaming. If you’re still in the mood for something spooky post-Halloween, Netflix has you covered. Disney+, however, is looking forward to a documentary look at what is sure to be one of the biggest movies of the year. And that’s just the beginning. Here’s a look at new movies streaming this week and new series worth checking out this week on streaming.

Frankenstein - November 7 (Netflix)

Following a brief theatrical run, one of the most anticipated movies of the year becomes available with your Netflix subscription. Sci-fi and fantasy maestro Guillermo del Toro puts his own touch on what’s called the original science fiction story, Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein. Oscar Issac plays the doctor and Jacob Elordi the monster in this tale of a man who attempts to control life and pays the price.

Fire And Water: Making The Avatar Films - November 7 (Disney+)

After waiting a decade for the second film in the Avatar franchise, the third movie will be here practically overnight by comparison. There are certainly a lot of people excited for Avatar: Fire and Ash, and those fans who can’t wait for the film’s December release will get a sneak peek via a behind-the-scenes documentary available this week with your Disney+ subscription.

Materialists HBO - November 7 (HBO Max)

The sexiest love triangle in a long time hit screens earlier this year with Celine Song’s Materialists. Dakota Johnson is torn between the rich and suave Pedro Pascal and the poor and suave Chris Evans. Everybody involved got solid reviews, but since the movie wasn’t a runaway hit at the box office, you likely haven’t seen it. So get your HBO Max subscription ready to check it out.

Pluribus - November 7 (Apple TV+)

Sometimes it may feel like you’re the only unhappy person in the world. In the new series Pluribus, available with your Apple TV+ subscription, from Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn plays Carol, an author who is literally the only unhappy person in the world, which makes it clear there is something wrong with the rest of the world. Carol has to figure out what it is.

Maxton Hall — The World Between Us Season 2 -November 7 (Prime Video)

Making a hit TV show is hard enough, but making one that resonates with fans around the world is more difficult still. Maxton Hall: The World Between Us was a massive hit even among fans who don’t speak German. The series returns with its second season if you’ve got a Prime Video subscription, and fans need not worry as Season 3 is already on the way.

2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - November 8 (Disney+)

Disney+ is a great place to go for music fans with numerous documentaries and live concert performances to watch, from both classic and contemporary artists. For the second year in a row, Disney+ will also be the home for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year's inductees include such diverse talents as Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, and Soundgarden, and will almost certainly make for a fantastic show.

November has great material still on the way. Most notably, the final season of Stranger Things finally arrives later this month, but there’s so much more coming in November.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that's constantly putting out new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to be a massive multiversal story. Some epic fan art sees Chris Evans back as Steve Rogers, and leading his fellow Captain Americas Peggy Carter and Sam Wilson. Not going to lie, now I want to see this crossover happen.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, so fans are filling in the blanks with rumors, theories, and viral fan art. Case in point: the following image from Instagram, which sees the MCU's three Captains sharing the screen together. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? While Steve Rogers is the OG Cap, a few other character have taken on the mantle, both in the Sacred Timeline and the multiverse. The idea of seeing the three shielded heroes fighting alongside each other is thrilling, although whether or not it's actually going to happen is anyone's guess.

The Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed a ton of characters including Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson. The same can't be said for the other two in this image, although there were reports that Chris Evans might be back. For his part, Evans claimed he wasn't going to appear... but some fans don't necessarily believe him. After all, Marvel stars are expected to lie to protect fans from spoilers.

As for Hayley Atwell, fans who have watched the Marvel movies in order will recall her penchant for showing up in surprise cameos throughout the years. That includes her brief but memorable appearance as Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Since Atwell took umbrage with being killed off in that blockbuster, perhaps she'd like another chance to play a Super Soldier in Avengers: Doomsday.

Of course, this is all just fan theories for now. Marvel has been keeping its cards close to the chest regarding Doomsday, which seemingly wrapped principal photography recently. Hopefully this means we'll get more information sooner rather than later, as fans are definitely curious about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the blockbuster.

Entire teams of superheroes are expected to collide in the Doomsday movie, and it should be interesting to see how exactly they interact. That includes The Avengers (presumably led by Sam Wilson), The Thunderbolts aka New Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. There are countless questions about how this will go down, and how the MCU as a whole might be influenced.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. If/how Evans appears remains to be seen, but fans would definitely love to see the OG Cap return.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe regularly offers new content to fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which looks like a massive crossover event. There are rumors Chris Evans might have a role, possibly as a variant of Steve Rogers. And now fans can see what he might look like as Captain HYDRA.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, which is why so many rumors and fan theories are currently circulating online. Chris Evans wasn't included in the Doomsday cast announcement, but moviegoers still think he's showing up one way or another. Fan art on Instagram imagined what he might look like as Captain HYDRA, and it's pretty epic. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? Evans is best known for being one of the MCU's heroes, so it would be awesome to see him try out his villainous side. Since Robert Downey Jr. is going to be playing Doctor Doom, why not let more OGs return as villainous variants? I know I'd be seated.

While Chris Evans denied having a role, fans aren't convinced. After all, actors in the MCU are expected to fib to guard the franchise's secrets. Case in point: Andrew Garfield lying for years about his role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Chatter about the Materialists actor returning to the MCU has gotten louder recently, thanks to Chris Evans looking swole again. Some moviegoers took this as a sign he was getting back into superhero shape for Doomsday and/or Secret Wars. After all, this is a regular part of the job for comic book movie stars.

While Steve Rogers got his happy ending in Avengers: Endgame, that doesn't mean that the 44 year-old actor was done in the MCU. Evans has a NSFW cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, reprising his role as Johnny Storm/ The Human Torch from the OG Fantastic Four movies. Since he's already played one variant, why not add a villainous one like Captain HYDRA?

