Doomsday’ Finally Gets Major Production Update

Doomsday is coming (no, not the MF DOOM song), as the upcoming Avengers movie, appropriately titled Avengers: Doomsday, finally has a production start date after months and months of anticipation. Marvel Studios are pulling out all the stops with their next big team-up movie, reportedly gathering over 60 MCU heroes to take on the film’s biggest draw, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. Downey Jr.’s casting was unveiled at SDCC 2024, and shocked the entire world — including his past MCU cast mates.

Thanks to a new report from TheWrap, Marvel fans just got a massive update about the status of Avengers: Doomsday. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo are set to begin principal photography on the film this March, with the shoot beginning in England. Luckily, we already know when Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters, as Marvel Studios were kind enough to reveal the release dates for both Doomsday and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. Doomsday releases in theaters on May 1, 2026, with Secret Wars just over 12 months later on May 7, 2027.

Details about Avengers: Doomsday are being drip fed to fans, with the new production update being the most substantial update the film has received in recent months. Doomsday‘s cast is still being finalized, with some actors commenting (and correcting themselves) about appearing in the movie. Both Benedict Cumberbatch and Chris Evans denied starring in Avengers: Doomsday…although, Cumberbatch has since retracted his comment, all but confirming Doctor Strange’s appearance in the film.

Who Is Returning for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’?

Avengers: Doomsday‘s plot is still being held tightly under wraps and likely won’t be revealed until well into the movie’s production. Fans online are fiercely debating which comic books the new film may take inspiration from. The 1987 run, Emperor Doom, and parts of the Secret Wars comic book event are expected to be major influences on Avengers: Doomsday, with the latter being directly adapted for Avengers: Secret Wars.

The current cast list for Avengers: Doomsday is incredibly inconclusive, as Marvel Studios will likely keep the full list a locked secret until the first trailer is revealed sometime in late 2025/early 2026. That being said, some actors have already confirmed their roles in the new team-up. Alongside the previously mentioned Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr., another character from the MCU’s past will make a surprise return in Doomsday. Last December, it was confirmed that Hayley Atwell will make an unexpected MCU comeback as Agent Peggy Carter in Doomsday.

Some other popular faces from the MCU have already been confirmed for the movie. Tom Holland will play Spider-Man in Doomsday, before swinging off for another solo outing in Spider-Man 4. Additionally, Anthony Mackie will reprise the role of Captain America in Doomsday, following the soon-to-be-released Captain America: Brave New World (on Feb. 14, 2025). If that wasn’t enough, Marvel’s first family will also play a big role in Doomsday. The Fantastic Four will first debut in their own solo movie, Fantastic Four: First Steps, before joining the Avengers for Doomsday.