Will the Guardians of the Galaxy Appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’? What Fans Should Know

Marvel enthusiasts have been eagerly anticipating whether the cosmic misfits of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ will join forces with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. With a cast brimming with returning legends and X-Men veterans, the lack of any confirmed Guardians has become a major talking point during the film’s rollout.

Currently, the answer appears to be a disappointing no, but the situation is more complex than a simple yes or no. Here’s everything we know so far about the potential involvement of the space team in this extensive multiverse event.

Marvel revealed a massive cast for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on March 26, featuring familiar MCU names such as Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Florence Pugh, and Simu Liu, all confirmed to return during a livestream event.

In addition to the returning Avengers, the film also brings back a host of original ‘X-Men’ stars, including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, and Kelsey Grammer, reuniting decades after their early 2000s films.

The cast has expanded even further, with reports indicating that Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal, and Robert Downey Jr. are joining the ensemble, with Downey stepping away from Iron Man to portray the villainous Doctor Doom instead of his iconic Avengers character.

Despite the scale of the announcement, not a single member of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ was included in that initial reveal, which immediately sparked speculation among fans.

As it stands, no Guardians character has been officially confirmed for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, despite expectations that at least one member would be included given the film’s extensive crossover nature, which is set to feature numerous actors from Marvel’s live-action history.

The absence of the team is significant, as ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ effectively disbanded the original lineup, with Star-Lord returning to Earth, Gamora joining the Ravagers, and Nebula and Drax remaining on Knowhere to care for the rescued children, while a new squad led by Rocket Raccoon has formed, featuring Groot, Kraglin, Cosmo, Adam Warlock, Phyla, and Blurp.

Some reports suggest that Marvel is intentionally keeping the Guardians out to allow the Russo brothers to manage an already crowded ensemble, arguing that the studio can craft a complete ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ story without incorporating another full team, even though it would be exciting to see Rocket or Drax interact with both old and new allies.

With filming already completed, many outlets have concluded that the Guardians will not play a significant role in the final film, given how far along production is.

Sean Gunn, who portrayed Kraglin Obfonteri in the Guardians trilogy, has confirmed that he will not appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, despite being a recognizable face from the Guardians’ supporting cast.

Chris Pratt’s situation is less clear and has become somewhat of a joke. When fans noticed his absence from the big cast reveal livestream, Pratt humorously suggested that the cameras may have cut away before his moment arrived.

Pratt has also alluded to the ending of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’, which hinted that ‘the Legendary Star-Lord Will Return’, mentioning to Jimmy Kimmel earlier this year that Marvel would eventually fulfill that promise, before joking about a Marvel sniper listening in. Whether that promise will be realized in ‘Doomsday’, ‘Secret Wars’, or a different future project remains uncertain.

Not every possibility has been ruled out. Some fan speculation, including chatter from Comicodigy, suggests that members of the new Guardians lineup, such as Adam Warlock, Cosmo, and Phyla, could still make an appearance, even if the classic team remains sidelined.

There are also rumors of a potential second cast announcement event for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which could unveil additional names beyond what fans have already seen, with speculation pointing toward figures like Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and a version of Spider-Man possibly joining later announcements. If that second wave occurs, it’s not impossible for a Guardian to sneak in.

For now, industry reports suggest that the Guardians will likely sit this one out entirely, with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ director James Gunn’s move to run DC Studios adding another layer of uncertainty regarding the future of the cosmic side of the MCU. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ in May 2027, meaning there could still be time for Star-Lord and his team to fulfill their promised return in a future installment, even if this particular film does not include them.

With so much still unconfirmed and Marvel known for keeping surprises until the last moment, do you think the Guardians of the Galaxy deserve a place in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, or has the franchise moved on without them for good?