Tom Hiddleston & Sebastian Stan Break MCU Record in Avengers: Doomsday

In 2026’s highly anticipated film “Avengers: Doomsday,” Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan will set a significant Marvel Cinatic Universe (MCU) record by reprising their roles as Loki and Bucky Barnes, aka Winter Soldier, respectively. The cast list for “Avengers: Doomsday” was confirmed by Marvel Studios at the end of March, with 27 actors announced to be part of the film. While there were several exciting surprises in the line-up, it also includes many MCU veterans returning to their roles. Notably, some actors who have been with the franchise since its inception will be reprising their characters, making them some of the most consistent personalities in the Marvel universe.

As a seasoned movie critic, I’m thrilled to share that Marvel Studios has officially announced “Avengers: Doomsday,” an epic extravaganza where multiple superhero squads, including the revamped Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, and Wakanda’s heroic contingent, unite to confront Robert Downey Jr.’s menacing Doctor Doom. This grand spectacle will not only showcase a fresh set of characters but also shine the limelight on two intriguing figures: Loki and Bucky Barnes, who have grown increasingly significant within the Multiverse Saga. The Russo brothers’ Phase 6 crossover masterpiece promises to further extend Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan’s already remarkable MCU legacy.

Tom Hiddleston & Sebastian Stan Will Have Appeared In All 6 Phases Of The MCU In Avengers: Doomsday

Tom Hiddleston Plays Loki In The MCU While Sebastian Stan Plays Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier

In the upcoming film, “Avengers: Doomsday,” Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan will make their first appearances in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Phase 6. This means that they are the only two actors confirmed to appear in every phase of the MCU. Tom Hiddleston initially appeared as Loki in “Thor” (2011), while Sebastian Stan debuted as Bucky Barnes in “Captain America: The First Avenger” also in 2011. Since then, they have become integral parts of the MCU.

Sebastian Stan’s MCU Project Year Tom Hiddleston’s MCU Project Year
Phase 1 Captain America: The First Avenger 2011 Thor 2011
The Avengers 2012
Phase 2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014 Thor: The Dark World 2013
Ant-Man 2015
Phase 3 Captain America: Civil War 2016 Thor: Ragnarok 2017
Black Panther 2018 Avengers: Infinity War 2018
Avengers: Infinity War 2018 Avengers: Endgame 2019
Avengers: Endgame 2019
Phase 4 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 2021 Loki Season 1 2021
Phase 5 Captain America: Brave New World 2025 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2023
Thunderbolts* 2025 Loki Season 2 2023
Phase 6 Avengers: Doomsday 2026 Avengers: Doomsday 2026

It’s quite astonishing that some other well-known Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) veterans haven’t achieved this milestone yet, especially stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and others. However, the fact that Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan are returning for Avengers: Doomsday as more significant characters within the MCU is fantastic news. Previously, they’ve played secondary or supporting roles, but the Multiverse Saga has given them a chance to shine in the limelight. In Avengers: Doomsday, they are poised to become two of the most crucial figures in the entire history of the MCU.

Loki & Bucky Barnes Finally Became Main Characters In The MCU’s Multiverse Saga

Loki & Bucky Barnes Were Secondary Characters Until Their Solo MCU Projects

Although Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes played significant roles throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga, they were not primary characters. Instead, their early stories often underutilized them, with Loki portrayed as a scheming antagonist who ultimately lost, while Bucky spent much of his time as the HYDRA-controlled Winter Soldier. However, the Multiverse Saga brought about a significant shift in their destinies as they each embarked on personal journeys that elevated them to main characters, a change that was long overdue.

In “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” Bucky Barnes strives for redemption following his role as the Winter Soldier, while “Thunderbolts” introduces him as the commander of a fresh superhero squad, where he continues to lead them in “Avengers: Doomsday.” The “Loki” series on Disney+ showcases a variant of Loki wielding immense power within the MCU, assuming the role of the Temporal Loom’s replacement and He Who Remains to safeguard the entire multiverse. These roles are pivotal to the storyline of “Avengers: Doomsday.

Only 2 Other Actors Can Copy Hiddleston & Stan’s Impressive MCU Record

Marvel Is Yet To Confirm Some Stars We Hope Return In Avengers: Doomsday Or Secret Wars

It’s quite unexpected that Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan are the only actors who have been in every phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. However, there’s a possibility that Marvel Studios could reveal the other two candidates who might join this unique record. Currently, all other actors, excluding Jon Favreau and Don Cheadle, have missed at least one phase of the MCU. Therefore, there’s an opportunity for Favreau and Cheadle to achieve this impressive feat, but neither has been confirmed for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, ‘Secret Wars’, or any other Phase 6 project as of now.

Jon Favreau’s MCU Project Year Don Cheadle’s MCU Project Year
Phase 1 Iron Man 2008 Iron Man 2 2010
Iron Man 2 2010
Phase 2 Iron Man 3 2013 Iron Man 3 2013
Avengers: Age of Ultron 2015
Phase 3 Spider-Man: Homecoming 2017 Captain America: Civil War 2016
Avengers: Endgame 2019 Avengers: Infinity War 2018
Spider-Man: Far From Home 2019 Captain Marvel 2019
Avengers: Endgame 2019
Phase 4 Spider-Man: No Way Home 2021 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier 2021
Phase 5 Deadpool & Wolverine 2024 Secret Invasion 2023

There’s a strong likelihood that both Jon Favreau and Don Cheadle could reprise their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe during Phase 6. It would be thrilling to watch Happy Hogan, played by Favreau, work alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s character once again, especially given that Downey is set to portray the infamous Marvel antagonist Doctor Doom. Similarly, it’d be intriguing to see Don Cheadle’s War Machine respond to a villain using his friend’s likeness. This could potentially unfold in “Avengers: Doomsday,” or other MCU projects such as “Avengers: Secret Wars” or the less-definitive “Armor Wars.

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2025-04-26 19:10