A new trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has fuelled fan speculation that Marvel Studios digitally edited a major character out of a key scene depicting Sam Wilson's new Avengers lineup. The trailer confirmed previously teased details, including Robert Downey Jr. voicing Doctor Doom, but a scene showing Thor addressing three separate hero factions revealed Wilson's "Avengers" as consisting of just himself and Ant-Man, with a conspicuous empty space in the frame fuelling theories of a hidden cameo.

Marvel has form for this kind of edit, having previously removed Spider-Man from Captain America: Civil War marketing and alternate Spider-Man versions from No Way Home trailers, lending credibility to the speculation. Candidates floated to fill the gap included Shang-Chi, Hulk, Spider-Man and Wasp, played by Evangeline Lilly, who has been absent from acting since 2024 but hinted at a possible return via a cryptic Instagram reply. No confirmation emerged either way, leaving open the possibility that the sparse lineup simply reflects Sam Wilson's underwhelming reception as Captain America. Avengers: Doomsday is set for release in cinemas on 18 December.