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that just about anything is possible nowadays. The Multiverse Saga has opened the door for new storytelling possibilities, and variants have allowed actors to play new roles. So Chris Evans could return without having to ruin the happy ending that Steve Rogers deserved. Although there's another rumor that Loki might have a scene with Peggy and Steve, directly connecting Doomsday with the Marvel couple's long-awaited dance. Of course, we should take all of these rumors with a grain of salt for the time being.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get some concrete information about what The Russo Brothers are planning sooner rather than later.

A lot of eyes are on next year’s upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. While the MCU has continued on at a steady pace, Disney is certainly expecting the next Avengers film to bring the franchise back to the heights it hit with the last two Avengers movies, and now fans are wondering if the movie might be bringing in a secret weapon, Captain America.

A post recently went viral on social media, which compares Chris Evans look as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, the last time the character appeared in the MCU, with a look at Evans when he recently appeared at the Toronto International Film Festival. There’s little argument that he’s currently in great shape.

Chris Evans looking like Captain America wouldn’t necessarily be that big a surprise, except that the actor’s newest movie, the recently released Honey Don’t, had Evans slim down and drop most of his muscle. This means that he has specifically made a point to get back into shape. Not surprisingly, fans are predicting that this means we’ll see him return in Avengers: Doomsday. Comments include:

• OMG the captain is coming back! - @ICEMANOUTLINE
• WELCOME BACK STEVE ROGERS - @liriocosmos
• “For what other reason could he be having this physique??” Idk, HEALTH?! He is totally playing Steve Rogers again, tho - @tyanfranco
• Steve Rogers is BACK without question!! I love this for us - @alamanecer

It is, of course, something of a leap of faith to assume that Evans getting back into physical shape means he is going to appear in Avengers: Doomsday. As one of the comments above even points out, this could have happened for any reason, including another film role that requires him to be in shape.

That said, it’s certainly not impossible that Evans could be playing Steve Rogers again. Avengers: Doomsday is currently in production, and while Evans has repeatedly said he won’t be in the new Marvel movie, this would hardly be the first time an actor claimed one thing when the opposite was true. There have continued to be rumors that Evans is returning despite his denials.

Considering that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU playing Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man, there are those who think Evans might be playing a different role, including a variant version of Captain America who is part of Hydra. That would certainly be one way to allow Evans to return without touching the send-off that Steve Rogers was given at the end of Avengers: Endgame.

While most of the cast of Avengers: Doomsday has been revealed, it is known that not every major name has been announced. There’s certainly a possibility that Chris Evans could appear, though we’ll likely need to wait until the actual movie comes out next year to know for sure.

Chris Evans has built up quite the resume as an actor, and continues to be one of Hollywood’s best leading men. However, his legacy will always be tied to his most iconic role as Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America. OG Marvel fans will remember this wasn’t his first gig as a Marvel Superhero, as he previously starred in the Fantastic Four movies. Now, one of Evans' co-stars on that film is recalling their reaction to learning he'd been tapped to play the Sentinel of Liberty by Marvel Studios.

Before there was Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic and Joseph Quinn as the Human Torch, there was Ioan Gruffudd and Chris Evans, respectively, playing the roles in the Fantastic Four films of the 2000s. While the 2025 summer blockbuster First Steps was the official MCU debut for the family of superheroes, Gruffudd and Evan’s portrayals -- as well as those of co-stars Jessica Alba and Michael Chiklis -- were the first live action introductions of the characters on the big screen (aside from the shelved 1994 film). While some fans were shocked that Evans was cast as Cap back in 2010, Gruffud told Vulture that he never doubted the casting:

There’s no denying Chris Evans fit the role of Captain America, with his now-gone biceps and all-American bravado. In fact, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has tried to pass the Captain America torch a few times since Steve Rogers exit in Avengers: Endgame, introducing multiple candidates such as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson and Wyatt Russell’s John Walker. While Sam is now forging his own path, there's just something about Evans' portrayal of Steve.

Needless to say, while some fans were "jarred" over the casting decision, I agree with Ioan Gruffud that the choice made sense. It's for that reason that I, too, miss seeing Evans' Rogers in the MCU. Of course, no one is ever truly gone from the MCU until you see a dead body on screen. Plus, given the MCU's Multiverse Saga is still playing out, there's a chance he could return.

In fact, even iterations of pre-MCU Marvel characters aren’t out of the fold. On that note, Chris Evans reprised his role as Johnny Storm for the 2024 film Deadpool & Wolverine. In the same Vulture interview, Gruffudd responded to Evans' reprisal and shared some positive thoughts. And, given how great it is, it's hard to blame the Welsh actor for holding that view.

Considering these multiversal developments, I have to wonder if we could possibly see the return of former versions of the Fantastic Four, even the characters from Josh Trank's 2015 movie. While I think another version of Evans' Johnny Storm is out of the question after his brutal evisceration by Cassandra Nova in Deadpool & Wolverine, perhaps Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards could step through the multiverse in a similar way to Garfield and Maguire’s Spider-Men?

Even if he doesn't return as the beloved super-stretchy scientist fans know and love, the Titanic actor has shown interest in joining the MCU, perhaps this time as a villain. Should that happen, I'd also be curious to hear what Evans thinks about his colleague taking on a fresh Marvel role.

