Avengers: Doomsday Leaves Hulk and Other Major Heroes Off the Roster

Avengers fans are bracing for a team-up on a grand scale with the highly anticipated film, Avengers: Doomsday, set to unite Marvel icons old and new—including Fox’s X-Men. But in a twist sure to spark debate, several major heroes are missing from the roster this time around, with no sign of Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, or Bruce Banner/The Hulk in the confirmed cast. Only Thor and a returning Steve Rogers represent the original Avengers, making Doomsday the first entry in the series where many classic members sit the fight out.

Banner’s Troubled Status and Missing Heroes

The absence of certain heroes has a narrative basis—most notably Bruce Banner, whose fate was seemingly sealed at the conclusion of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In that film, Banner advised Peter Parker about his newfound powers, revealing he’d built an inhibitor to suppress the Hulk. However, after the device broke, an uncontrollable Savage Hulk emerged, escalating the threat and culminating in a destructive confrontation with Spider-Man. The situation spirals so far out of control that Banner is ultimately committed to a psychiatric facility, with speculation that the Department of Damage Control is involved. This likely explains why Hulk won’t appear in Avengers: Doomsday, though the film will need to acknowledge Banner’s status onscreen.

Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Captain Marvel are also absent, and the exact reasons for their exclusions remain a mystery. With Black Widow and Iron Man dead and Hawkeye’s status unknown, the Avengers lineup in this outing looks very different.

Why Hulk and Others Matter for Doomsday

Thor’s anxiety over facing Doctor Doom, the film’s central threat, is a central theme in Doomsday’s marketing. Given their history, it would make sense for Thor to seek help from trusted allies like Hulk—who’s not only among the most powerful heroes in the MCU but also a scientific mind capable of making a strategic difference. Even if Bruce Banner is sidelined, fans are hoping for at least a passing mention of his situation as the new Avengers carry the torch into battle.

Do you think the new Avengers can triumph without the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Captain Marvel, or will their absence be felt? Share your thoughts on our socials!