The road to Avengers: Doomsday has been paved with silence, secrecy, and rampant speculation. Since Robert Downey Jr. was unveiled as Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con, the Marvel Cinematic Universe faithful have been desperate to know exactly who will stand against him. With the original six Avengers either retired, dead, or off-world, the question of who constitutes "Earth's Mightiest Heroes" in the Multiverse Saga has remained unanswered. That is, until now.
Following the events of Captain America: Brave New World, where Harrison Ford's President Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross tasks Sam Wilson with reassembling the Avengers, fans expected a slow trickle of information. However, a recent Disney content showcase in Italy has seemingly blown the doors off the roster. Sam Wilson is not just leading a team of rookies; he is commanding gods, kings, and multiverse protectors.
Yet, while the names revealed are exciting, the context in which they were presented suggests that this might not be the traditional Avengers lineup audiences are used to. With distinct factions forming across the MCU, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be less of a team-up movie and more of a war between different ideological groups.
The "Heroic Avengers" Roster Breakdown
According to reports from the Disney APAC and Italy presentations, the studio displayed a specific grouping of characters labeled "The Heroic Avengers." Leading the charge, naturally, is Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) as Captain America, flanked by his new partner, The Falcon (Joaquin Torres). This establishes a clear continuity from the Captain America solo franchise directly into the Avengers films, grounding the team in a military-adjacent, tactical dynamic.
However, the heavy hitters joining them are what make this list fascinating. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is officially back, marking his first reunion with the Avengers brand since Endgame. As the only founding member on this specific list, his presence adds a necessary layer of legitimacy and raw power to Sam's squad. Joining him is Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), a veteran who has technically spent more time fighting Kang variants (the previous threat) than anyone else.
Perhaps the most satisfying inclusion is Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). Fans have been vocal about the character's absence since his 2021 debut. His inclusion here confirms that the master of the Ten Rings will finally step up to the big leagues, providing the team with a mystical edge that complements Thor's cosmic strength.
The Loki Conundrum: God Of Stories Or Variant?
The most shocking name on the list is undoubtedly Loki (Tom Hiddleston). When we last saw the God of Mischief in the Loki Season 2 finale, he had sacrificed his freedom to become the living loom of the multiverse, holding the timelines together at the End of Time. He is currently, for all intents and purposes, the most powerful entity in the MCU, arguably surpassing even the Infinity Stones.
If Loki is on the main Avengers team, does that mean the multiverse is collapsing, or is this a variant who doesn't know he's supposed to be holding the timeline together?
Loki’s placement on a field team with Captain America raises massive narrative questions. If this is the "God of Stories" Loki, his presence implies a threat level so catastrophic that he must abandon his post at Yggdrasil to intervene personally. Alternatively, this could be a different variant of Loki entirely, allowing Tom Hiddleston to interact with Thor without undoing the poignant ending of his solo series. Regardless, a reunion between the Brothers of Asgard is now all but guaranteed, a moment that will likely serve as the emotional anchor of the film.
The Glaring Omissions And Gender Disparity
While the revealed roster is stacked with power, it is impossible to ignore the demographic makeup of the team presented at the event. The list—Captain America, Falcon, Thor, Loki, Shang-Chi, and Ant-Man—is entirely male. This is a stark departure from the MCU's recent push for diversity and the famous "A-Force" tease in Endgame.
Where is Captain Marvel (Brie Larson)? Where are She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, or Yelena Belova? Their absence from the "Heroic Avengers" slide has led to confusion. It is highly unlikely that Marvel Studios would release a flagship Avengers film in 2026 without a single female hero on the primary roster.
This discrepancy supports the theory that the Disney presentation was not a definitive cast list, but rather a marketing simplification. It is possible that characters like Captain Marvel are operating in space and will have their own introduction, or that the female heroes are being grouped into a different narrative thread that wasn't highlighted at this specific event.
Why The Roster Groupings Matter More Than The Names
The most insightful takeaway from the Disney event isn't just who is on the Avengers team, but who isn't. The presentation reportedly grouped characters into distinct factions: The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, The Thunderbolts, and The Wakandans. This categorization suggests that Avengers: Doomsday will not follow the traditional format of "everyone gets in the Quinjet together."
Instead, the film appears to be structuring itself around these factions coming together—or perhaps clashing—before uniting against Doctor Doom. If the Thunderbolts (anti-heroes) and the Wakandans (a sovereign nation) are treated as separate entities from the Avengers, the political landscape of the film becomes much more complex.
This implies that "The Avengers" is no longer a catch-all term for Marvel heroes. It is now a specific political entity, sanctioned by the US government and led by Sam Wilson. This leaves the Fantastic Four to handle the cosmic/multiversal science, the X-Men to deal with the mutant implications, and the Thunderbolts to handle the dirty work. This faction-based storytelling allows for a cleaner narrative in a movie that features dozens of characters.
Sam Wilson's Leadership Test
The dynamic of this specific "Heroic Avengers" team places an immense amount of pressure on Sam Wilson. In the comics and previous films, Steve Rogers commanded respect through his history and his super-soldier status. Sam Wilson is a human man with wings and a shield, now tasked with giving orders to a God of Thunder and a Multiversal Deity.
This setup is ripe for dramatic tension. How does Sam Wilson tell Thor what to do? How does he manage the ego of a character like Ant-Man, who has written a memoir about saving the world? The friction between Sam's grounded, tactical military approach and the cosmic scale of his teammates will likely be a central conflict in the film's first act.
Sam trying to wrangle Loki and Thor is going to be the comedy gold of Phase 6. He's used to Bucky, not Norse mythology.
Furthermore, leading this team against Doctor Doom—a villain defined by his intellect and arrogance—will test Sam's belief that he can lead without superpowers. If he can unite this disparately powered group, he will have undeniably earned the mantle of Captain America.
The Catch: Marketing Simplification Vs. Narrative Reality
It is crucial to approach this "leak" with a degree of skepticism regarding its completeness. Disney's events are designed for investors and international partners; they often use shorthand to convey excitement rather than nuanced storytelling details. Lumping the "leftover" main characters under the Avengers banner while separating the clear-cut IP groups (F4, X-Men) is a logical marketing move.
The "Heroic Avengers" label might simply be the internal designation for "General MCU Heroes" who don't fit into the other specific buckets. This would explain the inclusion of Loki (who doesn't fit the Thunderbolts or X-Men) and the exclusion of Shuri (who fits neatly into the Wakandan bucket).
Therefore, fans should not panic about the lack of unexpected characters or the seemingly random assortment of heroes. The actual film will likely see these lines blur. Shuri will almost certainly fight alongside Sam Wilson, and the Fantastic Four will eventually share the screen with Thor. This list is a starting point, a glimpse into the core dynamic Sam Wilson will have to manage, but it is far from the final roll call for the war against Doom.
As we inch closer to 2026, expect the lines between these factions to dissolve. With the Multiverse collapsing and Battleworld looming, labels like "Avenger" or "Thunderbolt" will matter far less than who is left standing to protect what remains of the 616 universe.
