The cast announcement for 2026's Avengers: Doomsday, and Marvel might have just given us an idea of what to expect from this new team roster.

Captain America: Brave New World recently teased the formation of the Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

8 Sam Wilson’s Captain America

Anthony Mackie Debuted As Sam Wilson In Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Captain America: Brave New World saw Sam Wilson urged to rebuild the Avengers by President Thaddeus Ross, and while this didn't come to in the Phase 5 movie, the seed has been planted. Anthony Mackie has been confirmed to be returning as the MCU's new Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday, which suggests that he'll fulfill his promise from the end of Brave New World and actually form the new Avengers. As Captain America, Sam Wilson would be the perfect leader of the Avengers, following in the footsteps of Chris Evans' Steve Rogers.

Sam Wilson hasn't taken the super-soldier serum and doesn't have any innate superhuman abilities to speak of, but his vibranium costume, kinetic energy-absorbing wing-suit and incredible fighting skills mean he would make sense as the Avengers' leader anyway. Sam Wilson learned from one of the best, as he was previously the Falcon to Steve Rogers' Captain America, so he is the best candidate to assume control of the Avengers. Captain America: Brave New World set this up, and Avengers: Doomsday will pay it off.

7 Joaquín Torres’ Falcon

Danny Ramirez Debuted As Joaquín Torres In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (2021)

Sam Wilson wasn't the only superhero featured in Captain America: Brave New World, as Joaquín Torres also officially became the Falcon in the Phase 5 movie. After debuting in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and becoming a bona fide hero in Brave New World, Danny Ramirez has now been confirmed to be returning for Avengers: Doomsday. This will follow on from the ending of Brave New World, which saw Sam Wilson officially recruit Joaquín Torres into the new Avengers team that he intends to build, with the latter having proven his dedication in battle.

In Marvel Comics, Joaquín Torres was a Mexican teenager who was experimented on by Dr. Karl Malus. His DNA was spliced with that of Sam Wilson's falcon, Redwing, giving Torres organic wings and bird-like abilities, but this is not the case in the MCU.

Danny Ramirez's Joaquín Torres is very different to his Marvel Comics counterpart, who went on to become a member of the young superhero team, the Champions. In the MCU, Torres' Falcon would be much better suited to the Avengers, using the same wing-suit technology as Sam Wilson. As an intelligence officer, Torres would also be a huge asset to the Avengers while planning their missions and doing recon. Danny Ramirez is one of the most exciting additions to the MCU in recent years, so it will be great to see him developed as a key part of the Avengers team.

6 Shuri’s Black Panther

Letitia Wright Debuted As Shuri In Black Panther (2018)

Following her evolution to the role of Black Panther in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Letitia Wright has been confirmed to be reprising the role of Shuri in Avengers: Doomsday. Shuri assumed the role of Black Panther in the wake of her brother, T'Challa's, tragic death, once she had used her incomparable intelligence to create a synthetic version of the heart-shaped herb. Shuri may be a reluctant Black Panther, borne out of necessity following Namor's attack on Wakanda, but she is still expected to fully embrace her role in Doomsday.

Empowered by the heart-shaped herb and her technologically-advanced costume, Shuri will be a formidable asset to the MCU's new Avengers team. The Black Panther has typically been kept separate from the Avengers in the MCU, but given the high stakes of Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars' storylines, it would make sense for Wakanda's protector to officially the legendary superhero team. It's a shame Letitia Wright's Black Panther hasn't been seen since 2022, but it will be great to see her become a key part of the Avengers in 2026's Doomsday.

5 M'Baku

Winston Duke Debuted As M'Baku In Black Panther (2018)

Shuri may not be the only Wakandan ing the MCU's Avengers team, as Winston Duke has also been confirmed to be returning as M'Baku in Avengers: Doomsday. M'Baku began his MCU career as a minor antagonist to the late Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, but soon became a keen ally and powerful confidant, which has continued with Shuri's evolution into Black Panther. Wakanda Forever teased M'Baku's transformation into King of Wakanda, which could come with new powers and sensibilities, making him a great addition to the Avengers team.

M'Baku is typically a supervillain in Marvel Comics, but it would be great to see Marvel Studios take the live-action iteration of the character in a different direction. Winston Duke has contributed to some of the most memorable moments in the Black Panther franchise, and he can deliver even more in Avengers: Doomsday. It's unclear what role he could take in the Avengers team, though he is remarkably strong, wears vibranium-reinforced armor and is an experienced leader and warrior, so he is a clear candidate to the teams' roster.

