The last few years haven’t been easy for Marvel Cinematic Universe fans. While 2019 brought the epic conclusion to the first three phases with Avengers: Endgame – where Earth’s heroes triumphed despite huge challenges, though not without sacrifice – things have been tougher since then. The universe struggled to recapture that magic after the original team went their separate ways. Some projects, like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the Loki series, showed promise, but overall, the releases haven’t been particularly memorable, and a few have been outright disappointments.
After a successful 2025 with popular releases like Thunderbolts and Daredevil: Born Again, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading in a positive direction. 2026 looks even brighter, with several beloved characters expected to return. Here are seven major MCU comebacks already confirmed for next year.
7) Ultron
The Disney+ series WandaVision revealed some big surprises, most notably establishing Wanda Maximoff as the Scarlet Witch. Amidst all the magical events, it also brought back Vision in a new form—called White Vision. His story will continue in the upcoming series VisionQuest, where he’ll meet some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most famous artificial intelligence characters. Among them is Ultron, a former enemy of the Avengers, who is likely to cause trouble again.
6) The Real Hulk
Some of the original Avengers, like Thor and Hawkeye, are still active heroes. Bruce Banner is currently favoring his Smart Hulk persona, but he may be forced to transform back into the classic Hulk in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day movie. It seems a villain will manipulate him, causing him to lose control. After Spider-Man helps Banner regain control, he’ll likely seek revenge. Hopefully, the villain in Brand New Day is prepared for a tough fight.
5) Robert Downey Jr.
From here on out, this list focuses on characters. But we can’t avoid talking about Robert Downey Jr. After more than ten years as Tony Stark, he’s coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. It’s a big shift for Downey Jr., who’s known for playing likable heroes. But if anyone can pull off the role of Doom, it’s him.
4) Mac Gargan
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker creates several enemies, but Adrian Toomes proves to be an unexpected ally. While in prison, Toomes protects Peter’s secret identity from Mac Gargan. This causes Gargan to temporarily halt his pursuit of Spider-Man, but he’s expected to resume his hunt in 2026, appearing as a villain in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
3) Jessica Jones
Since the Punisher is assisting Spider-Man in 2026, Matt Murdock (Daredevil) will reach out to an old ally. Jessica Jones, who previously headlined her own three-season Netflix series, is officially joining the main Marvel Cinematic Universe in Season 2 of Born Again. Although specifics are scarce, she’ll likely focus her attention on Wilson Fisk (Kingpin), who continues to cause trouble for people like her.
2) Steve Rogers
The upcoming movie, Avengers: Doomsday, is shaping up to be huge. Robert Downey Jr. will surprisingly play the villain Doctor Doom, and at least four different superhero teams will unite to try and defeat him. While Steve Rogers isn’t currently part of a team, he’s determined to join the fight. The first teaser for Doomsday centers on Rogers and reveals a new responsibility: he’s a father, meaning his attempts at a quiet life are over.
1) The Original X-Men
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we meet the Illuminati, a secret society from an alternate universe (Earth-838) dedicated to protecting the world. Professor Charles Xavier leads this group and attempts to deal with the Scarlet Witch before she becomes too powerful, but his plan goes horribly wrong, and he is killed. However, Xavier will return in the upcoming Doomsday film, and he won’t be the only familiar face. Several actors from the original X-Men movies, including Ian McKellen and James Marsden, will also be reuniting for one final adventure.
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2025-12-30 19:14