We will just have to wait and see all the surprises in store, and with all the upcoming Marvel projects set to release over the next few years, anything is possible. Until then, you can brush up on your MCU lore and check out Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd's two Fantastic Four movies using a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe regularly puts out new content, either in theaters or streaming with a Disney+ subscription. The most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature a huge cast of characters. There are a ton of rumors swirling around the blockbuster, and one new one about Loki would pair him with some surprising characters. And I honestly hope that it happens.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is very limited, but production has been underway for some time. All sort of rumors and fan theories are online, and the latest revolves around Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Scooper Daniel Richtman claimed that he had one particularly intriguing scene, saying:

Ok, my mind is blown. This is just a rumor, but sounds like a sure way to get longtime fans invested in Doomsday. Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order waited years for Steve and Peggy to finally get their happy ending at the end of Avengers: Endgame. So returning to their dance... with Loki? That sounds wild.

Obviously we should take this rumor with a grain of salt for the time being. While Hiddleston was confirmed in Doomsday's cast announcement, Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell didn't get chairs. Although they've both already done surprise cameos before, so it doesn't seem totally out of the question.

At the end of Endgame, Steve Rogers took all the Infinity Stones (and Mjolnir) back to their rightful place in the timeline. He reappeared as Old Man Steve, revealing he went back in time and lived his happy ending with Peggy. The movie's final moments saw these two finally get their dance, and it would be a shock to see Loki suddenly appear and interrupt the moment.

Of course, this rumored scene would also stand in juxtaposition to Loki's Season 2 finale. When we last saw the God of Mischief, he was literally holding the timelines together by force. He became the God of Stories, and seemingly could never leave his throne without creating multiversal chaos. So how will he leave this post to get into the adventures of Avengers: Doomsday?

There are a ton of questions about what's going to go down in The Russo Brothers' return to the MCU. But we're in good hands, which should help quell fears as we wait for the movie to arrive next December. Although with so many rumors and theories online, I'm hoping that we get some concrete information sooner rather than later.

Avengers: Doomsday will answer our question when it hits theaters December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Only time will tell if Steve and Peggy's happy ending actually gets interrupted by Loki.

The conversation surrounding the LGBTQ+ moment in Lightyear — Chris Evans’ 2022 Pixar movie — has resurfaced after Snoop Dogg went viral for comments about being “scared” to take his grandchildren to the theater. This was a pretty hot topic back when the movie was released, and as the rapper’s comments circulate, so too does the response Evans had for critics of the queer storyline three years ago.

What Snoop Dogg Said About Lightyear’s LGBTQ+ Storyline

In Buzz Lightyear’s origin story (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription), there is a lesbian couple who share a child. This apparently caused Snoop Dogg’s grandchildren to ask questions that he wasn’t prepared for when he took them to the movie theater. He said on the It’s Giving podcast that “they’re putting it everywhere,” in reference to queer representation, retelling the mid-movie conversation he and his grandson had:

Snoop Dogg — who will serve as a coach on The Voice when it premieres on the 2025 TV schedule September 22 — admitted he was caught off-guard and deflected by turning his grandson’s attention back to the movie. On the podcast he continued:

The rapper’s comments about the movie have caused some backlash, and many fans remembered how Chris Evans originally responded to such sentiments back in 2022.

Fans Recall Chris Evans Saying ‘Those People Are Idiots’

Chris Evans had some pretty strong opinions about the discourse surrounding Lightyear’s lesbian storyline and admitted that it was hard not to get frustrated that the same-sex kiss was even a controversial topic. So it’s no surprise that the Captain America actor’s own viral comments are circulating again in light of Snoop Dogg’s podcast appearance.

Back in 2022, Chris Evans addressed Alisha Hawthorne’s (Uzo Aduba) story in Lightyear in a Reuters interview, and of the people offended by it, he said:

How's that for a mic drop?

Lightyear was not the box office success that Pixar hoped it would be, and Disney apparently lost a lot of money due to its flop. However, the conversation surrounding LGBTQ+ representation, particularly in upcoming Pixar movies and other kids’ flicks, lives on.

Long before Chris Evans was “America’s ass," the actor was known more for his comedic snark than his body, and he’s embraced this in more recent roles like Red One and his newest 2025 movie release Honey Don’t! In the flick, the actor plays the Reverend Drew Devlin, a man of the cloth who is anything but pious, and who is seen sans clothing on several occasions. After pics of Evans' new physique dropped, Marvel fans are losing their minds a bit.

That’s because Chris Evans is decidedly not Marvel fit these days. Unlike some other MCU heroes, including Chris Hemsworth, he’s slimmed down quite a bit and dropped the Captain America biceps the internet still loves to talk about. He’s still muscular, he just doesn’t look as svelte as one would expect from a former MCU hero, and he’s added on a little more body fat.

I personally still think he looks great for a 44-year-old man, but the Internet cannot stop talking about Chris Evans, his tighty whities or the loss of “Bufftain America” after shots from the movie circulated on X (Twitter). (Note: edited for punctuation.)

• ”We want Bufftain America physique back.”
• “He looks completely different.”
• "Where did his muscles go?"
• "Those Captain America muscles are gone."

Well kids, if you want to go back to Chris Evans arm appreciate tweets, it looks like you’re going to need to do a little scrolling back to 2021.

You’d be forgiven if you hadn’t noticed Evans’ new physique before today. The actor was in The Materialists earlier this year, but as he served as a cater waiter, we didn’t see him a ton in much else but work suits and loose-fitting t-shirts.

We do know he worked hard to bulk up for Captain America back in the day. (Though his trainer once confirmed Evans was a big fan of skipping leg day before becoming the butt of Avengers butt jokes.) However, back in 2022, the actor admitted he’d lost “15 lbs of muscle” after putting on a bunch of bulk to play Steve Rogers in the mid-aughts. That was the same year he still looked pretty big on the Lightyear red carpet, however, so I don’t think the muscle loss was that noticeable at that point.

