Marvel Studios confirms key characters for Avengers: Secret Wars

16. Shang-Chi (Simu Liu)

In an exclusive interview on January 4, 2026, Simu Liu confirmed he is lucky to be a part of Secret Wars. He teased that the Ten Rings have a "multiversal resonance" that becomes a key factor in the final confrontation, marking his first major Avengers team-up.

15. White Vision (Paul Bettany)

After reclaiming his identity in his solo series, the synthesized hero returns. Bettany has mentioned he has "Avengers duties" throughout 2026, positioning White Vision as a cosmic-level power player capable of countering Doom’s advanced technology.

14. Shuri / Black Panther (Letitia Wright)

Shuri leads the Wakandan remnant, providing the technological and vibranium resources necessary for the final battle. Wright confirmed her involvement in late 2025, emphasizing Shuri’s growth into a seasoned leader and warrior.

13. Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell)

Hayley Atwell is set to return in a significant capacity. While she first appears in Doomsday, her role in Secret Wars is expected to involve playing a live-action version of Captain Carter, potentially leading a multiversal "Guardians of the Multiverse" squad.

12. Ava Starr / Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)

Ghost’s unique ability to phase through matter makes her an invaluable asset for the resistance's stealth missions. Her powers are particularly useful in navigating the unstable, shifting borders of the different regions within Battleworld.

11. Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour)

The Russian super-soldier adds both muscle and levity to the team. David Harbour has hinted that Alexei finally achieves his dream of fighting alongside—and proving his worth to—the greatest heroes of the multiverse.

10. John Walker / U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)

Wyatt Russell returns as the controversial super-soldier. As a member of the New Avengers, John Walker’s redemption arc continues as he is forced to work under the leadership of Sam Wilson, the man who ultimately took the Captain America mantle.

9. Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)

Following her leadership in Thunderbolts* (2025), Yelena is a primary protagonist. Pugh described her character as the "unrelenting heart" of the street-level resistance, often serving as the liaison between the various hero factions hiding within the fractured reality.

8. Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)

Bucky Barnes has evolved into a senior strategist for the New Avengers. Stan has teased that Bucky is no longer just a soldier but a leader who coordinates the "boots on the ground" effort against the forces occupying Battleworld.

7. Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Joseph Quinn)

Joseph Quinn brings the "spirit of the team" as the Human Torch. Quinn has mentioned in recent press tours that Johnny’s youthful energy serves as a beacon of hope for the heroes. His interactions with other young heroes like Peter Parker are highly anticipated by the production team.

6. Ben Grimm / The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach provides the emotional and physical muscle for the Fantastic Four. His character is a key part of the ensemble, and he is expected to share significant screen time with other heavy hitters like the Hulk and Thor during the final stand against Doom’s forces.

5. Sue Storm / Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby)

Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is one of the most powerful members of the resistance. Leaked concept art and production notes suggest that Sue plays a vital role in infiltrating Doom’s fortress on Battleworld, utilizing her invisibility and force-field capabilities on a massive scale.

4. Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal)

The patriarch of the Fantastic Four is Doom’s chief intellectual rival. Pascal’s Richards is the leader of the "First Family," and his personal history with Victor von Doom is a driving force of the film's emotional stakes. Pascal’s role was a major highlight of the SDCC 2024 announcements.

3. Stephen Strange / Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)

After the multiversal chaos of his second solo film, Stephen Strange is a central pillar of the resistance. Cumberbatch has noted that Strange is "in a lot" of the movie, acting as the bridge between realities. In the narrative, he is expected to be one of the few characters who remembers the world as it was before Doom's reign.

2. Sam Wilson / Captain America (Anthony Mackie)

Sam Wilson serves as the tactical leader of the surviving heroes. Mackie has stated that Sam’s role involves uniting disparate factions from across the multiverse to form a new resistance. He is scheduled to begin filming his Secret Wars sequences in July 2026.

1. Victor von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.)

Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU in a massive pivot as the primary antagonist of the Multiverse Saga. Rather than a variant of Tony Stark, he portrays the true Victor von Doom. Following his takeover in Doomsday, he is positioned as the supreme ruler of Battleworld—a patchwork reality created from the remnants of colliding universes.