Six years after the cinematic spectacle that was ‘Avengers: Endgame’, Marvel Studios is gearing up for another colossal ensemble film with ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. With excitement building, fans are scrambling to predict who will return and how the story will balance its ever-growing cast.
However, one thing has become increasingly clear: the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, once a crucial part of the Avengers’ intergalactic muscle, may not be part of the journey this time. And surprisingly, that might not be such a bad thing.
The Guardians Are Being Replaced By Fantastic Four And New Avengers
The Guardians were unforgettable in ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’. Their quirky personalities, found-family dynamic, and cosmic background offered something refreshingly different from the more grounded Avengers. They injected humor, heart, and a galactic perspective that helped bridge Earth’s heroes with the larger Marvel universe.
Related: James Gunn Explains Why Nova Was Left Out Of The ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Movies
However, their story has largely run its course, at least for now. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ brought emotional closure to the original team. Peter Quill returned to Earth, Gamora found a new path, and Drax, Mantis, and Nebula moved on from their adventuring days. Rocket and Groot are now leading a new lineup that hasn’t yet been explored on screen.
In their absence, the MCU is leaning into two other powerful teams that will serve the same narrative purpose, and possibly do even more. First, we have The New Avengers, emerging from the events of ‘Thunderbolts*’. This group, forged through pain, trauma, and redemption. Their bond feels familial, and their dynamic stands to add emotional depth to ‘Doomsday’ that mirrors what audiences once found in the Guardians.
Then there’s Marvel’s First Family, The Fantastic Four, who are finally making their full MCU debut. With their deep cosmic roots, they fill the void left by the Guardians’ absence. Reed Richards and his team bring both the space-exploration aspect and the close-knit team synergy that the Guardians once offered. It’s not just a substitution, it’s an evolution.
And let’s not forget: neither the Guardians nor their actors have been confirmed for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. The cast announcement during a special livestream featured plenty of familiar faces: returning Avengers, the Thunderbolts-turned-New Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and even several iconic characters from Fox’s X-Men universe. Yet not a single Guardian, and now it feels intentional.
Why Leaving The Guardians Behind Makes Sense
Yes, it may sting for longtime fans to imagine a Marvel team-up movie without them. However, there’s a bigger storytelling strategy at play, and it revolves around balance. As ambitious as ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is shaping up to be, overstuffing the film with too many characters can dilute the story’s impact.
In case you missed it: Marvel Officially Confirmed ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ Would’ve Crushed First Battle In ‘The Avengers’
Marvel seems to have learned from its past successes and missteps. ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’ juggled massive rosters effectively because every character had clear stakes and arcs. That level of cohesion is only possible with careful planning. Including the Guardians, especially their new, less-familiar lineup, could risk overcrowding a film already brimming with major players.
Moreover, introducing Robert Downey Jr. as a variant of Doctor Doom changes the game entirely. This isn’t just any villain. This is an iconic, multidimensional threat played by the face of the original MCU himself. Downey’s Doom will reportedly square off against the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and more, and that’s already an incredibly stacked battlefield.
The emotional resonance of this storyline is amplified by characters who have recently been given deeper arcs, like Loki. After ascending as the “God of Stories” in ‘Loki’ Season 2, Tom Hiddleston’s character has become the multiverse’s unlikely protector. Doom’s pursuit of that power will bring him into direct conflict with Loki, setting up one of the most anticipated showdowns in recent MCU memory.
