Marvel Confirms Multiple MCU Actors Recast Ahead of ‘Doomsday’ Reset

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is streaming towards its biggest change in years–and not everyone will be along for the ride.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Avengers Reset

Marvel Studios is charting a new course for its Multiverse Saga. Once planned as the next major Avengers installment, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was pulled from the slate after controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors, who was set to reprise his role as Kang the Conqueror.

Following Majors’ conviction and departure from Marvel, the studio restructured its roadmap. The result is Avengers: Doomsday (2025), now positioned as the MCU’s next massive crossover event. Robert Downey Jr. is confirmed to return, but not as Tony Stark or Iron Man. Instead, the actor will play Victor Doctor Doom, introducing a striking reimagining of his Marvel legacy in the context of the Multiverse.

Bringing even more weight to the project are Joe and Anthony Russo, the directing team behind Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). The duo’s return suggests Doomsday and its follow-up will carry the same kind of universe-shaping stakes as their earlier blockbusters.

Fans will need to wait a little longer to see it on screen. Avengers: Doomsday is now slated for December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17, 2027. Both films were delayed by roughly seven months from their original release dates.

The scheduling shift fits Marvel’s “quality over quantity” approach as the studio works to refine its storytelling following uneven reactions to Phases Four and Five. Reports have also surfaced that the script for Doomsday is still being completed, further justifying the delay.

When it does arrive, the crossover will be anything but small. The Fantastic Four, classic X-Men actors, and members of the Thunderbolts will all be present and ready to join the fight, making these two Avengers films the most expansive projects Marvel has attempted yet. With the addition of the 20th Century Studios legacy characters, Doomsday will feature one of the biggest crossover casts of all time.

While Avengers: Endgame marked the close of one era, the Russos have teased that Doomsday will act as the launch point for something new. For fans eager for a fresh direction after recent turbulence, that’s a promise worth waiting for. And that launch point is seemingly pushing the MCU to a complete reset.

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently opened up about the future of the MCU, noting that Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) could serve as a turning point before Marvel launches its much-anticipated X-Men storyline.

Hesitant to label the films as a reboot, Feige explained, via Variety: “Reboot is a scary word. 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.”

Only one movie stands before Avengers: Doomsday, and that is Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, slated for July 31, 2026. However, while the movie slate is slim, Disney+ continues gaining new content–the latest being the Ryan Coogler-developed Eyes of Wakanda. Next will be Marvel Zombies from Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells.

Marvel Animation Will Replace Multiple Actors

Marvel Studios is venturing into more mature storytelling with Marvel Zombies, an animated series expanding on the What If…? episode that first introduced fans to a Marvel Universe consumed by the undead. Part of Phase Six of the MCU, the project marks Marvel Animation’s first foray into TV-MA territory on Disney+, signaling a bolder creative swing for the studio.

The project has gone through its own evolution behind the scenes. Originally planned as a feature-length film, Marvel Zombies was reshaped into a four-episode miniseries. Zeb Wells is credited as creator and head writer, while Bryan Andrews leads as showrunner and director. Animation duties remain with Stellar Creative Lab, the studio known for shaping Marvel Animation’s distinct visual style.

Unlike Robert Kirkman’s acclaimed comic run, Marvel Zombies won’t be a direct adaptation. Instead, the show builds on What If…?’s alternate reality, imagining a survival-driven story where Earth’s mightiest heroes and villains have been transformed into terrifying adversaries. Familiar figures such as Captain America, Scarlet Witch, and Thanos now appear as relentless zombie threats in this darker chapter of the MCU.

A stacked lineup of Marvel stars is returning to voice their roles. Iman Vellani once again plays Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, joined by Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, and Dominique Thorne as Ironheart. Elizabeth Olsen is also back as Wanda Maximoff, with Randall Park (Jimmy Woo) and Awkwafina (Katy) among the ensemble.

On the opposing side, zombified versions of Captain Marvel, Ikaris, Hawkeye, Ghost, Abomination, and others will challenge the surviving heroes. But not all these characters will be played by their respective live-action counterparts.

