The world is talking about Avengers: Doomsday. And why wouldn't it be? The upcoming Marvel Studios movie is shaping up to be one of the biggest movies of the decade, bringing together heroes and villains from across the multiverse to ensure that the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Multiverse Saga bows out on an incredibly strong - and unforgettable - note. After those two trailers for the movie that have been released thus far, it's safe to say that the mission is pretty close to being accomplished.
That being said, there are some fears for what Avengers: Doomsday might entail. The film, led by Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, has undergone multiple iterations to successfully transition itself out of the MCU's unexpected duller days and become a must-see spectacle. That hasn't completely quashed concerns and rumors about what might be coming from the finished product. And while there are certain elements - such as revisiting Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter's happy ever after and rushing in Victor von Doom as the Multiverse Saga's new villain - might be forgivable if the finished product is worthwhile, there is one potential plot that could do untold damage to the franchise as a whole.
Bucky Barnes is expected to be Avengers: Doomsday's big death
Rumor has it that Bucky Barnes' days are numbered. Yes, the Winter Soldier has found himself on the wrong end of a number of reports claiming that he will fall to Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday in what will undoubtedly be one of the whole MCU's most shocking moments. It's also one that nobody really wants to see.
The rumor has been quietly building traction for some time now, but it recently gathered a bit more momentum due to a new report claiming that one of the New Avengers would die in the film. Bucky is one of the team who eventually became known as the New Avengers in 2025's Thunderbolts*, along with Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, David Harbour's Red Guardian, Wyatt Russell's John Walker, Hannah John -Kamen's Ghost, and Lewis Pullman's Bob / Sentry. While almost all of those characters are likely in danger too (with the exceptions of Yelena and Bob), the reason that fans are convinced that Bucky is the likely death is down to two very specific reasons.
The main reason is the simple fact that Bucky's demise would easily carry the most weight. The character has been a part of the MCU for 15 years, with Stan first portraying the role in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. He would go on to reprise the role in the star-making 2014 sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier and its 2016 sequel Captain America: Civil War, while also starring 2018's Avengers: Infinity War and 2019's Avengers: Endgame (along with a 2018 cameo in Black Panther). He would return in 2021 Disney Plus miniseries The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, make a cameo in 2025's Captain America: Brave New World, and front the ensemble Thunderbolts* in that same year. So, yeah, Bucky is a legend and one of the longest-standing actors still in the franchise.
Taking that into account, it's easy to see why fans are concerned for him. He's one of the few OGs to still be around while also safely floating in that core group of secondary characters. He wasn't one of the original six Avengers but he was a part of their supporting cast of characters right from the beginning and he managed to outlast that era too, still being with the franchise 15 years after his debut. He's a veteran, a fan-favorite - arguably one of the Top 5 most beloved characters in the franchise's two-decade history - and the impact of his death would be felt all throughout the world.
Killing Bucky would be a mistake (but it doesn't rule out a Secret Wars comeback)
Avengers: Doomsday is a "Part 1", as it is designed to directly set up 2027's Avengers: Secret Wars. That means that two-act conclusion of the Multiverse Saga is pretty much confirmed to replicate the two-act conclusion of the Infinity Saga via Infinity War and Endgame. Yes, it means that a cliffhanger is coming, and it very likely means that some of the MCU favorites might be about to meet their end before the credits roll on Avengers: Doomsday.
Speaking of Avengers: Secret Wars, it is due to start filming soon while Stan is currently busy filming another superhero movie. The star has joined the cast of Matt Reeves' highly-anticipated sequel The Batman - Part II - where he rumored to be playing either Victor Zsasz or Two-Face - which has raised questions about whether he will be able to be involved in the next MCU film after Doomsday. Granted, the overlapping production windows to allow for some time to be involved in both films (Batman 2 is currently in production as of mid-2026 while Secret Wars is targetting a mid-late 2026 start, so there is some wiggle room) but the optics of joining the DC Universe have left fans wondering if his time as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is concluding.
There is some hope, however. If Avengers: Doomsday does conclude with a cliffhanger in which the Avengers have failed to stop Doctor Doom - which will almost certainly involve some character deaths (just as Infinity War saw Vision, Loki, and Gamora die) - that could pave the way for Avengers: Secret Wars to focus on a much smaller core cast. Those heroes would then presumably look for a way to defeat Doom and resotre the multiverse to as it was (along with some changes), eventually bringing Bucky - and the rest of the heroes - back to life.
There is just one caveat: If Bucky were to die before the multiversal shenanigans were to begin (just as Vision, Loki, Gamora, and Black Widow's deaths all existed outside of Thanos' Blip). undoing the damage that Doom caused might not be enough to bring him back. And that would make the Winter Soldier's rumored death all the more heartbreaking.
Here's hoping that this isn't the case. Bucky Barnes is one of the most beloved Marvel characters, but he's also had an extremely rough life. From losing his arm during World War II to being brainwashed into decades of killing as the Winter Soldier, he's attempted to use the years after the Blip to rebuild his life. He has struggled, getting therapy before transitioning into to a new role as a congressman, but he has found his calling once again as a senoir superhero on the New Avengers. To kill him off now - just as his best friend Steve Rogers has returned - would be incredibly cruel. And, quite frankly, Bucky deserves better than that.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.
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