After portraying Thor for over a decade, Chris Hemsworth officially passed the hammer.
The MCU is entering a transformative era. Marvel Studios has retired Avengers: The Kang Dynasty following Jonathan Majors’ exit as Kang the Conqueror, and in its place stands Avengers: Doomsday (2026). Positioned as the centerpiece of the Multiverse Saga, the project marks one of Marvel’s boldest rethinks yet.
Robert Downey Jr., who helped define the MCU in 2008 as Iron Man, is returning in an unexpected way—this time as Victor von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom. He’s not alone in returning to the fold: Joe and Anthony Russo, the directing duo behind Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), are back to helm both Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). Their goal is to craft another large-scale cinematic event capable of redefining Marvel’s storytelling scope.
Both films have shifted back a year as part of Marvel’s quality over quantity initiative. Avengers: Doomsday will now arrive on December 18, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. The studio’s renewed focus on storytelling depth marks a reset after years of rapid output.
When Doomsday debuts, audiences can expect appearances from the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and even legacy X-Men stars—setting the stage for one of the biggest crossover events in Marvel history. According to the Russos, Doomsday isn’t just an ending but a creative turning point leading into a new, interconnected era.
Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, hinted earlier this year that the X-Men may be the ones to reset the MCU. “Reboot is a scary word,” Feige said. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines […] X-Men is where that will happen next.”
Before the next Avengers unite, Marvel’s schedule will slow down. The only film before Doomsday is Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, hitting theaters July 31, 2026. Meanwhile, Disney+ has kept fans engaged with Eyes of Wakanda and the recently released Marvel Zombies.
The four-episode Marvel Zombies miniseries expands the twisted alternate reality first seen in What If…? with a darker tone and a TV-MA rating. Developed by creator Zeb Wells and directed by Bryan Andrews, the series was animated by Stellar Creative Lab and originally pitched as a feature film.
The voice cast includes Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), and Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff). Randall Park and Awkwafina reprise their roles as Jimmy Woo and Katy.
Alongside zombified versions of Captain Marvel, Ikaris, and Abomination, several characters feature new voice actors. Todd Williams joins as Blade Knight, while Hudson Thames returns as Spider-Man, and Kenna Ramsey continues as Okoye.
But the biggest surprise is Thor. After fourteen years in the role, Chris Hemsworth was replaced by Greg Furman, a performer known for video game and short film voice work. Furman’s casting marks the first major recast of the character since Thor’s 2011 debut.
As Marvel expands its animated lineup, such recasts are becoming more common. However, Hemsworth is confirmed to reprise Thor in Avengers: Doomsday, as revealed during Marvel Studios’ cast announcement earlier this year.
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