Marvel just released the cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, and as much as there’s hype for the return of Thor, Loki, the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and even a multiverse X-Men reunion, fans are also abuzz with just as much speculation about who isn’t on the list. The official unveiling, which dropped during a viral livestream, featured 27 names—yet some of the MCU’s largest players aren’t included. That’s caused wild speculation, multiverse discussions, and more than a few frustrated fans. Let’s take a look at the ten most shocking hero absences from Doomsday—and why each one’s got the fandom buzzing.
10. Monica Rambeau (Photon)
After stealing the scenes in The Marvels, Monica was an integral part of the cosmic branch of the MCU—particularly after closing a multiversal tear with her bare hands. The last we saw of her, she was trapped in an alternate universe, being examined by Kelsey Grammer’s Beast. So… why isn’t she in Doomsday, particularly when the X-Men are? Her no-show is puzzling, reports CBR. With multiverse-and-cosmic-energy-based powers, Monica appeared to be bound for greater things. Perhaps Marvel is keeping her in reserve for a Secret Wars splash.
9. She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters)
Jennifer Walters exploded onto the scene with green fury, quick sassing, and an odd knack for breaking the fourth wall. Fans were primed to see her bring some brawn (and meta-comedy) to the big screen. But she’s not on the roster. As Screen Rant notes, we’ve only scratched the surface of her potential, and a She-Hulk team-up with the larger MCU would’ve been a major moment. Could Marvel be saving her for something more grounded—or just avoiding an overcrowded cast?
8. Hawkeye (Clint Barton & Kate Bishop)
For the first time, we’ve got an Avengers lineup with zero Hawkeyes. Both Kate and Clint are absent from the action. Historically, Hawkeye has added a grounded, tactical vibe to the team—something that’s now absent. As CBR mentions, their absence creates a void in the emotional center of the group. In addition, fans were looking forward to watching Kate Bishop shine in her spotlight. No trick arrows, no deadpan humor, no Barton advice—it’s a glaring omission.
7. Deadpool & Wolverine
After the buzz around Deadpool & Wolverine, most fans figured these two were a lock for Doomsday. So seeing them left off the list has raised some eyebrows—especially with other Fox-era X-Men confirmed. USA Today calls their exclusion surprising, especially with how much fans love this chaotic duo. Odds are they’re being saved for a mid-movie cameo or post-credits scene. However, it’s odd to omit two actors who simply carried one of Marvel’s largest films.
6. Vision (White Vision)
White Vision disappeared at WandaVision’s conclusion, and fans were left with more questions than answers. His philosophical development and enhanced form seemed like a setup for something greater, but nada? With Doctor Doom on the scene, Vision would have been an excellent intellectual counterpoint. CBR proposes Marvel is waiting for a more spectacular reveal—but omission from Doomsday seems like wasted potential for a character with significant narrative drive.
5. Hulk (Bruce Banner)
No Hulk? No smashing? That’s a tough pill to swallow. Bruce Banner helped launch the MCU’s powerhouse lineup, and after recent teases involving his son Skaar, fans assumed he’d be front and center. Screen Rant even notes that Ruffalo’s Hulk is “available” for the mission. Plus, comic readers know Doom and Maestro (an evil Hulk variant) have deep ties. Leaving him behind now could be a sign that Marvel has Maestro plans for Secret Wars—but fans certainly hoped for more green rage this time through.
4. Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers)
Carol Danvers is one of the strongest MCU characters, so benching her from Doomsday is unexpected. Following The Marvels, fans wanted to see her come back stronger. But again, she’s benched. CinemaBlend speculates the story could be divided across timelines or dimensions, so Carol could get to shine in another arc. Nonetheless, her absence hurts—particularly with all those cosmic and multiverse threads woven into the mix.
3. Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff)
Come on—nobody believes Wanda’s dead for good. Despite her apparent death in Multiverse of Madness, her children are appearing in Agatha All Along, and fans have been expecting her inevitable return. CBR and others point out Olsen has stated she’s not involved in Doomsday or Secret Wars, but come on—it’s the multiverse. Her power level is too enormous to be left out of the loop for long, and fans continue to pray for a late-game reveal.
2. Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange)
No one has carried more multiversal heavy lifting than Doctor Strange, so his lack of appearance in Doomsday is truly confounding. He brought about incursions, fought alternate universes, and even got stuck with Clea in the Dark Dimension. As CBR puts it, not having him feel like using your starting quarterback. Cumberbatch has remained tight-lipped about appearing—but this also seems more like a ruse than an exclusion. Nevertheless, it feels strange to witness the multiverse play out without its chief wizard.
1. Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Tom Holland’s Spidey is the MCU’s face, particularly after No Way Home’s multiversal mess. So fans were shocked to hear he’s not included on the Doomsday cast roster—particularly with Spider-Man: Brand New Day opening in theaters only two months from now. According to USA Today, Sony’s rights to the character could be the explanation for his exclusion, but it’s still a letdown. Fans were waiting for that Peter vs. Doom moment, particularly with Robert Downey Jr. as the bad guy. The similarities to the classic Tony-Peter dynamic were there—and now they’re not.
Marvel has a few tricks up its sleeve, and with Secret Wars just around the corner, there’s still time for these missing heroes to return to battle. But for the moment, Avengers: Doomsday is causing waves not only for who’s appearing, but for who isn’t.