Anthony Mackie believes Avengers: Doomsday marks a return to form for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a recent interview with IGN, the actor expressed optimism about the upcoming film, which is set to be released on May 1, 2026.
“We’re supposed to go out this week, and we’ll be out there doing it,” Mackie said. “Everybody’s excited. I feel with the script and having the Russo brothers back, it’s going to be great.” He added that the movie is expected to give audiences what he called “that old Marvel feeling.”
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Doomsday reunites the filmmaking duo with Marvel Studios for the first time since Avengers: Endgame. Their involvement has drawn attention at a time when recent Marvel titles have been met with mixed reactions. The upcoming film appears designed to re-energize the franchise with a high-profile cast and characters from across Marvel’s various storylines.
The confirmed cast includes Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards. Mackie returns as Sam Wilson, following his appearance earlier this year in Captain America: Brave New World.
Robert Downey Jr., long associated with the MCU for his portrayal of Tony Stark, will appear in a different capacity this time—as the villain Victor Von Doom. The casting shift marks a notable change for the actor, who has not previously taken on an antagonistic role in the franchise.
Characters from the X-Men series will also appear in the film. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen reprise their roles as Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr. Kelsey Grammer returns as Hank McCoy, Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner, James Marsden as Scott Summers, and Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkhölme. Channing Tatum, who made his debut as Remy LeBeau in Deadpool & Wolverine, will return as Gambit.
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Other cast members include Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Lewis Pullman as Bob, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost.
The film’s storyline remains under wraps, but the scale of the cast suggests a large narrative connecting characters from different segments of the Marvel universe. Its release will follow two major entries: Thunderbolts on May 2, 2025, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025. After Doomsday, Marvel plans to release Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.
Mackie’s most recent project, Captain America: Brave New World, was released in February. The film becomes available on digital platforms starting tomorrow, with physical formats set for release on May 13.
