Avengers: Doomsday set photo 'confirms' return of beloved Marvel veteran

The casting announcement of Avengers: Doomsday left us all devastated by not including a beloved Marvel hero, but it looks like he'll be back either way.
The official logo for Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday.
The official logo for Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday.

Avengers: Doomsday is not only built on 18 years of Marvel Cinematic Universe history, but also on every live-action Marvel movie made to this very date. Variants of heroes we met back in the original X-Men film 25 years ago are set to be back for one last stand against Doctor Doom and his forces. As if that wasn't enough, countless iconic characters such as the Fantastic Four, Thor, Shang-Chi, and the New Avengers will join the fight as well. But even if it will be exciting to see so many familiar faces, we'll also miss those who won't make an appearance.

While the casting announcement for Avengers: Doomsday shone the spotlight on more than 25 characters, it also left out heroes everyone assumed would be there, such as Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, Captain Marvel, Hulk, and Hawkeye. Fortunately, the president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, has assured us there are still some unannounced surprises in store. As a result, fans have spent weeks trying to guess who else is bound to make a comeback, and it seems we might finally have an answer thanks to a set photo.

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios' DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

Hugh Jackman's Wolverine stunt double is at the studio where Avengers: Doomsday is being filmed

Wolverine is not only one of the most iconic Marvel heroes ever created, but his interpretation by Hugh Jackman has gone down in history books for being nothing short of flawless. That's why it was a bit of a shocker when Marvel pulled him out of retirement for him to appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, just to leave him out of the Avengers: Doomsday casting announcement. Fortunately, it appears the iconic hero will be back regardless.

Hugh Jackman's stunt double posted a picture from Pinewood Studios, which is where Avengers: Doomsday is currently being filmed. As if that wasn't enough, Hugh Jackman himself recently posted a video lifting weights, which prompted many to assume he's training for his comeback in Earth's Mightiest Heroes' upcoming adventure.

This would all but confirm that Logan will be in the big MCU crossovers, which is what fans have been asking for years. It's important to remember that the iteration of the character we saw in Deadpool & Wolverine was indirectly a culprit behind the death of the X-Men, who are bound to appear in he movie as well (albeit as variants). It will be interesting to see the hero's reaction to meeting his old team again, especially if they end up facing each other.

Avengers: Doomsday is reported to indirectly act as an Avengers vs X-Men movie. The running theory is that the MCU is on a collision course with the universe where Mutants exist, and only one of them will make it out alive — prompting these iconic characters to face each other for the survival of their world. Furthermore, the "Fox universe" where Deadpool and Wolverine live could form a part of this three-way incursion as well, further complicating things.

Logan would need to decide between saving his new home or rectifying his past mistakes by siding with the X-Men and giving them a chance at survival. Regardless of his choice, it would make for an interesting arc that would push the beloved hero out of his comfort zone. On the bright side, not everything is grim, as if many iconic heroes face each other now, then they would need to come together for Avengers: Secret Wars in order to save the multiverse.

Wolverine's appearance in Avengers: Doomsday would all but confirm Deadpool is coming back as well. Audiences would be in for a slashing and fourth-wall-breaking adventure featuring no shortage of iconic heroes, and we wouldn't want it any other way. Now, we just need Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man to show up as well and cross paths with Logan for the perfect 2000s nostalgia combo.

Avengers: Doomsday will be released on December 18, 2026.