When the Marvel Cinematic Universe released its first tentpole film The Avengers in 2012, its success (grossing $1.5 million worldwide) set off a phase of superhero mania — where the least connected of films could get people to fill seats at the mere hint of a new casting or surprise cameo. That is not the world we’re living in now, which is why many fans were shocked when Marvel announced it would reveal the characters starring in Avengers: Doomsday in an five. hour. livestream. 

Hosted on Marvel Studios accounts across social media, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, the livestream started with a pair of doors on a film set slowly creeping open. What appeared to be someone walking through them was quickly revealed to be a faceless crew member, dropping down a director’s chair with Chris Hemsworth’s name on the back. The rest of the livestream contained a single static shot of each chair, a view that changed at an excruciatingly slow pace around 15 minutes, only to reveal a new chair with a new name. 

Marvel hasn’t revealed much about the plot of Avengers: Doomsday — which is currently in production. But at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, directors Joe and Anthony Russo heralded the return of the franchise’s beloved actor: Robert Downey Jr. Don’t worry, you remember it, right, Iron Man is dead in at least one Avengers universe. But Downey will grace people’s screens in a new mask — Doctor Dooms. “New mask, same task,” Downey said to rapturous applause at his reveal. Today’s casting news also makes it clear that the plot will involve the X-Men, with several characters returning to the roles originated in the 20th Century Fox productions. While the most heartfelt of fans eagerly waited for each new announcement, users on X began making a meme at the sheer number of people that have been cast. 

The full list for Avengers: Doomsday comes at a surprising time for the film company, as two more Marvel films —Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps — are set to release this summer, and some confirmed characters could also hint to fans how their stories in the upcoming films play out. Spoilers… who’s afraid of them anyway?

Here are all of the cast members Marvel confirmed on Wednesday that will appear in Avengers: Doomsday: Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as The Winter Soldier, James Marsden as Cyclops, Paul Rudd as Ant Man, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Wyatt Russel as U.S. Agent, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Danny Ramirez as The Falcon, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, Joseph Quinn as The Human Torch, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijin as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Channing Tatum as Gambit, and Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to release in theaters on May 1, 2026.