Doomsday's Lack of Avengers Hints at Secret Wars, X-Men

It's official, Marvel fans: Avengers: Doomsday is now in full swing. Marvel Studios unveiled a live-streamed cast announcement for the upcoming movie, surprising viewers with an array of X-Men actors, several surprising omissions, and the sheer length of the presentation (over five hours!). As fans digest the news, one major question stands out: Why are so few Avengers featured in this new "Avengers" film?

The video revealed 27 characters, but only a small number are classic Avengers. A large portion of the lineup consists of actors linked to the Fox X-Men universe, the Thunderbolts, and the Fantastic Four, leaving just a handful of core Avengers. Analyzing the in-universe and real-world implications, however, could provide major clues about the storylines of both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Let's dive in.

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Missing From the Doomsday Announcement

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Why the Thunderbolts Play a Bigger Role in Doomsday Than Expected

The only characters confirmed in the announcement with traditional Avengers ties in either the comics or the MCU are Anthony Mackie's Captain America, Chris Hemsworth's Thor, and Paul Rudd's Ant-Man. Danny Ramirez's Falcon and Letitia Wright's Black Panther are also likely to join the team, even though Joaquin Torres and Shuri aren't the usual members. There are also figures like Namor and the Fantastic Four, who have occasionally worked with the Avengers in the comics but aren't central to the team's legacy.

So, what's going on? Where are Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk, Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Don Cheadle's War Machine, and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange? Part of the answer may involve the Thunderbolts* and the mysterious asterisk fans have speculated about for months. (Yes, some international posters suggest the asterisk stands for "Avengers are not available," but that could simply be a marketing twist.)

Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, and the Sentry are all confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Why focus so much on a group that isn't especially powerful (aside from the Sentry) and isn't typically seen as Avengers? Because the MCU appears to be redefining them in a significant way. With the Thunderbolts involved in Doomsday, the asterisk may signal they'll be branded the New Avengers by the film's conclusion. In the trailers, Red Guardian seems to be the only one fond of the "Thunderbolts" name, while Bucky argues, "We can't call ourselves that." If the team name remains a running joke throughout the film, and considering Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine's purchase of Avengers Tower and her trailer remark about the shortage of Avengers, it seems the Thunderbolts are set to step into the Avengers' shoes as the MCU's primary superhero squad.

Having the Thunderbolts renamed as the New Avengers would also fit with the Sentry's prominent role, along with his dark alter-ego the Void likely serving as the main villain. The Sentry first appeared in a self-titled 2000 miniseries, but he was reintroduced into Marvel continuity in 2005 as part of Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers comic run.

The Thunderbolts: The Turbulent History of Marvel's Unconventional Super-Team

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Once established in the MCU, the team could be recruited to complete a formal Avengers roster, likely led by Sam Wilson's Captain America. Recall that in Captain America: Brave New World, President Ross asked Sam to assist in rebuilding the team. With limited access to the classic Avengers, Cap may have to rely on the less formidable Thunderbolts, putting them at a disadvantage in their first encounter with Robert Downey, Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Are the X-Men Facing Doom in Avengers: Doomsday?

Speaking of Doom, one of Doomsday's key challenges is establishing RDJ's version as a genuine threat. Since Doom appears absent from the upcoming Fantastic Four reboot (with Galactus taking the villain role, though a post-credits cameo is possible), Doomsday will need to position him as the Multiverse Saga's ultimate antagonist. And what better way to accomplish that than by having Doom eliminate several beloved characters? Similar to Thanos wiping out half of all life in Infinity War, Doctor Doom might be set to devastate a large part of Doomsday's cast. Among the confirmed characters, the Fox X-Men seem most vulnerable.

Doom erasing the Fox X-Men would free up screen time and budget for the main MCU heroes to return in Secret Wars.

Think about it: We know Secret Wars is coming, and Incursions (colliding universes causing mass destruction), a central element of the 2015 Secret Wars comic, were already mentioned in Multiverse of Madness. Witnessing an Incursion firsthand would best convey the stakes for Secret Wars, meaning an entire universe must fall to Doctor Doom. Given this, the Fox X-Men universe being destroyed makes perfect sense. Not only would it create a powerful "you monster!" moment for Doom, but much like how Infinity War temporarily removed newer characters to spotlight the original Avengers in Endgame, eliminating the Fox X-Men would make room for the core MCU cast to shine in Secret Wars.

Bringing back heroes like Spider-Man, Hulk, Scarlet Witch, and Captain Marvel to confront Doom and avenge the fallen universe would deliver a satisfying finale to the Multiverse Saga. It may also be Marvel Studios' best shot at recapturing the epic Endgame finale excitement that Phases 4 and 5 have struggled to replicate. We'll have to wait until the film releases on May 1, 2026, to know for sure, but for now, this theory offers the most logical explanation for the limited Avengers presence in Doomsday.

What are your predictions for Avengers: Doomsday? Share your thoughts in the comments!