Marvel Studios has officially kicked off production on Avengers: Doomsday, revealing a massive cast in a 5.5-hour livestream that teased actor reveals by showing labeled chairs on set. The upcoming event film brings together core MCU heroes, the Fantastic Four, and — in a historic move — a full-scale X-Men reunion.
Returning to their classic mutant roles are Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Kelsey Grammer (Beast). Channing Tatum also officially joins the MCU as Gambit, following his debut in Deadpool & Wolverine.
In a major twist, Robert Downey Jr. will not reprise Tony Stark, but instead star as iconic villain Victor von Doom. His appearance closed the livestream, confirming his role in the upcoming film.
A Cast Spanning the Marvel Universe
The film includes returning MCU heroes like Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Letitia Wright, Simu Liu, and Tom Hiddleston. Joining them are Fantastic Four newcomers Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — all set to debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025.
Other returning characters include Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) and several cast members from Thunderbolts, releasing earlier in 2025.
Mutants Officially Enter the MCU
Although Stewart and Grammer previously appeared in small multiverse cameos, Avengers: Doomsday marks the first time Marvel is bringing multiple iconic X-Men into the main fold. President Kevin Feige recently confirmed that Secret Wars will "lead us into a new age of mutants and of the X-Men."
What’s Next
Avengers: Doomsday premieres May 1, 2026, followed by Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. Together, they’ll serve as both a finale for the Multiverse Saga and a new beginning for the MCU — one where mutants, multiverse characters, and legacy heroes collide on the biggest scale yet.