Still, that was three years ago, so there’s every reason to think he’s dropped even more muscle since then. And more power to him. Unlike some of the Avengers who had to get back to work in the gym to film Doomsday this summer, Chris Evans should have no more Marvel movies coming up. This could be the new normal for the actor, and if he keeps taking on quirky roles, he may not need to be nearly as jacked.

Ethan Coen is well-known for the work he’s done with his brother Joel, including The Big Lebowski and No Country for Old Men, but last year he set out on his own to direct Drive-Away Dolls. Ethan is now back with a follow-up, which hit the 2025 movie calendar on August 22. Margaret Qualley also returns, starring in the dark comedy Honey Don’t! — the second of a lesbian B-movie trilogy from Coen. Critics screened the film ahead of its release, and they seem a bit conflicted on Ethan’s solo work.

Alongside Margaret Qualley in this second (but unrelated) movie from Ethan Coen and his wife Tricia Cooke are Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans, who play a police officer and cult leader, respectively. David Fear of Rolling Stone says Qualley’s performance as private investigator Honey O’Donahue was worthy of that Cannes standing ovation, as she is easily the best part, writing:

Jesse Hassenger of Paste rates the movie a 7.0 out of 10, saying that while Honey Don’t! doesn’t quite come together as a mystery, it feels very much like a page out of the Coen Brothers’ playbook. Margaret Qualley’s confidence as Honey makes this a viable option for a fun theater experience. The critic continues:

Fred Topel of UPI agrees audiences are in for some “light, sexy fun,” though he says some aspects feel like a retread, and nothing about it surpasses anything Ethan Coen’s done with his brother. Topel says:

Lindsey Bahr of the AP gives Honey Don’t! 3 out of 4 stars and says that while it’s ultimately (and probably intentionally) insignificant, it’s still “fun and immensely watchable.” That’s thanks to Margaret Qualley, Bahr writes, as the actress meshes Philip Marlowe with Veronica Mars, adding red lipstick, high heels and silks. More from the critic:

Todd Gilchrist of ScreenRant has a similar middling opinion to many critics, rating the film 6 out of 10, as he acknowledges Ethan Coen going solo to blaze his own trail. However, he says the body count and an overbaked plot ultimately weigh down what should be a fizzy mystery. Gilchrist continues:

Critics seem to appreciate what Margaret Qualley brings to the role of the P.I., but many critics are struggling to see Ethan Coen’s unique vision as a director. Overall, the movie has accumulated 49% on the Tomatometer, but if you’re looking for some dark Coen fun, Honey Don’t! is in theaters now.

Spoilers for the end of Materialists are ahead.

Of the projects on the 2025 movie schedule, few have sparked the debate that Celine Song’s latest romantic drama, Materialists, has. The film follows Dakota Johnson’s Lucy, a matchmaker who embarks on her own relationship journey with the “perfect on paper” Harry, who is played by Pedro Pascal. This relationship becomes complicated as she also decides to foster a friendship with her ex-boyfriend John, who is a struggling actor played by Chris Evans. Lucy ends up choosing John over Harry, which fans were vocally annoyed about due to his financial struggles. However, the filmmaker has a different opinion on the ending of Materialists, and it was incredibly thoughtful.

Celine Song was asked to comment on some of the criticisms of Materialists, including some snarky ones on Letterboxd, during an interview with Refinery29. Many people have been calling the film “broke man propaganda” for essentially promoting a relationship with someone of a lower socio-economic class at a time when the economy is arguably struggling, as this might not be financially wise.

While these reviews have been infused with humor, Song expressed that she doesn’t find this commentary very funny at all, because it misrepresents feminist ideas. She explained:

Essentially, Song believes that limiting the character of John to just his socioeconomic status strips him of his person. He is a fully fleshed out character, with a lot of love for and a connection to Lucy, which Harry lacks despite being more wealthy and established.

Song intended for the film to be told from a feminist perspective, which emphasises the value of the person, and she has historically fought against systems of oppression, including classism. She continued to comment on this idea, saying that to reduce the John character to being a “broke man” diminishes him. She said:

There is a lot of truth to what Song is saying, especially if you consider why John is poor in the film. He is hardworking, but also has chosen a career in the arts, which has become less and less of a lucrative field in modern society, which places less value on the arts and cultural contribution. The point of the film is that Lucy decides to marry John at City Hall because of who John is as a person, and her emotional connection to him, rather than what he is able to provide for her. This doesn’t promote “being broke” but rather partnerships based on love rather than opportunity.

I think it's admirable and truly thoughtful for Song to defend her film in such a way, putting it more in a cultural context. However, the alternative argument towards the message in Materialists is still quite compelling. While we can reduce it to snarky Letterboxd reviews meant to be humorous, there is some truth to recognizing John’s faults. He isn’t just “poor,” he also lacks a certain maturity that lands him in certain situations.

Audiences have pointed out that deciding to take a car to dinner when he can’t afford to park it is a result of poor planning. And maybe his flaw isn’t that he’s a cater-waiter with roommates, it’s that he’s a cater-waiter with roommates that make his living situation unlivable, and he hasn’t sought an alternative option in years.

It’s hard for some not to put Harry on a pedestal when John isn’t living up to the occasion, in many ways. From this perspective, it makes sense why some critics called Materialists cynical.

However, I also completely see the point the director was making.

Whatever side of the debate you land on, the fact that Celine Song has made a movie that has kept people talking is an achievement in its own right, showing it’s more than just a typical rom-com. You can decide how you feel about Lucy’s two dashing romantic prospects now, as Materialists is currently available to rent or purchase on Amazon.

