10 MCU Actors We Desperately Want to Return in Phase 6 After Avengers: Doomsday Castings by Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans

Now that Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans have been confirmed for the cast Avengers: Judgment Daythere are many other brilliant actors we would love to see return to the MCU as well. and Chris Evans were the faces of the MCU throughout the Infinity Saga as Tony Stark's Iron Man and Steve Rogers' Captain America, respectively. Five years after leaving the MCU in 2019 Avengers: Endgameboth have already been confirmed to return, which creates the opportunity for even more missing MCU stars to join them.

Instead of returning as Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. is expected to debut as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Judgment Daywhich means it's possible that Chris Evans will also play a new character instead of Captain America. The freedom that the Multiverse Saga offers could allow many more veteran MCU actors to reprise their old roles or bring new heroes and villains to life in Phase 6.. This could give some wasted MCU stars a second chance, while also bringing back some fan favorites from Marvel Studios' rich history.

10

Cobie Smulders

Cobie Smulders was last seen in the MCU in Secret Invasion (2023)

Cobie Smulders made her MCU debut as high-ranking SHIELD agent Maria Hill in 2012. The Avengersbut it was never used by Marvel Studios as much as it could have been. Smulders has made appearances in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Spider-Man: Far From Homeamong others, before meeting his shocking death in the 2023 premiere episode Secret Invasion. Maria Hill's death in one of the MCU's lowest-rated projects was incredibly controversial, and many would prefer this to be reversed, which could bring Cobie Smulders back to the MCU.

It would be great if Cobie Smulders appeared as a variant of Maria Hill in Avengers: Judgment Day or Secret Warsperhaps a more comical version of the character, who could even be the director of SHIELD in her universe. Maria Hill was at the center of some of Marvel Comics' biggest stories, so she deserved a lot more attention in the live-action MCUespecially considering Cobie Smulders' brilliant performance. Cobie Smulders' return would be the perfect redemption after Maria Hill's unexpected and unnecessary death in Secret Invasion.

9

Idris Elba

Idris Elba was last seen in the MCU in Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

Despite undue controversy over his casting as Heimdall, Idris Elba truly took on the iconic Asgardian role, but just like Maria Hill, Heimdall also met his untimely demise in the MCU. The opening of Avengers: Infinity War saw Thanos prove his strength by killing Heimdall and Loki in quick succession, but thankfully both have since returned. Idris Elba reprized the role in the 2022 post-credits scene Thor: Love and Thunderas Heimdall welcomed Jane Foster to Valhalla, and this could be an excellent starting point for her return in Phase 6.

Earth's Mightiest Heroes may need all the help they can get in their battle against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. it is possible that Thor will enter Valhalla and recruit several deceased Asgardian heroes. This could officially bring Heimdall back to the MCU, giving Marvel more opportunities to explore the character's incredible gifts and develop his relationship with his son, Axl, who hasn't been seen or mentioned before. Thor: Love and Thunder. Idris Elba has massive star power, so it would be great to see him return Avengers: Judgment Day or Secret Wars.

8

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow was last seen in the MCU in Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Since Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, it would make sense for Gwyneth Paltrow to return as well. Paltrow played Pepper Potts, Tony Stark's love interest, between 2008 Iron Man and 2019 Avengers: Endgameand the latter even saw her don her own Iron Man-style armor as Rescue. Downey Jr. will play the villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Judgment Daythen It would be interesting to see how Pepper Potts reacts to a villain who looks like her late husband and father of her child..

It's also possible that Gwyneth Paltrow will be recast in the MCU in a similar way to Robert Downey Jr., perhaps even as a love interest for Victor Von Doom. Perhaps Doom's most notable love interest in Marvel Comics was Valeria, his childhood sweetheart in Latveria.so this could be a great potential role for Gwyneth Paltrow in Avengers: Judgment Day. In recent years, Paltrow has been the subject of some controversy, so she could use a return to the MCU to rebuild her good reputation.

