Avengers: Doomsday

“Avengers: Doomsday” is an upcoming Marvel Studios film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who previously made “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Its screenplay is being written by Stephen McFeely, who co-wrote those two Avengers films with Christopher Markus. Marvel announced the title at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, confirming the project as the next major Avengers installment after “Endgame.” The film’s most consequential casting announcement is Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a new role: Victor von Doom, commonly known as Doctor Doom. Downey previously played Tony Stark/Iron Man throughout the Infinity Saga, but Marvel has specified that his “Doomsday” character is not Tony Stark. Doctor Doom is one of Marvel Comics’ central villains, a ruler and scientist from the fictional country of Latveria, although Marvel has not released the film’s detailed plot or explained how this version will enter the story. The announced ensemble includes actors connected to several Marvel eras and franchises. Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Kelsey Grammer are among the performers returning to or associated with earlier Marvel adaptations. The cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who star as Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Other announced performers include Florence Pugh, Simu Liu, Channing Tatum, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, and Tenoch Huerta Mejía. This combination gives “Doomsday” a direct connection to the current Fantastic Four film, established Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, and characters originating in the earlier Fox “X-Men” movies. However, Marvel has not confirmed that every announced actor will reprise a previously known role in the same way, and it has not published a complete character list. “Avengers: Doomsday” is scheduled for theatrical release on December 18, 2026. Its follow-up, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” is scheduled for December 17, 2027, and is also being directed by the Russo brothers with McFeely writing. Until Marvel releases a trailer or official synopsis, the villain’s identity, the heroes’ objective, and the film’s place in the broader multiverse remain deliberately undisclosed.