Several important figures within the MCU are steadily confirming cast members for Avengers: Doomsday. The fifth Avengers movie, previously titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, pivoted into a new direction as of San Diego Comic-Con 2024, officially confirming that Doctor Doom will be the central villain instead of Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror. The Avengers: Doomsday release date, meanwhile, remains May 1, 2026. While story details emerge, what is certain is that it will begin to conclude the MCU’s Multiverse Saga before Avengers: Secret Wars brings it to a definitive end one year later.

Avengers: Doomsday will have been seven years in the making as the first Avengers movie to hit theaters since Avengers: Endgame raked in a record-breaking $2.5 billion worldwide gross for Marvel in 2019. Suffice it to say that the success of the MCU’s last Avengers movie was largely thanks to its ensemble cast, with Avengers: Doomsday likely to follow suit. While many cast members are expected to return for the next big team-up in Avengers: Doomsday alongside some newer faces, these are the cast members that have been confirmed so far.

Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom

Iron Man (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Oppenheimer (2023)

It’s safe to say that Robert Downey Jr. stole the show at SDCC 2024. The confirmation that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning vindicated rumors that had been swirling for several months. His casting as Doctor Doom came as a big surprise, however, as his potential return to the MCU was previously presumed to be as a variant of Tony Stark. Until further details about Avengers: Doomsday emerge, it remains unclear whether this will be the case for Robert Downey Jr.’s version of Doctor Doom, or whether he will embody an entirely original character.

Since leaving the MCU after Tony Stark’s demise in Avengers: Endgame, Robert Downey Jr. has starred in 2020’s Dolittle as the eponymous character and 2023’s Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the latter. While there is no doubt a deeper reason for bringing him back, Robert Downey Jr. is one of Marvel’s strongest casting decisions with an unassailable track record as one of the MCU’s most iconic contributors. For now, the only comment that the actor has made about his new role is the cryptic, “New mask, same task.”

Pedro Pascal As Reed Richards A.K.A. Mister Fantastic

Game Of Thrones (2014), The Mandalorian (2019), The Last Of Us (2023)

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards will star in Avengers: Doomsday at SDCC 2024. This will mark his second appearance in the MCU after debuting alongside his eponymous teammates in The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025, notwithstanding cameo appearances in intervening MCU productions. His MCU casting was announced alongside his fellow Fantastic Four members on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024. Pedro Pascal is the second actor to portray Reed Richards in the MCU after John Krasinski in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Pedro Pascal is one of the MCU’s most famous contributors, joining the franchise after riding high on a wave of popularity. His breakout role was Oberyn Martell in 2014’s Game of Thrones season 4. Since then, Pascal has earned acclaim for his roles as the titular character in The Mandalorian and as Joel Miller in The Last of Us. Pascal’s most recent superhero movie role was in the DCEU’s Wonder Woman 1984, where he portrayed Maxwell Lord. His take on Reed Richards is likely to strike a wildly different tone, however.

Vanessa Kirby As Susan Storm, A.K.A. The Invisible Woman

The Crown (2016–2017), Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018), Pieces Of A Woman (2020)

Vanessa Kirby will reprise her role as Sue Storm in Avengers: Doomsday. In the absence of confirmed story details, it is safe to assume that Sue Storm, along with her Fantastic Four family, will be closely linked to Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers movie should it adapt their longstanding rivalry from Marvel Comics. Although the Fantastic Four have not been part of the Avengers as a team, each of them has been a member at some point in their Marvel Comics career.

Both Kirby and her on-screen brother, Joseph Quinn, are English actors joining the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland to portray American characters in the MCU.

Vanessa Kirby rose to prominence from her role as Princess Margaret in the Netflix show The Crown from 2016 to 2017. Her acting career began on stage, however, including in two Shakespeare productions, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and As You Like It. Kirby was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Martha in Pieces of a Woman in 2021. Her most recent role was as Josephine Bonaparte in 2023’s Napoleon before she was announced to be joining the MCU in February 2024.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach As Ben Grimm, A.K.A. The Thing

The Punisher (2017), Andor (2022), The Bear (2022–2024)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm – also known as the Thing – will join the rest of the Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday. Kevin Feige confirmed that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will not be an origin story, meaning Moss-Bachrach will likely be appearing in his rocky guise from the jump, with the acclaimed actor previously jesting that he has been “looking at rocks” to prepare for the role. Ben Grimm is one of Marvel’s most tragic and nuanced characters, making it likely that much of the pathos in Avengers: Doomsday will stem from him and his loving relationship with his teammates.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s casting as Ben Grimm was met with widespread approval. He recently earned recognition for his role as Richie Jerimovich in the Netflix comedy-drama The Bear, for which he earned a Primetime Emmy Award. Now that the Defenders Saga has been confirmed as MCU canon, Moss-Bachrach will join the litany of actors who have played multiple roles in the MCU after he portrayed David Lieberman in The Punisher. He also joins his Fantastic Four co-star, Pedro Pascal, in being part of the Star Wars franchise after starring in the acclaimed Andor as the rebel Arvel Skeen.

Joseph Quinn As Johnny Storm, A.K.A. The Human Torch

Stranger Things (2022), A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), Gladiator II (2024)

Like Pascal’s Reed Richards, Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm will be the second iteration of the character to appear in the MCU, after Chris Evans recently reprized the role in Deadpool & Wolverine. Quinn’s will be the definitive version of the character as he joins the Fantastic Four in Avengers: Doomsday. The Human Torch is an impetuous hothead who will be an interesting addition to the MCU lineup, given very few characters match his personality. His interactions with Spider-Man, meanwhile – with whom Storm is best friends in Marvel Comics – are also an exciting prospect for the next ensemble movie.

Joseph Quinn has been a prolific figure in Hollywood for two years after starring as Eddie in Stranger Things season 4. Quinn already has experience working with Pedro Pascal as he stars alongside the Reed Richards actor in Gladiator II, where Quinn portrays Emperor Geta. While Joseph Quinn’s Hollywood legacy is already on the rise, his role as one of Marvel’s most beloved characters is likely to accelerate this significantly.

Benedict Cumberbatch As Stephen Strange, A.K.A. Doctor Strange

Sherlock (2010–2017), The Imitation Game (2014), Doctor Strange (2016)

Benedict Cumberbatch confirmed in an interview with Netflix on June 21 that Doctor Strange would be returning in Avengers: Doomsday. Strange was bound to be a part of the next two Avengers movies, as his most recent MCU outings in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw him wrestle with the issue of colliding universes. As the first movie to conclude the Multiverse Saga, Strange will likely play a pivotal role in the narrative that is expected to involve significant multiversal shenanigans.

Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed Doctor Strange for eight years after debuting in 2016’s Doctor Strange. Cumberbatch is one of the most prominent and decorated actors in the MCU, with a Primetime Emmy Award under his belt for his work on Sherlock as well as several Academy Award nominations and a CBE for his contributions to performing arts and charity. While he has confirmed his involvement in Avengers: Doomsday, it also remains likely that Cumberbatch will star in Doctor Strange 3 before Avengers: Secret Wars – though this movie is still to be confirmed.