LOS ANGELES — Marvel Studios stunned fans this week with the star-studded cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, proving the superhero genre still commands enormous interest despite recent box office struggles.
The unconventional reveal — a five-hour livestream showing chairs with actors’ names — drew over 10 million viewers at its peak, surpassing viewership for this year’s Oscars Best Picture winner. The film will feature 27 actors, including Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom and original X-Men stars Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.
Key Details:
- The project underwent major changes after Jonathan Majors (originally cast as villain Kang) was fired following assault convictions
- Downey Jr.’s return marks a dramatic reversal after his character’s 2019 farewell in Endgame
- The massive cast raises questions about balancing screen time for so many characters
Industry analysts note Marvel’s increasing reliance on nostalgia, following the $1.4 billion success of last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine. While some critics call the approach creatively bankrupt, the overwhelming response to the cast announcement suggests audiences remain invested.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters May 2025, with Marvel betting its mix of legacy stars and new faces can revive the franchise after several recent underperformers.