7

Clark Gregg

Clark Gregg was last seen in the MCU in Captain Marvel (2019)

Throughout Phase 1 of the MCU, Clark Gregg's S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson helped Nick Fury find and recruit superhero candidates for the Avengers team, and he quickly became a fan-favorite character. This made his tragic death in The Avengers even more moving and as he was resurrected in the alternate timeline of Agents of SHIELD series, Phil Coulson has remained dead in the MCU since Phase 1. Clark Gregg reprized the role on the 1995 set Captain Marvelbut it would be great to see Phil Coulson return in the current MCU continuity.

Since Phil Coulson was a key part of the original Avengers lineup in Phase 1, it would be great to see him reunite with some of the original team in Avengers: Judgment Day and Secret Wars. This could, of course, see Clark Gregg portraying a variant of Coulson, perhaps even Coulson's version of the character. Agents of SHIELDwhich could provide a definitive answer to the canonical status of the Marvel television series. Clark Gregg continues to have a relationship with Marvel and will be heard next in And if…? season three, so his return to live action is very likely.

6

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was last seen in the MCU in Thor: Love & Thunder (2022)

Natalie Portman's Jane Foster has been Thor's main love interest throughout his entire MCU career, despite only appearing in three MCU films. Natalie Portman is one of the most recognized and talented actresses of her generation, so It would be a shame for her not to be included in the upcoming MCU crossover events, especially after she finally became a superhero in her own right in Thor: Love and Thunder. Wielding Mjolnir, Foster became the Mighty Thor, but tragically lost his life in Thor: Love and Thunder despite his new abilities.

If Chris Hemsworth's Thor enters Valhalla to recruit warriors, including Heimdall, to battle Doctor Doom, Marvel will have the perfect opportunity to bring back Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. Since she fought as the Asgardian hero, the Mighty Thor, in Thor: Love and ThunderFoster was welcomed into Valhalla after his deathwhich perfectly reflected his history in Marvel Comics. Her resurrection is the best next step, and Natalie Portman has expressed her interest in returning, so it would be great to see that in Phase 6 of the MCU.

5

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Aaron Taylor-Johnson was last seen in the MCU in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is perhaps one of the most wasted actors ever to join the MCU, as he debuted as Pietro Maximoff's Quicksilver, a legendary Marvel Comics character, in 2015. Avengers: Age of Ultronand lost his life in the same film. Quicksilver has been a big part of Marvel Comics' X-Men and Avengers stories since his first appearance in 1964, so it was quite an insult to see him killed off in his first MCU film.. Aaron Taylor-Johnson did a brilliant job bringing Quicksilver to life, so he deserves redemption in Avengers: Judgment Day and Secret Wars​​​​​​​.

Now that Marvel Studios has creative control of the mutants and the X-Men, it would be fantastic to see Aaron Taylor-Johnson return as Pietro Maximoff. If Wanda Maximoff also returns, it would be great to see them explore some of their connections to the mutant world.although his own mutant history in Marvel Comics was retold in 2015. Aaron Taylor-Johnson's recent stint in Kraven the Hunter It could mean that he would also bring this new Spider-Man-related character into the MCU, especially since his debut film as Kraven was not well-received.

4

Josh Brolin

Josh Brolin was last seen in the MCU in Avengers: Endgame (2019)

In February 2024, Josh Brolin revealed the Comics that he heard rumors of Thanos being brought back to the MCU. The Mad Titan was the main antagonist of the Infinity Saga who waged war against Earth's Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Infinity War and End of the game in hopes of acquiring the six Infinity Stones. Thanos has proven himself to be one of the MCU's most powerful and unstoppable villains, so It would be amazing to see Josh Brolin reprise the role, especially since Thanos has such a pivotal role in Marvel Comics. Secret Wars​​​​​​​ 2015 event.

