Think the full cast is already known for Avengers: Doomsday? Think again. Despite containing a staggering 31 announced Marvel characters, returning directors Joe and Anthony Russo have revealed that even more surprise characters are slated to appear in the upcoming team-up superhero film—including, quite possibly, the return of Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo.
Speaking in a recent interview with Empire Online, Joe Russo addressed the involvement of the original Avenger, stating, "[Bruce Banner] is certainly involved in the story that revolves around Doom. We will not confirm nor deny his appearance in Doomsday." While playful and deliberately guarded, the phrasing strongly suggests to fans that the green-skinned Goliath will indeed have a role to play in the unfolding narrative centered on the infamous villain Doctor Doom.
Adding to the mystery, Anthony Russo offered an even broader tease regarding the secretive roster. "The farthest we can go is to say, there are characters and actors who have not been announced, who are a part of Doomsday," he noted.
The directors’ approach to building such a massive cinematic puzzle is rooted in their ongoing fascination with scale. Speaking previously with The Associated Press, Anthony Russo reflected on the unprecedented nature of the project, observing that the Marvel Cinematic Universe functions as a massive, ongoing experiment in how vast a narrative scope and ensemble an enterprise can realistically sustain.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding the production, the Russo brothers confirmed that they actually commenced filming Doomsday without a fully completed script in hand. Explaining their unconventional creative process, Joe Russo described the screenplay as a living organism rather than a rigid blueprint. The filmmakers are well known for being improvisation-based and rehearsal-based directors who prefer to see what actors naturally bring to their respective characters on the set. Because casting decisions and scheduling can occasionally result in actors joining the production only a few days or weeks before their scenes are captured, Joe Russo emphasized that this collaborative environment is frequently where the cinematic magic happens.
The filmmaking duo is currently promoting the theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame, which recently pulled in another $86 million over the weekend. Originally released in 2019, Endgame grossed a historic $2.8 billion globally and has now returned to the big screen featuring four new end-credits scenes specifically designed to help set the stage for Doomsday. Joe Russo has previously stressed the importance of revisiting that milestone film, calling Endgame required viewing for audiences hoping to fully grasp and follow the intricate storyline that continues in Doomsday.
The sheer magnitude of the project is reflected in the extensive roster of talent already confirmed by the studio. The lineup of MCU veterans includes Chris Evans returning as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Captain America, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man/Scott Lang, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, and Danny Ramirez as Falcon/Joaquin Torres.
The ensemble is further expanded by the official introduction of Marvel’s First Family, The Fantastic Four, featuring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Audiences will also see characters from the Thunderbolts and the emerging New Avengers roster, including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian/Alexei Shostakov, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent/John Walker, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost/Ava Starr, and Lewis Pullman as Sentry/Bob Reynolds.
In addition to the modern MCU and new arrivals, the film bridges generations by bringing back major figures from 20th Century Fox’s historic X-Men era. The mutant lineup features Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto/Erik Lehnsherr, James Marsden as Cyclops/Scott Summers, Kelsey Grammer as Beast/Hank McCoy, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique/Raven, and Channing Tatum as Gambit/Remy LeBeau.
Rounding out the confirmed principal cast are Robert Downey Jr. in his highly anticipated return to the franchise as Doctor Doom/Victor von Doom, alongside Kathryn Newton as Cassie Lang, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, and Mabel Cadena as Namora.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to open in theaters on December 18.