4 Namor

Tenoch Huerta Mejía Debuted As Namor In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Despite being the subject of some unconfirmed controversy in recent years, Marvel Studios confirmed that Tenoch Huerta Mejía will be returning as Namor, the ruler of the underwater nation of Talokan, in Avengers: Doomsday. Namor has served in the Avengers team on many occasions in Marvel Comics, so it would be fantastic to see this story unfold in the live-action MCU. He may initially be reluctant to a team of surface-dwelling heroes, but it's very possible that his truce with Shuri's Black Panther and an attack on Talokan could convince him to the Avengers.

Introduced in then-named-Timely Comics in 1939's Marvel Comics #1, Namor the Sub-Mariner was one of Marvel's first three superheroes, alongside Captain America and the Human Torch android.

Namor was one of Marvel Comics' original superheroes back in 1939, so he deserves to be developed significantly more in live-action. So far, he's only had one appearance, in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but Doomsday could kick-start a prosperous new career for Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor in the MCU. As a mutant with an elongated lifespan, the ability to fly and a remarkable level of strength, Namor is a clear candidate to the Avengers team, though this could spell bad news for Talokan and its innocent citizens.

3 Scott Lang’s Ant-Man

Paul Rudd Debuted As Scott Lang In Ant-Man (2015)

After the disappointing reception to 2023's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, it was unclear how prominent a role Marvel Studios would give Paul Rudd's Scott Lang in the MCU's future. However, the confirmation that Rudd will be reprising the role of Ant-Man in Avengers: Doomsday makes us think that he'll officially become a member of the Avengers, following years of joking about this status. Ant-Man was a key player in Avengers: Endgame, and already has a strong connection to Sam Wilson, so it would make a lot of sense for him to be included in the superhero team.

Ant-Man is secretly one of the most powerful superheroes in the MCU, so he'd be a huge asset to the new Avengers team. His involvement in the Avengers' Civil War turned the tides in Team Cap's favor, while it was his experience and knowledge of the Quantum Realm that set off the entire plot of Endgame and saved half the universe. He also knows a little about the multiverse after battling against Kang the Conqueror in Quantumania, so Scott Lang is a sure-bet for Sam Wilson when he's deciding who to recruit for the new Avengers team.

2 Shang-Chi

Simu Liu Debuted As Shang-Chi In Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)

Simu Liu's MCU debut contributed to one of Phase 4's most successful projects, so it's a shame that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings hasn't been followed up on in the four years since. Now that he owns the mystical and enigmatic Ten Rings, Shang-Chi is one of the strongest and most exciting MCU heroes, and his Avengers future has already been teased. After meeting Wong, Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers at the end of his 2021 debut, Shang-Chi's connections to the MCU's pre-established heroes mean he's a clear candidate to become an Avenger.

The fact that Simu Liu has finally been confirmed to be returning to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday raises excitement for the Phase 6 movie. The project could perhaps explain who the beacon inside the Ten Rings is signaling, and may even reveal their origin, which was originally theorized to connect to Kang, but could now lead directly to Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Shang-Chi could even be ed by Awkwafina's Katy, who showed off her sharp-shooting skills in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, though hasn't been announced to be returning.

1 Thor

Chris Hemsworth Debuted As Thor In Thor (2011)

Chris Hemsworth was the first actor confirmed to be returning to the MCU in Marvel Studios' cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, which suggests that he may have a prominent role in the Phase 6 movie. Hemsworth debuted as Thor during Phase 1, and became a founding member of the original Avengers team in 2012. He has been included in every iteration of the Avengers, except for the divided teams in Captain America: Civil War, so there's no doubt that he will continue his avenging career in Doomsday.

After his divisive depiction in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder, Chris Hemsworth's return as Thor in Avengers: Doomsday could give us an idea of what direction the Asgardian God of Thunder will be heading in next. We can expect much of his comedic tone to be stripped away, with the Russo brothers perhaps delivering a more serious Thor, as they did in Infinity War and Endgame. Hemsworth is expected to reappear in the as-yet-unannounced Thor 5 in the MCU, so Avengers: Doomsday can actively set this sequel up, bringing Thor back to his full strength.

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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