Following The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ successful opening weekend, some of you who checked out the latest MCU movie might’ve decided to break out your Disney+ subscription to stream one or both of the Fantastic Four movies from the 2000s. Back in those days, it was Ioan Gruffud, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans bringing Marvel’s First Family to life, and Evans actually reprised Johnny Storm/The Human Torch last year for Deadpool & Wolverine. Gruffud, who played Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, shared how he reacted when he saw his old co-star flame on again.

This topic came up while Gruffud was reflecting on his time working on 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with Vulture, naturally timed with First Steps’ release on the 2025 movies schedule. When asked if he got “joy and satisfaction” out of seeing Chris Evans play Johnny Storm again, the actor said this:

Deadpool & Wolverine came out five years after Chris Evans made his last appearance as Steve Rogers/Captain America in Avengers: Endgame. Though Evans has insisted that he’s not playing Steve again despite rumors claiming the contrary for next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, he was persuaded to revisit Johnny Storm nearly two decades after his last appearance as the character. Sadly, his time with the character was short-lived, as his skin was ripped off by Cassandra Nova after Wade Wilson threw him under the bus for his foul-mouthed tirade against the bald baddie.

But hey, at least Evans got to make a brief, expletive-filled return to the MCU and entertained so many people with it, including Ioan Gruffud. While the 2000s-era Fantastic Four movies weren’t exactly critical darlings, Gruffud nonetheless had a good time working with Evans on them, and feels that his depiction of Human Torch is just as important to the superhero movie landscape as his tenure as Captain America. Gruffud’s thoughts come shortly after Michael Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm/The Thing, shared a sweet message to the outpouring of love from Fantastic Four fans in the lead-up to First Steps arriving in theaters.

Although none of the 2000s Fantastic Four lineup, nor their counterparts from the 2015 reboot, will be present in Avengers: Doomsday, the latest incarnation of the team will appear in the upcoming Marvel movie. There will also still be some Fox superhero movie era love since Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Kelsey Grammer and James Marsden are reprising their respective roles from the X-Men film series, as well as Channing Tatum returning as Gambit following his surprise appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced an entire generation of superhero movie fans to some of the comic book publishing giant’s most iconic characters, such as Iron Man and Thor. However, many of the heroes and villains we know from those Marvel movies in order have found their way to the big or small screen. Let’s honor some of the actors who brought them to life before they were inducted into the MCU.

Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man)

Some Marvel Comics fans have criticized the casting of Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, considering he was far older than when Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive arachnid at the time. While Tom Holland certainly fit the bill of a teenage vigilante better years later, Maguire is still remembered today as one of the best to play the role. Not to mention, he wore, arguably, the best cinematic Spidey outfit of all time.

Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman)

Following her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough role on Dark Angel, Jessica Alba could be seen just about everywhere in the early 2000s. Ironically, she made her comic book movie debut in Tim Story's Fantastic Four as a superhero known for being unseen: Sue "Invisible Woman" Storm, who would be inducted into the MCU with Vanessa Kirby's portrayal.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Ben Affleck would make an amusing, if not polarizing, impression when he joined a long line of live-action Batman actors for Zack Snyder's short-lived DC Extended Universe. More than a decade earlier, the Oscar winner cut his teeth in the world of superhero acting by playing the title role of 2003's Daredevil before Charlie Cox took over the role for the MCU in his own hit series.

Djimon Hounsou (Black Panther)

Djimon Hounsou has a small role in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy as Korath the Pursuer, but had voiced the Black Panther in a BET original animated series four years earlier. The Academy Award nominee would later share the screen as Korath with the MCU's T'Challa, Chadwick Boseman, for an episode of the animated anthology series, What If...?

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

Marvel's popular vampire hunter character would, technically, make his MCU debut when Mahershala Ali made a vocal cameo as Blade in the post-credit sequence of 2021's Eternals. However, the first actor to play the Daywalker in his own trilogy of Blade movies, Wesley Snipes, beat him to the punch by making a full, live MCU appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher)

It is hard to imagine Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren with jet black hair, but he donned it to play Frank Castle in a straight-to-video feature adaptation of The Punisher in 1989. The role of the vengeful vigilante would be passed down a couple more times before Jon Bernthal took over as the MCU's official iteration, but the Swedish actor would later return to comic book movie acting as King Nereus in the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman movies.

David Hasselhoff (Nick Fury)

Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Nick Fury has become so definitive that Marvel would use his likeness in the Ultimate universe comics. However, the eye-patched secret agent's main iteration better resembles David Hasselhoff, who would, indeed, play him in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a made-for-TV movie that was intended to be a pilot for an original series on Fox.

Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios)

Jennifer Garner played a lighter interpretation of Matt Murdock's assassin lover, Elektra Natchios, in 2003's Daredevil and in her own spin-off film from two years later. While the Alias star would also reprise the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, the official MCU iteration, introduced in Season 2 of the Daredevil series, is played by Élodie Yung.

Chris Evans (Human Torch)

Chris Evans is one of the few MCU actors who can say he previously played a superhero from a different corner of the Marvel Multiverse. Years before he was cast as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, he starred in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies as the Human Torch, which he referenced to hilarious effect in Deadpool & Wolverine. The MCU later introduced its own official iteration of Johnny Storm, played by Joseph Quinn.

Lou Ferrigno (Hulk)

Before Bruce Banner's mean, green alter ego became the product of putting Mark Ruffalo in a performance capture suit, he was brought to life in live-action on the hit TV show, The Incredible Hulk, by Lou Ferrigno, standing in for David Banner actor Bill Bixby whenever he would get angry. The legendary bodybuilder also lent his voice to the role in the Incredible Hulk animated series and made a cameo as a security guard in both 2003's Hulk and the Edward Norton-led MCU debut.

J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)

One of the few actors known for playing the same Marvel character both in and outside of the MCU is J.K. Simmons. The Academy Award winner stole the show as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies before reimagining the role as a conspiracy theorist and podcast host in the Tom Holland-led films.

