Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Cast Announcement Was the Wrong Move

by

Marvel is regaining its thrilling momentum once more. Following a handful of less successful films post-blockbuster hit Avengers: Endgame, Marvel unveiled the star-studded cast for the upcoming film titled Avengers: Doomsday through an extended live broadcast. The extensive list of actors set to appear in the movie stretched the stream over five hours, owing to the multitude of familiar faces returning for the production. There were undeniably some intriguing disclosures, such as Chris Hemsworth reprising his role as Thor and Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, or the surprise that a majority of the X-Men actors from the 2000s will be back in their original roles.

Beyond its length, the livestream was lackluster for several reasons. For one, many actors who were speculated to feature in “Avengers: Doomsday” failed to make an appearance, and unfortunately, the livestream revealed some details about “Thunderbolts“. Despite my eagerness, I found myself feeling equally concerned that “Avengers: Doomsday” might be so disorganized as to jeopardize the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Presentation Spoiled ‘Thunderbolts*’ and More

It seems Marvel may have let slip some details about their upcoming movie “Thunderbolts” by accidentally revealing the cast of “Avengers: Doomsday”. This is problematic because Lewis Pullman, who was reportedly playing the antagonist in “Thunderbolts”, is also listed as a cast member in “Avengers: Doomsday”. This could suggest that Pullman’s character may not be completely vanquished in “Thunderbolts” or there might be a plot twist involving his character. “Thunderbolts”, set to release on May 2, is Marvel’s response to DC’s “The Suicide Squad”, featuring Marvel’s anti-heroes being drafted by the government to thwart a formidable threat.

In my film critique perspective, The Suicide Squad delivers a rollercoaster ride of character deaths during their mission. Some viewers speculated that certain Thunderbolts members, notably Ghost (played by Hannah John-Kamen), who had a minimal screen presence in the trailers, might not make it. Interestingly enough, it has been confirmed that she will indeed reappear in Avengers: Doomsday, along with most other Thunderbolts members. However, one notable absence from the roster is Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), whose omission could potentially hint at a surprising twist or turn of events in the upcoming film.

The Cast Is Almost Too Big

It seems that with 27 cast members announced, it appears many Marvel actors are reluctant to part ways, perhaps due to fear or attachment to their roles. Robert Downey Jr., in particular, has accepted another role within the MCU post his Oscar win. The studio’s decision to allow these actors to continue in their roles may result in some overlapping characters in Avengers: Doomsday. For example, Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) were all introduced as alternatives to Captain America. However, with Captain America (Anthony Mackie) already present, it seems unnecessary for these characters to join the Avengers team.

A significant aspect of the livestream revolved around the revelation that many actors from the X-Men films under 20th Century Fox were set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Although some, like Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, have made brief appearances, they haven’t collaborated as a team yet. It’s regrettable that the X-Men’s inaugural appearance as a collective in the MCU will transpire in an Avengers film, rather than having their own standalone movie first.

In 1963, the year when The Avengers debuted, the X-Men were also introduced, making it seem disrespectful to one of Marvel’s most prominent teams to introduce them as part of Avengers: Doomsday. It’s worth noting that the Fantastic Four and the original Avengers lineup received their own MCU movies before joining the Avengers films, so why can’t the same be said for the X-Men?

In a more contemporary and conversational style,

It’s become clear that many of the actors playing X-Men characters have grown too old to convincingly embody their youthful roles. While Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen are suitable given their characters’ advanced age, most of the X-Men in the story are meant to be young, considering they attend a school for gifted students. In the comics, Cyclops and Nightcrawler are typically depicted as being in their 20s or 30s, but James Marsden (Cyclops) is currently 51 and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) is 60. Although special effects can make them appear younger, and the movies could provide an explanation for their older ages, it’s long overdue to bring in fresh talent to breathe new life into these iconic roles. The discrepancy is particularly noticeable in Nightcrawler’s case, as Kodi Smit-McPhee has already portrayed the mutant in more recent X-Men films.

Where Are Spider-Man and Doctor Strange?

Even though Avengers: Doomsday boasts a vast array of characters, it’s surprising to note that certain actors from the initial cast announcement are conspicuously absent. For instance, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Holland were not included in the list for Doctor Strange and Spider-Man respectively. Similarly, although Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hinted at Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord reprising his role in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe project, he too is absent from the current cast lineup. This absence seems particularly puzzling given that all three actors have been integral to the last two Avengers movies and have garnered much acclaim from fans lately.

In the announcement for the upcoming Marvel projects, some characters who had previously found success in Disney+ shows were noticeably absent. For instance, Benedict Wong, who made appearances in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and several films, was not mentioned as part of the cast. Similarly, Charlie Cox’s Daredevil, who reprised his role from a Netflix series in She-Hulk, was also missing from the announcement despite rumors of his return in Daredevil: Born Again. Even though Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk made an appearance in She-Hulk, he won’t be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday, although most of his fellow Avengers cast members are set to return.

It appears that Marvel could be addressing fan feedback by omitting several key characters from their upcoming projects. Previously, it seemed Marvel was preparing these characters – She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, and Ms. Marvel – to have significant roles in the Avengers series. However, actresses like Tatiana Maslany, Brie Larson, and Iman Vellani were absent from the recent cast announcement. Some fans may have had negative reactions when these characters were introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), so it’s possible Marvel is trying to minimize any potential drama as they aim to re-attract viewers with “Avengers: Doomsday.

Read More

2025-03-28 02:02