The recent announcement regarding the cast of Avengers: Doomsday has left fans pondering several important questions, particularly concerning the absence of Hugh Jackman from the lineup. With Marvel Studios confirming a plethora of returning heroes and villains, including four major superhero teams like Sam Wilson’s new Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, the narrative possibilities appear vast. However, the lack of Wolverine raises intriguing discussions about his potential role in the conflict against Doctor Doom and the unfolding plot of the MCU movie.
Alongside Jackman, the casting news revealed that notable characters such as Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Mark Ruffalo’s Smart Hulk, and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye would not be part of this installment. Furthermore, newer MCU characters like Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez, Tatiana Maslany’s She-Hulk, and Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight were also missing from the list. With the multiverse playing a critical role, many are surprised that significant mutant characters, relevant to the upcoming Phase 6, have not been included as well.
Avengers: Doomsday’s Ensemble: A Mix of OG X-Men Actors
Return of Key Actors from Fox’s X-Men Franchise
The casting announcement confirmed the return of several iconic actors from the Fox X-Men series. Confirmed characters include Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. Additionally, Channing Tatum’s Gambit is slated to return, previously introduced in Deadpool & Wolverine as a variant pruned from his own timeline. While some notable actors like Halle Berry and Anna Paquin were not mentioned, there remains a possibility for unexpected cameos in the upcoming film, adding further excitement to the announcement.
The Significance of Wolverine’s Absence
Jackman’s Wolverine has long been the face of the X-Men franchise, making the absence in Avengers: Doomsday particularly striking. This film marks the first live-action feature not to position Wolverine at the forefront, especially given that the new Wolverine variant saw the demise of his fellow X-Men prior to the events of Deadpool & Wolverine. With the recent introduction of Wolverine in Phase 5 of the MCU, fans anticipated a compelling interaction with new variants of the X-Men. Nevertheless, the current casting suggests a pivot away from showcasing Wolverine centrally.
Could Hugh Jackman Still Make an Appearance in Avengers: Doomsday?
The Incomplete Nature of the Avengers: Doomsday Cast
Despite the uncertainty, there is still a chance Hugh Jackman might appear in Avengers: Doomsday. Given the film’s multiverse theme, excluding Wolverine and Deadpool—who were significant in safeguarding the Sacred Timeline—feels unnatural. It’s plausible that both characters remain unaware of Doctor Doom’s actions on Earth-10005, potentially leading to their involvement once the gravity of the situation becomes clear. Similar to prior characters like Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man missing Avengers: Infinity War, it’s feasible for their roles to manifest later in the narrative.
Which Version of Wolverine Will Appear?
Hugh Jackman Might Portray a New Variant in Avengers: Doomsday
If Jackman’s Wolverine returns, he could portray the variant introduced in Deadpool & Wolverine. With Patrick Stewart’s character confirmed to make a return, and considering the numerous deaths of previous Professor X variants—like in X-Men: The Last Stand and Logan—speculation runs high that Stewart may embody yet another version of Charles Xavier. Similarly, the X-Men appearing in Avengers: Doomsday might be alternative iterations of their original cinematic counterparts, allowing for Jackman to potentially portray a completely new version of Wolverine.
In Wolverine’s original universe, all fellow X-Men are dead, as revealed in Deadpool & Wolverine. On the other hand, the X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday may still harbor their own Wolverine variant, waiting to be unveiled. The montage in Deadpool & Wolverine hints at multiple Logan versions, including variants like Patch and Old Man Logan, suggesting that any of these could feasibly make an appearance in the upcoming film.