Doug Jones (Silver Surfer)

The MCU would introduce a unique version of the Silver Surfer played by Emmy winner Julia Garner in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doug Jones, a master of roles requiring performance capture and heavy makeup transformations, shares credit for portraying the first "live-action" iteration of the metallic-skinned alien from 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with Laurence Fishburne, who provided the voice.

Robert Hays (Iron Man)

It is hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Tony Stark other than Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr., but Iron Man was the star of his own animated series years earlier in the mid-1990s. Voicing the wealthy vigilante was Robert Hays, who is best known for starring in the classic spoof movie, Airplane!, as Ted Striker.

Neil Patrick Harris (Spider-Man)

In 2003, MTV aired a TV show very loosely connected to Sam Raimi's Marvel movies called Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Instead of Tobey Maguire, the actor providing the voice of Peter Parker was none other than future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris, who later contributed to the 2010 video game, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

Eric Allan Kramer (Thor)

Years before Chris Hemsworth's definitive performance as Thor in the MCU made him a household name, Eric Allan Kramer of Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Good Luck Charlie fame became the first actor the play the role in live-action in the 1988 TV movie, The Incredible Hulk Returns. However, I feel obligated to mention that Vincent D'Onofrio's role in Adventures in Babysitting as Dawson, who bears a striking resemblance to the God of Thunder, predates Kramer's portrayal by a year.

Rosemary Harris (Aunt May)

With all due respect and admiration for Marisa Tomei, the Oscar winner is certainly not the first person you would picture to play Peter Parker's Aunt May, as she does in the MCU. However, Rosemary Harris is not only the spitting image of the comic book character, but also gives a moving, iconic performance as May opposite Tobey Maguire's Peter in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Matt Salinger (Captain America)

One of the most notable screen iterations of Steve Rogers that pre-dates Chris Evans' portrayal comes from 1990's infamous straight-to-video feature, Captain America. Playing the title role is Matt Salinger, who, believe it or not, is the son of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger, as the actor discussed with The Guardian.

James Avery (War Machine)

Most people know actor James Avery best from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Philip Banks. Around that same time, however, the actor lent his voice to the animated Iron Man series as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, years before Tony Stark's buddy was portrayed in the MCU by Don Cheadle... and Terrence Howard, of course.

Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man)

Before the role was brought to life by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the first actor to play Peter Parker in live-action was Nicholas Hammond. The Sound of Music star led CBS' Spider-Man series and its two made-for-TV companion films in the late 1970s.

Jennifer Connelly (Betty Ross)

Liv Tyler appeared in 2008's The Incredible Hulk as Betty Ross, the colleague and love interest of Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. Years earlier, in 2003's Hulk, she was played by Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, who was also subtly inducted into the MCU as the voice of Karen, the AI built into Peter Parker's high-tech suit in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Thomas Jane (The Punisher)

Three actors were brought in to play Frank Castle before Jon Bernthal was cast in the role for the MCU. The second, after Dolph Lundgren and before Ray Stevenson, and first to bring the vigilante into the 21st Century, was Thomas Jane in 2004's The Punisher, which sees the anti-hero take on a corrupt businessman responsible for his family's tragic deaths.

Cree Summer (She-Hulk)

Cree Summer is the prolific voice actor behind many well-known animated roles, such as Susie Carmichael from Nickelodeon's Rugrats. She was also the second person to voice Bruce Banner's cousin, Jennifer Walters, on the animated Incredible Hulk TV show almost a couple of decades before Tatiana Maslany was cast in the lead role of Disney+'s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Michael Chiklis (The Thing)

Jamie Bell and Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach (who also appeared on Jon Bernthal's The Punisher series) both played CGI versions of Ben "The Thing" Grimm in their respective cinematic adaptations of the Fantastic Four comics. However, Michael Chiklis admirably went the old-fashioned route and donned a heavy amount of prosthetics to play the orange, rock-skinned superhero in Tim Story's movies from 2004 and 2007.

Sam Elliott (Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross)

Following William Hurt's passing, Harrison Ford stepped in to play Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross for the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World, in which the military general-turned-U.S. president becomes the Red Hulk. However, you could argue that the most intimidating portrayal of the character is still that of Sam Elliott in 2003's Hulk.

Peter Hooten (Dr. Strange)

With the title's otherworldly, psychedelic imagery, it is not very surprising to learn that Marvel's Doctor Strange comics were first adapted for live-action in the 1970s. CBS attempted to launch a series focused on the Sorcerer Supreme with a pilot led by actor Peter Hooten, who was, of course, succeeded decades later by Benedict Cumberbatch as the MCU's official iteration.

Lisa Rinna (Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine)

While better known today as a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Rinna also has the honor of being the first actor to portray Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in live-action in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the MCU, the Italian-American noblewoman and CIA director is played by Seinfeld cast member Julia-Louis Dreyfus.

Conan Stevens (Man-Thing)

In 2005, SyFy aired a scary "movie of the week" inspired by the Marvel comic book character Man-Thing, played by Conan Stevens, who is essentially the publisher's equivalent to DC's Swamp Thing. The humanoid plant creature was painted in a far more sympathetic light in the Disney+ original Halloween special, Werewolf by Night, in which he was portrayed in motion capture by Carey Jones.

Ed Asner (J. Jonah Jameson)

Emmy winner Ed Asner's definitive TV role for years was cantankerous journalist Lou Grant on beloved TV sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the character's more earnest self-titled spin-off. In other words, he was a perfect choice to voice J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the 1990s.