You know, I've heard rumors that they're going to bring him back. And there is the And if…? series and this is a different kind of Thanos and everything. But I don't know in the Marvel world if they're going to bring him back, but I didn't know he was the deadliest Marvel villain… You learn something new every day.

While it would be great to see Josh Brolin back in action as Thanos, it's also possible he could return as Cable later. Deadpool and Wolverine bridged the gap between the MCU and Fox X-Men franchise. Brolin's cable first appeared in 2018 Deadpool 2and was visibly absent Deadpool and Wolverineso it would be great to see it get a reprise. Josh Brolin is a fantastic actor with a huge range, so it would be a huge benefit Avengers: Judgment Day and Secret Wars include him in the cast in some capacity.

3

Ty Simpkins

Ty Simpkins was last seen in the MCU in Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Ty Simpkins first appeared in the MCU as the kid in Tennessee who helps Tony Stark investigate Aldrich Killian, the so-called “Mandarin,” and the Extremis explosions in 2013. Iron Man 3. Harley Keener seemed set to have a bigger role in the MCU, especially after Stark gifted the boy with a huge array of new gadgets as a way of saying 'thank you'. However, Simpkins only reprized the role six years later, appearing at Tony Stark's funeral in Avengers: Endgame​​​​​​​, so it's about time he returned to the MCU permanently.

Now 23 years old, Ty Simpkins may appear in Avengers: Judgment Day and Secret Wars as a superhero in his own right, perhaps leading to him joining the MCU's next Young Avengers team. Early speculation suggested that Simpkins' MCU character could have been a variant of Kang the Conqueror, perhaps Iron Lad, though it appears Marvel Studios won't address that connection now that Phase 6's focus has shifted to Doctor Doom. The fact that Robert Downey Jr. is returning, however, means that now would be the perfect time to bring Harley Keener back to the MCU..

2

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen was last seen in the MCU in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

While it would be great to see Aaron Taylor-Johnson bring Quicksilver back to the MCU, it would be even better if Elizabeth Olsen also reprized her role as his sister, Wanda Maximoff's Scarlet Witch. Mercury may have lost his life in Avengers: Age of UltronBut Scarlet Witch has had a long career in the MCU, becoming one of the franchise's most popular heroes and one of its most terrifying villains. Scarlet Witch sacrificed herself to destroy the Darkhold in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessbut Elizabeth Olsen's return has still been the subject of many rumors.

Both Marvel Studios and Elizabeth Olsen have teased the concept of Wanda Maximoff returning to the MCU in Phase 6, so this seems very likely to happen. Scarlet Witch appears prepared to reappear alongside Doctor Doom, just as she does after the M's House plot in Marvel Comicswhich loosely inspired 2021 WandaVision series. After Agatha all the time brought back Billy and Tommy Maximoff, now is the perfect time for Scarlet Witch to return to the MCU, so it certainly won't be long before Elizabeth Olsen is back in action.

1

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson was last seen in the MCU in Black Widow (2021)

Even though she is one of the first MCU heroines, making her debut in 2010 Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, was also one of Marvel's most wasted characters. She was a founding member of the Avengers, a formidable SHIELD agent, sister and daughter, and a hero willing to sacrifice her own life for the greater good, but Marvel Studios never gave Natasha Romanoff the attention she deserved. Even his first solo MCU film, 2021 Black Widowfailed to explore the Natasha Romanoff stories that audiences really wanted to see.

Despite her legal dispute with Disney, it appears that Scarlett Johansson's relationship with Marvel is still strong, as she is credited as an executive producer on the 2025 film. Rays*. This makes his return possible, and since Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans were cast in Avengers: Judgment Dayand Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner will likely be included, Johansson may be the only original Avenger actor who isn't returning yet. It would be fantastic to see her reunite with her Avengers family, even if she took on a different role to keep Black Widow's heartfelt sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame​​​​​​​.

• Release date

  February 14, 2025
  

• Rays*

• Release date

  July 25, 2025
  

• Release date

  July 24, 2026