Marvel seems unable to let go of certain characters. Even after giving Tony Stark a moving goodbye in Avengers: Endgame – and his on-screen death during the Battle of Earth – Marvel Studios is bringing back Robert Downey Jr. However, he won’t be reprising his role as Iron Man. Instead, Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which boasts a strong cast including several actors fans will recognize.
While characters introduced in Phases 4 and 5 have been building towards their big moments, they’ll face tough competition for attention next year from some familiar faces. The return of these long-absent heroes – some haven’t appeared in over ten years – could instantly grab viewers’ attention. Here’s a ranking of the Phase 1 MCU characters coming back in 2026, ordered by their power level.
8) Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar
The Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, which throws Tony Stark into a dangerous situation when he’s captured by the Ten Rings. He’s held in a cave in Afghanistan, where he’s treated poorly by their leader, Raza Hamidimi al-Wazra. Ultimately, Raza gets what’s coming to him when Obidiah Stane appears to eliminate him and the rest of the Ten Rings organization.
Raza will be back in the new Disney+ series, VisionQuest. While it’s unclear exactly what he’ll be doing, it seems he’ll be facing a tough challenge with so many dangerous robots around. He’s better at coming up with plans than actually fighting, so he might be out of his depth.
7) Peggy Carter
In Captain America: The First Avenger, Peggy Carter is one of the first to recognize Steve Rogers’ potential. She believes in him and encourages him to become a hero for everyone, not just America. Even after he’s frozen and awakens much later, Peggy is there to support him.
Because of all the different realities explored in Doomsday, a version of Peggy will show up in the film. However, it doesn’t look like we’ll see a full Captain Carter appearance, which limits her ranking. Still, Raza needs to be careful if he encounters her.
6) J.A.R.V.I.S.
After returning home from Afghanistan, Tony Stark throws himself into his work, determined to improve the Iron Man suit and make a difference in the world. His reliable AI assistant, J.A.R.V.I.S., is always there to help. J.A.R.V.I.S. continues to operate within Tony’s suits until Avengers: Age of Ultron, when he ultimately becomes integrated into the being known as Vision.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, death and even becoming an android aren’t necessarily permanent. James D’Arcy, known from Agent Carter, will play a human version of J.A.R.V.I.S. in VisionQuest. Even in a human body, J.A.R.V.I.S. is expected to continue his mischievous behavior, like tampering with sensitive systems – and much more.
5) Bucky Barnes
Similar to Peggy Carter, Bucky Barnes fights alongside Captain America during World War II as part of the Howling Commandos. However, after falling from a train, he’s captured by Hydra and transformed into the Winter Soldier, spending the next several decades as a deadly assassin.
It’s amazing to see how far Bucky has come! He’s really found his place with the New Avengers, fighting alongside heroes like John Walker and Yelena Belova. As one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, he’s definitely going to be a key player in the upcoming Doomsday event. Still, even with all his progress, there are a few of the original Avengers who are just…stronger, you know?
4) Steve Rogers
From the moment Steve Rogers becomes a super-soldier in The First Avenger, he dedicates himself to fighting for what’s right. He defeats villains like the Red Skull, Loki, and Ultron, ultimately facing off against the Mad Titan in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. After that final battle, he’s ready to start a new chapter in his life, and he does just that.
In the final scenes of Endgame, Steve Rogers shares a peaceful moment with Peggy Carter before returning to the present as an elderly man to pass on his Captain America shield to Sam Wilson. But he’ll be drawn back into action in Doomsday, and while the reason is currently unknown, it likely involves Doctor Doom.
3) The Hulk
It’s easy to overlook the fact that The Incredible Hulk was the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film centers on Bruce Banner, a scientist who transforms into a massive green monster. Hulk was a key player early on, being the strongest of the first Avengers team and even putting Loki in his place. However, the character hasn’t aged well over time.
Since the events of Endgame, Bruce Banner has primarily existed as Smart Hulk – a version of himself that blends his two personalities and is generally less aggressive. While still incredibly powerful, he’d need to embrace his darker side, similar to how he behaved in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, to become truly top-tier.
2) Loki
Loki, known for causing trouble, isn’t just a rival to his brother in the early phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—he also targets the Avengers. Acting on Thanos’ command, he attacks Earth with the goal of ruling it. However, his plan fails, and he ultimately dies fighting alongside Thanos a few years later.
Okay, so forget what you might think about Loki showing up in Phase 6 – it’s not that Loki. It’s actually a version of him we met in the Disney+ series, but this one’s a bit more powerful. Apparently, he’s the Loki who’s been holding the whole multiverse together, which is pretty intense! He’s the one popping up in Doomsday.
1) Thor
Thor has been a consistent presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the very beginning, appearing in films since Phase 1 and never really stepping away for long. He recently battled Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder and emerged victorious. However, even with this win, Thor still needs to act responsibly and can’t just be reckless.
We don’t yet know exactly how Thor will get involved in the upcoming conflict, but he’ll be especially determined to fight, now that he’s a father. Doctor Doom should be warned – Thor is ready to unleash his full power when things get physical.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
https://comicbook.com/movies/list/7-things-nobody-will-admit-about-avengers-doomsday/embed/#
Read More
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- How To Watch Call The Midwife 2025 Christmas Special Online And Stream Both Episodes Free From Anywhere
- Tougen Anki Episode 24 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Emily in Paris soundtrack: Every song from season 5 of the Hit Netflix show
- Avatar 3 Popcorn Buckets Bring Banshees From Pandora to Life
- Avatar: Fire and Ash’s Biggest Disappointment Is an Insult to the Na’vi
- Elizabeth Taylor’s Son Says Taylor Swift, His Mom Are Kindred Spirits
- 7 Most Powerful Stranger Things Characters Ranked (Including the Demogorgon)
2025-12-28 20:18