As we move deeper into 2026, the Marvel landscape is undergoing its most radical transformation since the “Blip.” While the excitement for Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom is high, the sudden departure of several MCU veterans has left fans wondering who is actually left to stand against him.
Here is the breakdown of those stepping away, the truth about the Kang rumors, and the iconic clash we’ve all been waiting for.
The Great Exodus: Who is Leaving the MCU?
Recent reports from early 2026 indicate a massive “ensemble trim” for Avengers: Doomsday. While some exits are narrative-driven, others mark the end of decade-long contracts:
- The Original Guard: Mark Ruffalo recently hinted that his Bruce Banner/Hulk won’t be appearing in Doomsday, though he remains optimistic about a return in 2027’s Secret Wars.
- The Guardians: Following Vol. 3, the original team has largely scattered. Aside from Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord (who is confirmed to return), names like Dave Bautista (Drax) and Zoe Saldaña (Gamora) have effectively retired their characters.
- The Sorcerers: There is growing concern over Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. Despite being the Multiverse expert, recent cast listings for Doomsday have conspicuously left him out, leading to theories that he may be “multiversally sidelined” until the very end.
- The Street-Level Heroes: Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) and Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) are currently in “limbo,” with no confirmed dates for their return to the main Avengers roster.
The Iconic Battle: Doom vs. Kang
The elephant in the room is Jonathan Majors. After his firing in late 2023, Marvel officially pivoted from The Kang Dynasty to Doomsday. However, the “Council of Kangs” was a massive plot thread to simply drop.
Will we see Kang the Conqueror on screen?
- The “Red Skull” Cameo: A recurring theory in the fandom—and one echoed by recent Reddit leaks—suggests that Doomsday will open with an “Infinity War-style” slaughter. Instead of Thanos killing Loki, we may see Doctor Doom wiping out the Council of Kangs in a single move.
- The Jonathan Majors Factor: While Majors is currently filming independent projects and has expressed a desire to return, Disney has not officially rehired him. Rumors suggest that if Kang appears, it may be a brief, silent cameo of a defeated variant to establish Doom as the superior threat, or the role could be briefly recast for a “death scene.”
- The Battle: If we do get a clash, it won’t be a fair fight. The narrative goal is to show that Doom’s mastery of both science and magic makes Kang’s time-tech look like a toy.
The Tom Holland “Silent” Performance
With Tom Holland currently away from his “Spidey” duties to focus on his upcoming stage work and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, he is entertaining fans through theatre of the mind.
By remaining silent, he’s building the tension for the inevitable moment Peter Parker sees Victor von Doom’s face. Marvel is banking on the “Trauma Hype”—the less we see of Peter now, the more impactful his breakdown will be when he sees his mentor’s face on his greatest enemy.