Marvel has already confirmed multiple recast actors for the Zombies show. Todd Phillips will play Blade Knight, replacing Mahershala Ali ahead of the actor’s upcoming (yet tentative) live-action debut. Hudson Thames once again steps into Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s shoes, continuing his voice work following stints in What If…? and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. Kenna Ramsey is also expected to reprise her role as Wakandan Dora Milaje leader Okoye, taking over from Danai Gurira as she did for What If…? Season 3.

While there has been no confirmation on characters like Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, it can be expected that Alexandra Daniels–who voiced the superpowered hero in What If…?–will be back to take on the role in this animated spinoff. The part has been played in the live-action MCU by Brie Larson since 2019’s Captain Marvel. Likewise, if Steve Rogers/Captain America speaks, it can be anticipated that Josh Keaton will also step back into the part.

All four Marvel Zombies episodes will debut on Disney+ on September 24, 2025.

Are These Replacements a Sign of Things To Come? Avengers Movies Will Alter History

Marvel Studios is preparing to reshape its universe in ways fans never expected, and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday appears to be the cornerstone of that transformation. After years of speculation about where the Multiverse Saga would ultimately land, Disney has chosen to steer its franchise back toward the storytelling strengths that defined the MCU at its height, with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame serving as the creative blueprints.

At the heart of this shift is scale. Avengers: Doomsday won’t simply be another superhero ensemble—it’s being positioned as a sweeping, universe-spanning crossover designed to rival Infinity War’s monumental gathering of heroes and villains. Where past phases have been criticized for smaller stakes or disjointed stories, Doomsday promises to once again unite Marvel’s vast roster under one explosive event, a move meant to recapture the grandeur of the MCU’s most celebrated team-ups.

But this isn’t just about spectacle; Marvel is leaning into emotion too. Reports confirm that Doomsday will circle back to one of the most poignant moments in MCU history: Steve Rogers’ (Chris Evans) final choice to remain in the past with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell).

That bittersweet ending in Endgame has become a touchstone for fans, and Disney is doubling down on its significance by seemingly making it part of Doomsday’s foundation. On-set details even suggest that a near-replica of the Rogers–Carter home has been recreated, highlighting how this chapter will reframe not only the Multiverse but also the lasting emotional beats that defined the saga’s earlier highs.

Then there’s the boldest stroke of all: the storytelling structure. Much like Infinity War centered on Thanos, Doomsday will reportedly follow its villain through the chaos, with Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the role of Victor Doom. This approach gives the film a singular, character-driven lens through which to experience the Multiversal collapse, echoing how Thanos’ journey anchored Infinity War despite the sprawling cast. By placing Doom at the narrative center, Marvel aims to balance massive crossover stakes with a personal arc that keeps the story grounded.

Taken together, these creative choices reveal a clear strategy. Disney and Marvel are consciously revisiting the emotional resonance of Endgame, the ensemble spectacle of Infinity War, and the villain-focused storytelling that made Thanos iconic—all while introducing Doom as the MCU’s new central figure. It’s not just a continuation of the Multiverse Saga, but a recalibration designed to remind audiences why they invested in these stories in the first place.

The Avengers: Doomsday Cast as It Stands

The roster is huge: Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.

Also starring are Channing Tatum as Remy LeBeau/Gambit, Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres/Falcon, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Lewis Pullman as “Bob”/Sentry, Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkhölme/Mystique, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, and Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler.

Rounding out the lineup are David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor, Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/Thing.

Just a month after the “Big Chair Reveal” moment online, reports surfaced regarding the addition of over 30 more names to the Doomsday cast.

These include: Mark Ruffalo (Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk), Benedict Wong (Wong), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes/War Machine), Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Iman Vellani (Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel), Ke Huy Quan (Ouroboros/”O.B”), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams/Ironheart), Xochitl Gomez (America Chavez), Sophia Di Martino (Sylvie), and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Simon Williams/Wonder Man).

How do you feel about the recasting and potential recasting of multiple MCU actors? Let us know in the comments down below!