Everything We Know So Far About the New Avengers Movie and Chris Evans’ Surprising Comeback

Robert Downey Jr. at the “Marvel Studios” Panel during the 2024 San Diego International Comic-Con on July 27, 2024 in San Diego, California.
Credit:

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Key Updates on Avengers: Doomsday

• The next Avengers installment has undergone significant changes since being announced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con.
• Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on December 18, 2026.
• Robert Downey Jr. is returning as Doctor Doom, and Chris Evans will reprise his role as Steve Rogers.

Robert Downey Jr. is not the only notable return for the Avengers franchise in the upcoming film set for release in December 2026. He will portray Doctor Doom after making a surprise appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) during a mid-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The excitement escalated with the recent teaser released in December 2025, which confirmed Chris Evans will also return as Steve Rogers.

Originally dubbed Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the fifth installment in the Avengers series has shifted direction since its announcement at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2022. Initially, it was slated to feature Kang the Conqueror, portrayed by Jonathan Majors. However, following Majors’ conviction on assault charges in December 2023, Marvel had to revise the script.

New insights into the film were revealed during the San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, including its updated title and the primary antagonist. In a highlight of the Marvel presentation, it was confirmed that Downey Jr. would return to the MCU not as Iron Man but as the villainous Doctor Doom.

### Villain Details: Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr. at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2024 Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

In a departure from the Infinity Saga, which focused on Thanos as the principal antagonist, the Multiverse Saga will introduce Doctor Doom as the central villain in Avengers: Doomsday. This character will be played by Downey Jr., who previously portrayed Iron Man and made the ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame.

The revelation came during the July 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, where Downey Jr. made a dramatic entrance on stage. “New mask, same task,” he remarked, unveiling Doctor Doom’s iconic silver mask. “What did I tell ya? I like playing complicated characters.”

Questions have arisen regarding how Downey Jr. will portray both Iron Man and Doctor Doom. The MCU has hinted at a convergence of parallel universes in Avengers 5 and 6, leading fans to speculate that Downey Jr. will be playing an alternate universe version of Stark, thus becoming Doctor Doom.

### Cast Highlights

Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Pedro Pascal, and Vanessa Kirby at Comic-Con.

Amy Sussman/WireImage

In addition to Downey Jr. as the antagonist, Comic-Con attendees learned that both the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts will feature in Avengers 5 and 6.

The cast of the Fantastic Four includes:
– Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic
– Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman
– Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch
– Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing

From the Thunderbolts, the ensemble will feature:
– Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes
– Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
– David Harbour as Red Guardian
– Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent
– Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster
– Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost
– Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
– Lewis Pullman as Bob

In March 2025, additional cast members were revealed during a Marvel livestream, including returning favorites such as Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, and Paul Rudd. Notably, the X-Men are also expected to make an appearance, with actors like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen returning to their roles.

### Plot and Release Date
Although an official plot for Avengers: Doomsday has yet to be disclosed, comic book insights suggest an intriguing premise. A notable comic titled Ultimate Comics: Doomsday, released in 2011, features the Fantastic Four teaming up with various Marvel heroes to thwart a formidable villain. The storyline suggests the antagonist may be a familiar hero who has turned rogue, paralleling Downey Jr.’s anticipated role.

Currently, Marvel has not issued a full trailer for the film, however, a teaser was shown in December 2025, ahead of the premiere of Avatar: Fire and Ash. This teaser features Evans reprising his role as Steve Rogers.

Avengers: Doomsday will officially debut in theaters on December 18, 2026, as part of the MCU’s Phase 6. The date was postponed from its initial May 1, 2026 release due to a scheduling conflict.

Interestingly, Avengers: Doomsday is just the beginning. It will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for release in December 2027, with much of the same creative talent involved, including the Russo brothers as directors and Stephen McFeely as screenwriter. The continuity of characters promises excitement for fans, including Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom alongside stars from both The Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts.