Summary
- Avengers: Doomsday will introduce a new lineup and leadership to the MCU, spearheaded by Anthony Mackie’s Captain America.
- Spider-Man could potentially become the lead Avenger with his popularity and youthful energy, a move long hinted at by Marvel.
- Spider-Man’s blueprint as Iron Man’s successor is already established within the MCU, paving the way for him to take on a more significant role.
Avengers: Doomsday will see Robert Downey Jr. return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, which will allow him to play a villain. That’s going to provide a significant change to the MCU and for Downey Jr. himself, while it leaves a major opening within the Avengers for someone to step up and take his spot.
Iron Man was often seen as the face of the MCU due to the charisma that Tony Stark’s character brought to the MCU. Avengers: Doomsday will be the first time that MCU fans get to see what is in store for the Avengers without him or Steve Rogers, and that should lead to a lot of positive change and freshness. Spider-Man who is now ready to benefit from that to take the MCU forward for years to come.
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The Avengers Needs A New Lead Hero
Avengers: Doomsday will be engaging because it will provide fans with a brand-new Avengers lineup. Several of the original characters won’t be part of this movie, so Marvel Studios needs to make big decisions about who will be in the superhero group for the foreseeable future. Anthony Mackie has revealed that his version of Captain America will be leading the Avengers, and that his character will also be choosing who is included. However, just because Captain America will be in that position doesn’t mean he will always be the lead hero.
Chris Evans’ version of the character often shared that responsibility with Iron Man because they both brought something different to the group, and that’s where Spider-Man could come in. Heading into this movie, no character will remember him due to the actions of Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but that could be a benefit as he will no longer be seen as the young, awkward teenager when he eventually does arrive back at that point. Instead, Spider-Man can come in and potentially save the day from the outside, eventually leading to him being a fully-fledged Avenger who can be the lead hero.
The Spider-Man movies have had more box office success than Captain America: Brave New World, which would hint that Tom Holland’s character is the more popular of the two. That’s something Marvel Studios should be trying to tap into, as fans do want to see as much of Spider-Man as possible. He’s one of the greatest superheroes of all time and someone that audiences never get bored of seeing; therefore, having him be one of the lead Avengers moving forward will instantly enhance all of the upcoming films that feature the entire group as he will be involved. Plus, his youth brings a level of energy that other characters can’t provide, and it also means he connects with specific audience members on a deeper level.
Spider-Man Has Been Pushed As Iron Man’s Replacement
Seeing Spider-Man take the role that Iron Man has left behind in the Avengers isn’t a surprise; after all, it’s something that Marvel has been actively hinting at ever since Peter Parker first swung into the MCU. Stark took an active interest in him due to seeing similarities between them, with Parker’s intelligence being matched by his superhero abilities and desire to help others. It led to Stark taking Parker under his wing in all aspects of life, from pushing him to study and learn, to helping him with Stark technology to develop his Spider-Man suits.
Their bond has been pushed heavily within previous movies, and Stark’s death has profoundly impacted Parker as a person. That is why he’s the right choice to take his place in the MCU, making the step up from the level he’s previously been seen at. It would mean that Stark’s death has more of a lasting impact and allows that aspect of his legacy to live on. Meanwhile, all of the groundwork that was put in with those two characters will have been beneficial because they will have had significant meaning in getting Spider-Man to this point. He had Iron Man’s seal of approval, and while the other characters will have forgotten that, fans haven’t.
Spider-Man Is A Beloved Character
The beauty of putting Spider-Man into this position is simply due to the character’s popularity, regardless of who is behind the mask or what the storyline is. Even people who have no interest in superheroes are aware of who Spider-Man is, as the character is on a similar level to that of Batman and Superman in terms of fame and pop culture phenomenon. That’s important because when Spider-Man is put on a movie poster or in a trailer, more people are going to pay attention and listen, which in turn should benefit the movie from a box office perspective.
There are a plethora of options that Marvel Studios could consider when choosing which characters to make the next major star of the franchise. However, all of the work that has been done to this stage points towards Spider-Man, not only from the superhero aspect but also in filling the intellectual gap that Stark has left behind within the Avengers. While he would do things totally differently from Iron Man, giving Spider-Man the chance for a grander role is something that needs to happen within Avengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday
- Release Date
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May 1, 2026
- Director
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Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
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Joseph Quinn
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
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Pedro Pascal
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
