Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast Revealed – But Where Are Spider-Man and Deadpool?

Marvel fans have been eagerly waiting for any news on Avengers: Doomsday, and now that the cast has finally been revealed, the reactions are mixed. While some beloved heroes are making a return, others—like Spider-Man and Deadpool—are nowhere to be found. And that’s not the only surprise.

Big Names Return, But Some Favorites Are Missing

Marvel’s official announcement brought back several fan-favorite actors, including Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. But the biggest shocker? Robert Downey Jr. is returning—but not as Iron Man. Instead, he’s set to play the villain, Doctor Doom. That’s right, the man who defined the MCU as Tony Stark is switching sides, and fans are already debating whether this twist will be legendary or just plain weird.

But not everyone is thrilled with the lineup. Missing from the cast are Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Many of these characters played massive roles in Avengers: Endgame, so their absence raises some big questions. Are they gone for good? Or is Marvel holding back some surprises?

X-Men Join the Fight

One of the biggest takeaways from the announcement is that Avengers: Doomsday is officially bringing the X-Men into the MCU. Legends like Patrick Stewart (Professor X) and Ian McKellen (Magneto) are back, alongside other X-Men veterans like James Marsden (Cyclops) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast).

For fans, this is a dream come true. Ever since Disney bought 20th Century Fox, the idea of an X-Men and Avengers crossover has been floating around, but now it’s finally happening. Does this mean mutants are about to take over the MCU? It sure looks like it.

What About Deadpool and Wolverine?

With Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine confirmed for Deadpool & Wolverine, many fans assumed he’d be a shoo-in for Avengers: Doomsday, but there’s been no official word. The same goes for Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.

That hasn’t stopped rumors from flying. Some insiders claim both characters will make an appearance but that Marvel is keeping it under wraps for now. If that’s true, it would be one of the biggest surprises in Marvel history. But if they really don’t show up? Expect some seriously disappointed fans.

The Directors and Release Date

Avengers: Doomsday is in good hands, with the Russo brothers (who directed Infinity War and Endgame) taking the helm once again. The screenplay is written by Stephen McFeely, who has helped shape the MCU with previous films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

The film is currently set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026. That gives Marvel plenty of time to fine-tune the story—and maybe even add in a few more surprises. There’s also another Avengers movie, Secret Wars, planned for 2027, so Doomsday is likely setting up something even bigger.

Fans React – Excited or Disappointed?

As expected, fans have a lot to say about the Avengers: Doomsday cast. Some are thrilled about the return of classic X-Men actors and the unexpected twist of Robert Downey Jr. playing a villain. But others are frustrated by the absence of key MCU heroes.

On social media, reactions have been divided:

• “ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AS DOCTOR DOOM?! THIS MOVIE JUST WENT FROM 0 TO 100 REAL QUICK!” – @MCUFanForever
• “How do you make an Avengers movie and NOT include Spider-Man?!?” – @PeterParkerFan97
• “If Deadpool and Wolverine aren’t in this, we riot.” – @MarvelManiac22

What’s Next?

With the film still a couple of years away, there’s plenty of time for changes and surprises. Marvel has been known to keep major plot points secret until the last minute, so there’s always a chance that some of the missing heroes could still make an appearance.

For now, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Marvel films yet. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing will depend on what else Marvel has up its sleeve.

Stay tuned—because if there’s one thing we know about Marvel, it’s that they love a good plot twist.