‘Thunderbolts’ Star Hannah John-Kamen Says Avengers: Doomsday Is Bigger Than Expected

Marvel’s highly anticipated crossover event, ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, has been creating a buzz since its impressive Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. Cast members who have had the chance to view footage are expressing their excitement. With directors Anthony and Joe Russo back at the helm, expectations for the film’s scale and spectacle are soaring.

The presentation featured one of the largest assemblies of Marvel talent ever, with Kevin Feige welcoming stars like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, and many others to the Hall H stage. Among them was Hannah John-Kamen, who reprises her role as Ava Starr, also known as Ghost, a character she first portrayed in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ and is set to return in ‘Thunderbolts’.

Hannah John-Kamen described ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ as “absolutely incredible,” hinting at the film’s massive scale behind the scenes. She remarked, “The scale is just so big. When you think it can’t get bigger — it can.”

John-Kamen’s enthusiasm mirrors that of her co-stars, many of whom have struggled to articulate the enormity of this Avengers installment. David Harbour, returning as Alexei Shostakov, also known as Red Guardian, shared with Entertainment Tonight that the film surpasses even his experience on ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5. Harbour stated, “That movie is huge. I mean, I thought that Stranger Things [season] five was big, but this is kind of the biggest thing I’ve ever done.”

The film’s ensemble cast reads like a who’s who of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring characters from the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, X-Men icons like Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Ian McKellen’s Magneto, along with longtime Avengers returning for one last mission. This crossover extends beyond casting, reportedly intertwining storylines from various corners of the franchise that have yet to interact on screen.

Beyond the impressive cast size, other actors have hinted at the personal and emotional significance of this installment compared to previous Avengers films. Vanessa Kirby, who debuted as Sue Storm in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, praised Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom, calling him a steadying presence for the newer cast members. She noted, “Robert’s never not been on set. He’s always there. He is our leader. We call him our Godfather. He’s looked after us.”

The sense of scale extends beyond logistics. Reports from the Comic-Con presentation revealed an exclusive look at footage, where Robert Downey Jr., in character as Doctor Doom, invited the audience to wear masks and cloaks handed out at the panel, transforming the presentation into a spectacle worthy of the film’s ambitions.

With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ the next December, Marvel is clearly positioning this two-film event as the culmination of years of interconnected storytelling across its recent slate.

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