Eric Bana (Bruce Banner)

The first live-action, theatrically released feature film adaptation of Marvel's The Incredible Hulk comics, director Ang Lee's Hulk, cast Australian actor Eric Bana as Bruce Banner. The brilliant physicist would later return to the big screen as part of the MCU, first portrayed by Edward Norton in his 2008 solo flick before Mark Ruffalo took over the role in subsequent installments.

Ed Gale (Howard The Duck)

Howard the Duck, one of the most bizarre characters in Marvel Comics' history, exists in the MCU, having first appeared in the post-credit sequence for Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Seth Green. The fowl extraterrestrial crimefighter made his feature debut, however, in a self-titled film from producer George Lucas, in which Ed Gale, a little person also known for playing Chucky in Child's Play, wore a duck costume on set while Chip Zien provided the voice.

Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic)

Before Pedro Pascal added the MCU to his ongoing list of franchises by playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, English actor Ioan Gruffudd played the stretchy superhero otherwise known as Mr. Fantastic in Tim Story's Fantastic Four movies.

Sticky Fingaz (Blade)

Mahershala Ali is actually not Wesley Snipes' direct successor to the role of Blade. Rap artist Sticky Fingaz played the vampire hunter in a short-lived TV series from 2006.

Love may be blind, but a line from the A24 release Materialists wasn’t fooling anyone, especially not the actors saying it. Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson didn't hold back when it came to one of the key moments in their new romantic drama. They pretty much called it out for being terrible and, honestly, it’s easy to see why!

Both Johnson and Evans recently spoke with Josh Horowitz of MTV while promoting their 2025 movie release. During the interview (shared via the outlet's official Instagram account), Johnson didn’t mince words about how she felt as the Captain America performer delivered that moment from the film’s script. “I hated that line,” she said flatly, to Evans’ immediate and knowing laughter. The line in question was:

That line from the critically well-received Materialists was supposed to be heartfelt—a confession of love laced with time, intimacy and the beauty of aging together. But, to the film’s leads, it sounded less like the type of swooning you’d expect from the best romantic comedies and more like a back-handed roast. Chris Evans, equally baffled by the structure of the sentence, explained:

Johnson echoed the sentiment. She hilariously quipped:

The two actors cracked up together as they remembered the line. Still, the piece of dialogue made it into the final cut. Why? According to Evans, it was a direct call from director Celine Song, who stood by the line’s emotional intent. He added:

Dakota Johnson wasn’t ready to rest her case. “Imagine this,” she said, preparing to reenact the moment. She locked eyes with Evans. “Look at me with love in your eyes,” she demanded. He braced himself. Then she delivered it again, in her perfectly deadpan signature way:

Evans broke into laughter, pretty much proving her point. On the surface, Materialists might look like a typical rom-com, but that label doesn’t quite do it justice. Awkward line aside, the film dives deeper than your average romantic comedy. That's in great part due to the efforts of Celine Song, as she managed to craft a nuanced story.

In the film, Dakota Johnson plays a professional matchmaker who’s great at helping others find love, but struggles to find it for herself. Caught between a charming, wildly wealthy suitor (Pedro Pascal) and a complicated ex (Chris Evans), she’s forced to confront what she really wants.

Writing compelling dialogue can be difficult, as even the best screenwriters have a miss here and there. Still, it's hard not to find the humor in the fact that Johnson and Evans don't take one line from their latest film too seriously. Nevertheless, check out Materialists, as it's still in theaters.

Many are excited for the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps before the long wait for the next upcoming Marvel movie, and it's likely to be a big hit at the box office. That said, the internet has been buzzing about a theory surrounding the cast of the original FF movie, and how Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Chiklis could all end up appearing as their characters again for the first time in nearly 20 years.

While Evans returned as Johnny Storm for Deadpool & Wolverine, we haven't seen the first superhero family cast together since the 2007 sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Now there's a wild theory that the Marvel Cinematic Universe's creatives could be prepping to bring the whole crew back. I know, it sounds like a STRETCH, but it's still certainly worth considering.

How New Avengers May Be The Key To The Original Fantastic Four Returning

The theory, as posed by ScreenRant, connects back to the post-credit scene that follows the ending of Thunderbolts*/New Avengers. Directed by the Russo brothers, the scene shows the Fantastic Four's shuttle arriving in the Sacred Timeline. Marvel's Kevin Feige seemingly dropped a big clue to Empire (via ScreenRant) about the shuttle, and noted that he believed it could be different than the one seen in The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Feige has stopped trolling Marvel fans after the backlash from WandaVision, so I think he's genuine in hinting to people that not all is as it seems when it comes to that ship. At the very least, he's seemingly suggesting we shouldn't expect the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps to emerge from that shuttle, but what makes others think it'll be the actors from the original movie?

Why Would The MCU Bring Back The Original Fantastic Four?

It would make sense that the storytellers in the MCU were setting up to bring back the original Fantastic Four group, especially after reminding audiences about them with Chris Evans' cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. Of course, the question of why they'd need to be included in future Avengers movies is a valid question, especially since their Doctor Doom isn't even portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.

Playing devil's advocate that this theory is true, my personal opinion is that Marvel Studios is encouraging storytellers to load as many heroes into the universe as it can ahead of the new Avengers movies because it intends to make it a bloodbath event. Audiences will expect the stakes to match the destruction seen in Avengers: Endgame, and I think the only way that happens is if Doctor Doom just wipes a healthy number of heroes off the planet for good.

Of course, executives at Marvel Studios still want to make movies, so it would be a smarter idea to bring in past Marvel actors and have those characters killed off as opposed to the ones they intend to stick with. It's one of the advantages of the multiverse, but that's just my theory as to why someone as random as the original Fantastic Four cast would factor into the MCU in the immediate future.

