Marvel Studios just surprised fans around the world with a massive five-hour cast reveal for its next big event: Avengers: Doomsday. While the internet expected a small update, Marvel went above and beyond, unveiling the cast in a creative and dramatic livestream — and yes, Louisiana was proudly represented.
This marks the beginning of production for what could be the biggest Marvel film yet, and the excitement is already off the charts.
How Marvel Revealed the Cast
Instead of a regular press release or social media post, Marvel rolled out the cast in a slow, mysterious live video. It started with a simple chair on an empty soundstage — a director-style chair with Chris Hemsworth’s name on it (Thor).
Then, the camera slowly panned to the next chair, Vanessa Kirby, who will debut as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) in Fantastic Four this summer. This pattern continued for over five hours, with new chairs — and names — appearing every few minutes. Millions of fans tuned in live to watch the surprise unfold.
Familiar Faces and New Additions
Many classic MCU characters were confirmed to return, such as:
- Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) — his tiny chair in the video was a fun Easter egg
- Winston Duke (M’Baku) from Black Panther
- Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America)
But Marvel also confirmed newer heroes, including:
- Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — all starring in Fantastic Four
- Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor from Wakanda Forever)
- Lewis Pullman, who will debut as “Bob” aka The Sentry in Thunderbolts
Surprise: The X-Men Are Back!
One of the biggest surprises was the return of the original X-Men from the early 2000s films. These legendary actors are now officially part of the MCU:
- Patrick Stewart (Professor X)
- Ian McKellen (Magneto)
- James Marsden (Cyclops)
- Rebecca Romijn (Mystique)
- Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler)
- Kelsey Grammer (Beast)
And yes, there was even a mystery X-Men Easter egg that’s keeping fans guessing.
Louisiana’s Heroes in the MCU
Two major stars in Avengers: Doomsday have strong ties to Louisiana — a point of pride for many fans in the South.
Anthony Mackie – The Louisiana Captain America
Anthony Mackie, who now plays Captain America (Sam Wilson), was born and raised in New Orleans. He’s a big supporter of the New Orleans Saints, and his family still runs a business in the area.
Marvel even changed Sam Wilson’s on-screen origin from New York to Louisiana in the MCU — a move inspired by Mackie’s real-life roots. His most recent film, Captain America: Brave New World, has helped him become one of the central figures in the MCU.
Channing Tatum – Finally Gambit
The other Louisiana connection is Channing Tatum, whose Gambit character was finally confirmed to return after a long wait.
Tatum made a surprise appearance as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, which serves as a bridge between the Fox X-Men films and the MCU. For years, fans wanted Tatum to play Gambit — and he was even announced for a standalone film back in 2014. But that project was shelved.
Thanks to Deadpool & Wolverine, Tatum’s Gambit has officially entered the MCU.
Tatum’s Cajun accent comes naturally — his father is from Metairie, Louisiana, and Tatum grew up just across the border in Mississippi. So when he speaks like Gambit, it’s coming straight from real Southern roots.
