Recent speculation suggests that Doctor Doom might bring together a formidable team of supervillains in Avengers: Doomsday, and we want these powerful antagonists to join him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. was announced to be returning to the MCU back in 2024, but not as Tony Stark’s Iron Man. Instead of bringing one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes back to life, The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ mid-credits scene saw Downey make his first uncredited appearance as Victor Von Doom, the legendary Marvel supervillain and Latverian ruler known as Doctor Doom.
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Doctor Doom is expected to be central to the events of 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Since these movies will be inspired by Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars crossovers from 1984 and 2015, Doctor Doom has been rumored to be establishing himself as the God Emperor of Battleworld in the MCU’s Phase 6. He might not be working alone, however, if recent speculation is to be believed, as some theorize Doctor Doom will be forming a team of notable supervillains, perhaps comprising these iconic antagonists.
7) King Thanos
In the years since Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Josh Brolin has repeatedly teased his return as the Mad Titan, Thanos, and expressed his openness about reprising the role. This makes it possible for a version of Thanos to join Doctor Doom in Doomsday, which presents the perfect opportunity for King Thanos to make his MCU debut. In Marvel Comics, Thanos became king of nothing when the universe’s heroes grew old and weak and he eradicated life, but King Thanos from the Avengers Campus theme ride, Avengers: Infinity Defense, is even more threatening.
This variant of Thanos won the Battle of Earth in Endgame and defeated the Avengers. King Thanos would be the perfect ally to Doctor Doom in Doomsday, given his hatred for the Avengers, and desire for more power. Thanos also plays a key role as a member of the Cabal in 2015’s Secret Wars event in Marvel Comics, so this would put a fun twist on Josh Brolin’s return to the MCU.
6) Steve Rogers’ Captain HYDRA
Ever since he left the MCU in Endgame, and especially after his return as the Human Torch in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, Chris Evans has long been rumored to be coming back. While it’s possible he could return as his original Captain America version of Steve Rogers, there is also speculation of Evans portraying a dark Rogers from another reality, perhaps the HYDRA-indoctrinated variant from Marvel Comics’ 2017 Secret Empire event. Captain HYDRA would be a fantastic asset to Doctor Doom’s team, and this would be a fantastic way to bring these original Avengers actors back together after seven years.
5) Bruce Banner’s Maestro
For a number of years now, there have been complaints that the Hulk has been nerfed in the MCU, and this does seem to have been the case. One of the perfect ways to bring back the savage Hulk could be to introduce Maestro as an ally of Avengers: Doomsday’s Doctor Doom. In Marvel Comics, Maestro is the Hulk from a distant, nuclear war-ravaged future timeline, making him hardened, twisted, and corrupt. Portraying a villainous version of the Hulk would give Mark Ruffalo new layers and personality traits to play for Bruce Banner in Doomsday.
4) Reed Richards’ Maker
After Pedro Pascal made his MCU debut as Reed Richards from Earth 828 in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there are hopes that even more Mister Fantastic variants will be seen in the MCU’s future. This could include the villainous iteration of Richards from the Ultimate Marvel universe of Earth 1610 in Marvel Comics, the Maker. This Reed Richards became twisted and manipulative after suffering a series of traumas, and he plays a key role in 2015’s Secret Wars crossover, so would fit perfectly into Doomsday and Secret Wars’ storylines. Miles Teller’s Reed Richards from 2015’s Fantastic Four was inspired by the Maker, so this could offer him some redemption.
3) Mephisto
After years of speculation and rumors, Mephisto finally made his MCU debut in 2025’s Ironheart, played expertly by Sacha Baron Cohen. This brief appearance left us wanting more, and the possible debut of Avengers: Doomsday’s supervillain team presents the perfect opportunity for Mephisto to return. Mephisto is the demonic ruler of Hell in Marvel Comics, and a being of incredible power in the MCU, so it would be fantastic to see him developed further alongside other notable villains. It’s currently unclear when Cohen will reprise the role in the MCU’s future, but we hope it’s as soon as next year.
2) Ultron
James Spader has been confirmed to be reprising the role of Ultron in 2026’s Vision Quest series, which could set up his subsequent return in Avengers: Doomsday, too. Spader first voiced the tyrannical artificial intelligence in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the character has since been voiced by Ross Marquand, but Spader’s return could make Ultron a central antagonist in the MCU again. Ultron’s power and command over mechanical drones makes him one of Marvel’s most unstoppable and unmatched villains, so he could pose a huge threat to the MCU’s heroes in Phase 6.
1) Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch
The MCU’s Multiverse Saga pushed Wanda Maximoff to her limits, and eventually over the edge, corrupting her with the Darkhold to become a twisted and villainous Scarlet Witch. Elizabeth Olsen’s long-running and beloved MCU character died at the end of 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but there have been some major teases of her returning, and it would make sense for this to be alongside Doctor Doom. An amnesiac Wanda Maximoff becomes Victor Von Doom’s wife in Marvel Comics, so this could be seen in the MCU, and this would be a brilliant way to establish Doom as a terrifying villain from the get-go.
Which Marvel villains do you want to see on Doctor Doom’s team in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!
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