Marvel Studios unveiled the Avengers: Doomsday cast on March 26, 2025, in a 5-hour-30-minute social media livestream, naming 27 stars for the May 1, 2026 release. While heavyweights like Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Patrick Stewart (Professor X) made the cut, several major Marvel stars were conspicuously absent. With Avengers: Doomsday set to kick off Phase 6’s big team-up, here’s who’s missing from the cast announcement and why it’s raising eyebrows.

Major Marvel stars absent from Avengers Doomsday

The Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement confirmed MCU veterans like Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), and Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), plus X-Men icons like Ian McKellen (Magneto). Yet, some of Marvel’s biggest names didn’t get a chair:

  • Tom Holland (Spider-Man): The web-slinger’s absence stings after his No Way Home triumph. Fans expected him in the first post-Endgame Avengers film, given his A-list status.
  • Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange): Despite his multiverse role in Multiverse of Madness, he’s out—rumors from early 2025 suggest his story “doesn’t align” with Doomsday.
  • Brie Larson (Captain Marvel): The cosmic powerhouse, last seen in The Marvels, skips this round, surprising given her prominence.
  • Mark Ruffalo (Hulk): The green giant’s no-show raises questions after his She-Hulk stint—where’s Banner?
  • Hugh Jackman (Wolverine): Fresh off Deadpool & Wolverine, his exclusion alongside Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) shocks mutant fans.
  • Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch): Post-WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness, her missing name fuels speculation about Wanda’s fate.
  • Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye): The OG Avenger’s absence continues his low MCU profile since Hawkeye.
  • Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury): The spy chief, last in The Marvels, isn’t listed—odd for a team-up architect.

Why these Marvel stars are missing

Why skip these Marvel stars for the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement? Theories abound. Some, like Cumberbatch, might sit out due to narrative fit—his January 2025 Variety quote hints at Doctor Strange’s exclusion. Others, like Holland and Larson, could be held back for Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027), per fan buzz on X suggesting a two-part reveal strategy. Jackman and Reynolds might dodge Doomsday to avoid oversaturation post-Deadpool & Wolverine, or Marvel’s saving them for a mutant-heavy Secret Wars. Olsen’s Wanda could still be “dead” post-Multiverse, though her popularity makes that shaky.

Fan reactions to the missing stars

The 5-hour Avengers: Doomsday casting stunt—panning to chairs every 15 minutes—thrilled fans with Downey’s Doom and X-Men returns, but the absences sparked confusion. X posts highlight frustration over missing icons, with some crying foul over Thunderbolts (May 2, 2025) spoilers—Pugh’s survival is now known—while others lament no Spider-Man or Hulk. “Where’s Tom Holland?” and “No Brie Larson?” trend alongside praise for the 27 named stars, showing a split between excitement and letdown.

What this means for Avengers Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo Brothers, aims to reclaim MCU glory after Endgame’s $2.8 billion peak and recent flops like The Marvels. Missing these Marvel stars could signal a leaner, multiverse-focused story—Avengers vs. X-Men, perhaps—or a deliberate tease for later reveals. With production rolling and a 2026 release, Marvel might drop more names closer to The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025). Which missing star do you hope joins the fight?