Avengers: Doomsdaymay be about to mirror one of theMCU’s best movies,Captain America: Civil War, but looks poised to break up Team Cap in the process. Although it wasn’t technically an Avengers movie,Captain America: Civil Waris largely seen as an Avengers movie in disguise, given how it starred a who’s who of MCU superheroes, with the notable exception of Hulk and Thor. This is largely to thank for its dazzling success, making it one ofthe MCU’s highest-grossing movieswith a global box office of $1.1 billion.
Marvel Studios is no doubt looking to replicate, and even surpass, that success withAvengers: Doomsday. Thankfully, its status as an Avengers movie sets it in good standing, as eventhe MCU’s lowest-grossingAvengers movie,Avengers: Age of Ultron, grossed a tidy $1.4 billion at the global box office. Part of what makes Avengers movies (andCivil War) so compelling is the pervasive theme of internal conflict amongthe MCU’s colorful cast of superheroes. Nevertheless, I’m struggling to come to terms with howAvengers: Doomsdaymay be poised to run roughshod over previously established allegiances.
How The MCU Has Set Up A Second Avengers Civil War
There Is Friction Between The Avengers And The New Avengers
The MCU has been laying the groundwork for a second civil war between its superheroes with its first twoMCU movies of 2025.Captain America: Brave New Worldsaw the titular hero embracing his new role but balking at President Thaddeus Ross’s request to form a new team of Avengers, fearing the implications of government oversight. In a fortuitous twist of fate for audiences, Sam Wilson warmed to the idea after President Ross himself proved that some threats require an assemblage of Avengers, ultimately discussing the formation of a new team outside the government’s purview with Joaquin Torres.
While the dynamic isn’t nearly as fraught as the one depicted in Captain America: Civil War, it re-establishes a rivalry between heroes rooted in government oversight.
While it is still unclear who will join Captain America and Falcon to formthe MCU’s newest team of Avengers,Thunderboltsundercut its formation with the arrival of the New Avengers. In an off-piste move by Marvel Studios,Thunderboltsrevealed that the asterisk was hiding the true identity of the titular team as the New Avengers, a moniker foisted upon them by CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. In being officially formed by de Fontaine,the New Avengers are later confirmed to be the government-backed version of the team.
TheThunderbolts*post-credits scenethen revealed that this has caused friction between the New Avengers and Sam Wilson’s Avengers. While talking in their new base of operations in the old Avengers Tower,the New Avengers addressed the fact that Sam Wilson has copyrighted the Avengers name and has begun taking legal action against the government-backed newcomers. While the dynamic isn’t nearly as fraught as the one depicted inCaptain America: Civil War, it re-establishes a rivalry between heroes rooted in government oversight.
Sam & Bucky Will Now Be On Opposite Sides Of An Avengers Civil War
They Originally Fought On The Same Side
This rivalry now pitstwo characters that once fought on the same side against one another, namely Sam and Bucky. InCaptain America: Civil War, Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson were the titular superhero’s most stalwart allies in his rebellion against the Sokovia Accords and their role in regulating superhero activity. In an ironic twist of fate, Bucky Barnes is now a founding member of a team sanctioned by the government, while Sam Wilson remains independent, further proving hisaptitude for carrying the Captain America mantle.
It is particularly painful to see this dynamic, however, given the development of Sam and Bucky’s relationshipin the MCU since Steve Rogers' retirement inAvengers: Endgame. Although there was a certain, playful measure of friction between the two inCaptain America: Civil War,The Falcon and the Winter Soldiersaw their friendship flourish, whileCaptain America: Brave New Worldfeatured Bucky in a heartwarming cameo as Sam’s friend. Bucky’s palpable regret over Sam Wilson’s kickback against the New Avengers is hard to stomach and packs an additional sting given Bucky’s previous trajectory.
Bucky’s Role Is Even Weirder Given His MCU History
Bucky Barnes Has Joined The Same Side As Iron Man
Although Sam Wilson was unquestionably willing to follow Steve Rogers' defiant stand against government oversight inCaptain America: Civil War, he is arguably still better placed than Bucky Barnes to fall in line. He is, after all, a war veteran and additionally (albeit tentatively) worked alongside the President in the first half ofCaptain America: Brave New World. In contrast, while Bucky Barnes is also a war veteran,he was the primary target inCaptain America: Civil War,and partly what spurred Cap to rally against his fellow heroes.
Bucky Barnes was pardoned for his activity as the Winter Soldier, opening his path to becoming an elected official.
The current state of affairs still feels more personal, however. By accepting a key role in the government-sanctioned side of this rivalry,Bucky Bares is mirroring Iron Man at best and tacitly endorsing his reasoning at worst. Given the heartbreaking personal rift between the two inCaptain America: Civil War, with Iron Man learning later on in the movie that Bucky, as the Winter Soldier, killed his parents, the fact that Bucky is stepping into Iron Man’s shoes now feels particularly weird, especially as he is such an outlier in his position.
Sam’s Avengers Could Still Have One Other Team Cap Member
One Team Cap Member Has been Confirmed For Avengers: Doomsday
Most of those embroiled in the titularconflict inCaptain America: Civil Warhave either retired or died, leaving very few behind to re-assume roles in the new team rivalries. In fact, of all thecast members confirmed to be starring inAvengers: Doomsday,Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man is the only one who participated inCaptain America: Civil War. In that appearance, Ant-Man was happy to join up with Captain America’s rebellion, given his respect for Cap and the fact that he is well-versed in undermining legal authority.
T’Challa/Black Panther
Deceased
I can see Ant-Man happily joining Sam Wilson’s Avengers once more, given their established working relationship, his reverence for the Captain America mantle, and his eagerness to be an Avenger in general. Additionally, while T’Challa tragically passed away, his successor, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, would be more likely to join up with Cap, despite her brother teaming up with Iron Man inCaptain America: Civil War. This is becauseWakanda is at odds with the New Avengers' creator, Valentina, let alone the fact that she would be unlikely to fight in the name of another nation.
Two potential candidates could still join up with the New Avengers to help balance the scales, however. War Machine has always been allied with American interests, and it is likely that he would continue fighting on the side of the US government. Spider-Man, meanwhile, is far more independent than he was inCaptain America: Civil War, though he could feasibly join either side. Regardless, neither Don Cheadle nor Tom Holland has yet been announced to star inAvengers: Doomsday.
Avengers: Doomsday
Cast
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face off against Victor von Doom - played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of phase 6 of the MCU.
Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War focuses on the aftermath of Age of Ultron as international governments legislate to regulate superhuman activity. This divides the Avengers, forming opposing factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, culminating in a significant conflict between former allies.