Watch the original Fantastic Four movies right now with a Disney+ subscription, and get ready for The Fantastic Four: First Steps when it arrives on July 25th. That'll be right in the middle of San Diego Comic-Con, so maybe there will be some more insight as to what's going on with that shuttle by then.

Pop culture is full of fun rivalries like Backstreet Boys vs. *NSYNC, Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James, Star Wars vs. Star Trek, and the ever-popular debate over the best Chris in Hollywood. One member of that latter discussion, Chris Evans, actually helped to answer some of these questions alongside his Materialists co-star Dakota Johnson amid the release of their film on the 2025 movie calendar. And wow, there’s no love here for The Summer I Turned Pretty.

In Materialists, which received a full 5 stars in CinemaBlend’s review, Dakota Johnson’s Lucy finds herself torn between Chris Evans’ John and Pedro Pascal’s Harry. It therefore seemed appropriate to get their opinions on other famed love triangles. Twilight was the first series mentioned by MTV, to which Johnson cagily responded, “Who?” as Evans admitted:

Honestly, I appreciate Chris Evans’ candor here, because we’ve all got an opinion. (I used to think I was Team Jacob, but I now know I was just Team Shirtless Taylor Lautner.) Dakota Johnson’s response is particularly hilarious coming from the star of Fifty Shades of Grey, whose novels began as Twilight fanfic. She ultimately copped to being Team Edward as well.

Next up was Dawson’s Creek, where The Avengers star again offered a quick judgment on the Dawson vs. Pacey debate, saying:

Sorry, James Van Der Beek, this vote’s unanimous as well, with Dakota Johnson agreeing:

Then came the YA book-to-screen adaptation The Summer I Turned Pretty, whose third season premieres July 16 and will be available to stream with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. The question of Team Jeremiah vs. Team Conrad elicited confused stares from the Materialists stars, and Dakota Johnson unknowingly went full Belly with her response of:

Honestly, she has no idea how spot-on she is. At least, as someone who has watched the YA series.

In Chris Evans’ and Dakota Johnson’s defense, if you’re old enough to have watched Dawson’s Creek, you may be a bit old to have read Jenny Han’s coming-of-age young adult romance trilogy or watched the Prime Video series. Alas, I am just that older Millennial, so I will weigh in with my unpopular (but correct) TSITP opinion.

Here at CinemaBlend, some of us are very Team Jeremiah, while naturally we’ve also got the Team Conrad girlies. Personally, I find Conrad and Belly both very annoying, not great people, and if they want to do that together, more power to them. My official stance is Team Jeremiah Can Do Better.

Now that I’ve settled that, it really is worth checking out Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans’ confusion when asked about The Summer I Turned Pretty characters:

Be sure to catch these two in Materialists, which is in theaters now, and if you’re looking for something to watch at home, be sure you’re caught up on the first two seasons of The Summer I Turned Pretty so you can see how this love triangle plays out when the trilogy resumes Wednesday, July 16, on Prime Video.

Since my wife and I first met 13 years ago this week, we’ve had two things in common: we’re madly in love with one another, and we love going to the movies together. Big movies, small movies, happy movies, sad movies; it doesn’t matter, we’ve seen it all together. So, when we found out the Materialists, Celine Song’s follow-up to Past Lives, was taking up a spot on the 2025 movie schedule, we found a babysitter and went to the local theater.

Going in, I heard the movie was loved by critics (CinemaBlend’s own Riley Utley gave it a five-star review), and so I had a feeling this was going to be one of the best rom-coms in quite some time, with its love triangle involving characters played by Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. And it was. We loved it. However, when the poignant Materialists end credits scene hit with a very specific song, my wife and I had an emotional and personal experience that we’ll never forget…

Materialists' End Credits Scene Is Charming And Incredibly Unique

There have been some great non-MCU end credits scenes over the years (though those Marvel stingers are great, for the most part), and I will say that the sequence that plays on the screen during the credits for Materialists is near or at the top of that list.

The fixed security camera showing Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and John (Chris Evans) among a sea of other New Yorkers tying the knot at a busy courthouse is both charming and unique in its presentation. Writer and director Celine Song could have totally given these two a more focused and personal wedding sequence, but honestly, this is the best way to wrap up their unorthodox romance.

But Then John Prine's 'In Spite Of Ourselves' Started Playing

Just when I thought the sequence couldn’t get any better, I heard the familiar and unforgettable opening of John Prine and Iris Dement’s 1999 duet, “In Spite of Ourselves,” take over the speakers. My wife and I, standing near the exit of the now completely empty theater, embraced, started crying, and laughed as the three-and-a-half-minute song about a couple in love with each other in spite of all their weird quirks and bad habits played on while Chris Evans and Dakota Johnson’s characters walked off screen.

Writing about it now has me both laughing and crying as I recount a memory that, despite being only a few days old, has quickly become one of my favorite and most personal experiences with my wife.

This Song, Which Perfectly Sums Up The Movie, Has Become Our Anthem In Recent Years

With a chorus that goes, “In spite of ourselves, we'll end up a'sittin' on a rainbow; against all odds, honey, we're the big door prize,” this classic from the late songwriter perfectly sums up Materialists. Lucy and John, knowing that being together doesn’t make sense financially or psychologically, throw caution to the wind with those “big old hearts dancin’ in our eyes.”

More importantly, “In Spite of Ourselves” has become an anthem for my wife and me in recent years. It's a song that helps us remember what’s important when we get lost in the madness, chaos, and uncertainty of life. As I always tell her, “Honey, we're the big door prize.”

So, what’s the moral of the story? Well, it has to be to stick around until the credits are finished. Not only are you honoring the hard work hundreds or thousands of people put into something, but you could also have an experience like this.