Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026, bringing a massive cast of returning and new heroes together for a pivotal cinematic event. While classic X-Men stars from Fox’s film series are slated to reprise their roles, previous iterations of the Fantastic Four will not anchor the upcoming film.
Why Classic Fantastic Four Stars Won’t Lead Avengers: Doomsday
Longtime fans hoping to see Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, or Michael Chiklis reprise their mid-2000s roles in a major capacity face a different reality. Marvel Studios officially introduced its new First Family in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, featuring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Although these characters originate on a separate earth, they become canon to the main MCU timeline as events in Avengers: Doomsday bring them to Earth-616. Consequently, original 2005 cast members will not headline the film. While Chris Evans appears in the movie, he returns as Steve Rogers rather than Johnny Storm, and Ioan Gruffudd confirmed he is not appearing in the project.
Comparing the X-Men and Fantastic Four Returns
The handling of the Fantastic Four contrasts sharply with how Marvel treats the legacy X-Men cast. Because Marvel Studios has not yet introduced its new cinematic X-Men team—despite announcing cast members for an upcoming reboot—space remains open for original actors to return. Previous films have already featured variants of Sir Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
Did you know? While classic Fantastic Four actors like Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd have expressed interest in returning “in a heartbeat” or jumping at the chance, any potential legacy appearances would likely wait until Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.
Marvel Comics Expands Wolverine Stories Ahead of MCU Return
While fans anticipate Hugh Jackman’s cinematic return, Marvel Comics is taking the character in a different direction on the page. In The Uncanny X-Men No. 38 by Gail Simone and Juan Frigeri, scheduled for a November release, Wolverine faces four damaged mutant clones equipped with adamantium claws and Weapon X experimentation gear. These clones serve as brutal knockoffs designed to challenge Logan. Despite these comic book storylines, Jackman remains tied to the role in the live-action sphere, much like Robert Downey Jr. and Iron Man, following his 2024 appearance in Deadpool and Wolverine.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Avengers: Doomsday release in theaters?
Marvel Studios releases Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026.
Will the 2005 Fantastic Four cast appear in the new Avengers movie?
No major roles are set for the 2005 cast, as Marvel Studios is utilizing its newly introduced Fantastic Four team from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Are the 2015 Fantastic Four characters returning?
When does Avengers: Secret Wars premiere?
Avengers: Secret Wars arrives in theaters on December 17, 2027.
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