Everything we know about Avengers: Doomsday

Earth’s mightiest heroes are gearing up to assemble once more for Avengers: Doomsday, the new big focal point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe which will see the return of a familiar face.

That said, the face might be where all familiarity stops as original Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr prepares to return to the world of heroes and villains, this time as Marvel’s new big bad, Dr. Victor Von Doom.

News of this shocking return broke during 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con where Downey Jr took to the stage and was revealed to be hiding under the metal-plated mask of the Fantastic Four’s arch nemesis Dr Doom.

After audiences had picked their jaws up from Hall H’s floor, all chatter turned to how an actor who had made such a splash as Marvel hero Tony Stark might find himself working towards world domination. It’s a good question — and one we don’t quite have all the answers to just yet. In the meantime, here’s everything we do know about Avengers: Doomsday so far…

When will Avengers: Doomsday be released?

Avengers: Doomsday will hit cinemas on 1 May 2026, with its follow-up Avengers: Secret Wars set to drop a year later on 7 May 2027. Of course, there’s every chance these dates could shift as production on Doomsday begins.

Speaking of which, the film is set to go before cameras in late 2025 with Anthony and Joe Russo signed on to direct both new Avengers stories. Doomsday will be the third film featured as part of Marvel’s Phase Six following The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Blade. However, this could change considering the rocky production of the latter project.

What will happen in Avengers: Doomsday?

It’ll likely come as little surprise that solid plot details for Avengers: Doomsday are harder to crack than Thor’s mythical hammer or Cap’s adamantium shield. That said, we do know that the first instalment of this two-parter will be written by Stephen McFeely, the same screenwriter who co-wrote Avengers Engame and Infinity War alongside his writing partner Christopher Markus.

Elsewhere, we also know that Marvel’s new Fantastic Four will appear in the movie — which makes sense considering their primary antagonist Dr Doom is being lined up as one of the movie’s main villains.

Before McFeely came aboard, the project was being written by Michael Waldron back when it was still being referred to as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

MCU fans will have no doubt seen the slow rise of Jonathan Majors’ Kang The Conquerer in films like Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantamania and TV shows like Loki, with the character being cued up to become the main threat in a new Avengers two-parter. This storyline was ditched after Majors was fired from the role in early 2024 after being found guilty of domestic abuse charges.

For a while, it was unclear how these real-life events would impact the next Avengers movies until the Russos and Downey Jr revealed their new approach during Comic-Con 2024.

Who is in the Avengers: Doomsday cast?

So far, only a few characters have been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Front and centre is Downey Jr as Dr Victor Von Doom. Below, you can watch his grand return to the MCU as its new oppressor as it was confirmed at Comic-Con.

Elsewhere, we know that Marvel’s new Fantastic Four will also appear, which means Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm AKA the Thing.

While still unconfirmed by Marvel, Benedict Cumberbatch hinted at a return of Dr. Strange in a June 2024 interview, saying: “I’m very much looking forward to Avengers [5] next year, which is cooking up a storm.”

Considering this is an Avengers movie, it's likely that we'll see plenty of other heroes feature in its storyline — from the Thunderbolts to the new Captain America Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Unfortunately, until Marvel makes another announcement, all extra cast details are speculative at this stage.

Avengers: Doomsday will be released in cinemas on 1 May 2026.