There have been so many Avengers: Doomsday rumours over the past year that it's hard to shake the feeling that the movie's entire plot has been revealed. This may be intentional on Marvel Studios' part—the leaks have only heightened excitement—and we still don't know how much of what we've seen is misdirection.
The much bigger mystery is Avengers: Secret Wars. Like Avengers: Endgame, the plot will almost certainly be kept under lock and key, with the Russo Brothers going to great lengths to maintain the surprise (last time, that included fake props in set photos that made time travel scenes look like a B.A.R.F. projection).
While we'd recommend taking the following with a pinch of salt, a new series of rumours have been shared on social media, seemingly confirming we will see Iron Man vs. Doctor Doom next December.
Earth-616's Tony Stark will remain dead and gone after his sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, but a Variant is set to be introduced who is reportedly described in the script as "uninterested, lazy, hates being a hero, and an alcoholic." It would be crazy for Marvel Studios to bring Robert Downey Jr. back and not do something Iron Man-related with him, but we'll have to wait and see whether this pans out.
It's worth noting that the leak doesn't specify whether the Oscar-winner is playing this Iron Man Variant, and we can't discount something as wild as Marvel Studios finally convincing Tom Cruise to take on the role for a handful of scenes.
As for Steve Rogers, he's described as "The envy of God, traumatised, imprisoned, grief-stricken, and the last witness." This lines up with leaked concept art showing the former Captain America chained up by Doom, and there's a good chance he's being punished for his role in the Incursion that killed the villain's wife and child.
We even have some potential details on Hugh Jackman's Wolverine; he "hates working in a team" but is "trying," and despite hating spider webs, Logan is still "kind." Yes, it seems the rumours of Wolverine and Spider-Man being among Avengers: Secret Wars' leads could be true.
The confirmed (or semi-confirmed, at least) cast of Avengers: Secret Wars includes Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Paul Bettany (The Vision), Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), and Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter).
Also appearing are Pedro Pascal (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Human Torch), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing), Sadie Sink (Jean Grey), and Noah Jupe.
The Russo Brothers direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars from a screenplay by Stephen McFeely, with whom they previously collaborated on the Avengers and Captain America franchises. Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness writer Michael Waldron has also been enlisted to refine the story, alongside Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18, with Avengers: Secret Wars scheduled to arrive on December 17, 2027.