No Spider-Man or Hulk in Avengers: Doomsday? Reddit theories suggest that it's all part of the plan
Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal has fans puzzled with the mysterious absence of key heroes — but it could be all part of a bigger plan
Marvel’s latest blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday, has set the internet ablaze with its wild and unexpected cast announcements, but fans are scratching their heads over some notable absences. While the MCU franchise is no stranger to curveballs, this latest casting revelation seems to have raised a few more questions than answers.
For starters, Avengers: Doomsday promises a multiverse adventure, with an amalgamation of characters from the X-Men and, allegedly, Fantastic Four joining forces with the Avengers. Sounds exciting, right? Well, things get a bit murky when you realise that Marvel has, strangely, left out a few major players from the roster. Notably absent from the cast announcement are fan favourites like Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). And don't even get started on the lack of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) or Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), who had huge success in their recent films.
The surprise omissions have sparked an outcry on social media. Fans are questioning if this could possibly be the full cast. “Definitely can’t be the full cast. No Spider-Man, no Scarlet Witch, no Hulk, no Hawkeye. Surely Marvel wouldn’t miss out on having those characters in there,” said one commenter. Another fan chimed in, “Kind of crazy that Thor is the only remaining member of the original MCU Avengers showing up.” It’s safe to say that the Avengers die-hards are feeling a bit left in the dark.
However, a popular fan theory suggests there’s a deeper reason behind the absence of these characters; users on Reddit have speculated that the lack of these characters actually is a plot device. The first clue comes from Robert Downey Jr.’s comment on the official announcement post where he says, "That’s what you call a deep bench of talent... actually it’s more like a row, but an extra long one... That must be it... right?” To which Marvel Studios responded: “There’s always room for more…”
Redditors are now speculating that the plot device could be similar to the Avengers' internal conflict in Civil War, with the movie focusing on villains and heroes fighting. Those missing characters might return in Secret Wars. “No Hawkeye means no win for heroes... they learned nothing since Thanos,” one fan commented. “I swear if history repeats itself it would be incredibly funny,” another said. Others predicted the plot could center on Doctor Strange and Spider-Man, with one user suggesting, “I think it’s better if Spider-Man got the Ant-Man and The Wasp treatment, and you saved his showdown with RDJ Doom for the Secret Wars climax.”
Some even predicted that the film could feature two separate teams in different universes trying to prevent an incursion, which would eventually lead to a battle that results in both universes dying, with characters like Doom, Reed Richards, and others escaping to Battleworld in Secret Wars. Another user echoed the idea of the old X-Men team joining the fight, which could allow Doom to kill off some heroes and establish himself as a major threat. A few also speculated that heroes like Binary and Gambit could make an appearance, with one particularly excited about the possibility of Binary showing up. The theory of a big, epic showdown in Secret Wars seems to be gaining momentum, leaving fans excited to see how Marvel is plotting these twists.
Of course, there’s always the chance that Marvel is saving these familiar faces for a future twist — the franchise is known for keeping fans on their toes, after all. Some theories suggest that these beloved heroes could make an appearance in Avengers: Secret Wars, the next chapter in the MCU that has many asking, “Will this ever end?”
