There are many, many reasons that Avengers: Doomsday is the most anticipated movie of 2026. It's a large-scale movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a start, and one that will kick off the final chapter in the Multiverse Saga (paving the way for Avengers: Secret Wars to wrap it up). It will also feature a multitude of cameo appearances from across the Marvel multiverse and see some of our favorite characters go up against MCU legend Robert Downey Jr. as he brings Doctor Doom to life.
But another primary reason for the excitement is the fact that it will bring the Avengers back together. It's been years since the most famous team of superheroes have assembled on-screen, and the possibility of seeing some newer Marvel heroes join the fray just makes it all the more exciting, making up the fact that some of the originals won't be on the team this time around.
Now, as filming for Avengers: Doomsday kicks off, we have our first look at the cast assembled - and it's a thing of beauty.
Avengers: Doomsday cast unites for the first time to see Thunderbolts*
The cast of Avengers: Doomsday united on camera for the first time in honor of the release of Marvel's Thunderbolts* for a series of photos that sent the internet into complete meltdown. The first one came from Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings star Simu Liu, who took to social media to mark the occasion as they took a break from preparing for Doomsday to watch the most recent Marvel movie. Check it out below:
The photo features him alongside fellow MCU stars Winston Duke (Black Panther), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Channing Tatum (Deadpool and Wolverine), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Brave New World). It marks the first time that Liu has been spotted alongside any of these MCU stars and gives us a glimpse into what Shang-Chi's eventual crossover with his fellow Marvel heroes will look like. The same can be said for Tatum, who only played Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine last year and has yet to share the screen with any of these MCU stars.
It's also particularly monumental as it features Marvel veterans and former Avengers costars Downey, Hemsworth, Mackie, Rudd, and Duke all together again for the first time since 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Of course, we know that Downey won't be playing Iron Man this time, as he is set to portray the big bad of the Multiverse Saga in this one, Doctor Doom, but seeing him alongside his fellow MCU veterans once again just highlights the larger-than-life reunions we're about to see in the 2026 film.
Speaking of RDJ, he also took to social media to celebrate the reunion, sharing some more snapshots as he praised Thunderbolts*, which also featured The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast members Vanessa Kirby and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Downey signed the post off with "Big congrats to the NEW AVENGERS (and Bob)", referencing the Thunderbolts themselves, almost all of whom will return in Avengers: Doomsday.
The upcoming movie is set feature a large cast, with 27 names announced thus far. Downey, Hemsworth, Mackie, Tatum, Liu, and Rudd,will be joined by cast members from Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, X-Men and more, with Marvel Studios teasing even more surprises yet to be announced.
Just seeing some of the cast members of Avengers: Doomsday united, especially the cast members from the original Avengers movies, is a true sight to behold. And to think that this is just a first look is truly something else. We can't wait for the promo train to officially start, as that will no doubt send us all into a Marvel multiversal meltdown all over again.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on May 1, 2026.