Sebastian Stan Compares ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Return to an Unexpected Kind of Reunion
Few franchises have turned workplace friendships into box office gold the way Marvel has. After more than a decade of shared green rooms, press tours and long shoots, the people behind the MCU’s biggest heroes have a bond that audiences can feel on screen.
That history is a big part of why ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has generated so much anticipation. The film brings together characters from different eras of the Marvel universe, with a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan. It arrives exclusively in theaters on December 18, 2026.
Now, Stan has offered a surprisingly relatable way to describe what coming back felt like. According to MCU Film News, citing Radio Times, the actor said returning for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ feels like a “college reunion.” He called it bizarre to return to something with people he has known and grown up with for the last 10 to 15 years, adding that it’s nostalgic and that he expects a very celebratory situation.
The comparison fits what Stan has said elsewhere. Around the same time, he said he got the chance to reunite with everyone on the film and that it was very nostalgic to look back on the years they have known each other and grown up together. When he was asked about Evans specifically, it was notable because the two had not shared an MCU project since ‘Avengers: Endgame.’
The warm tone sits alongside a more ominous one, though. Stan recently confessed that he hasn’t seen the finished film and doesn’t know how it turned out. He still said he expects it to be emotionally heavy for Marvel fans.
That mix of celebration and dread has not gone unnoticed online. His remarks have fueled speculation that several beloved characters could meet their end in the film. Earlier, Stan’s habit of talking about his Marvel experience in the past tense had already left some fans worried about the fate of Bucky Barnes.
Stan has not exactly tried to calm those nerves. He has addressed the fears about Bucky’s fate while keeping the character’s future firmly under wraps. He has also teased that it remains to be seen who makes it to the next level.
The cast may not have a complete picture themselves. Actors don’t always receive full scripts for MCU films, which can leave them surprised when they finally see the finished movie. Co-star Alan Cumming even admitted that he “doesn’t understand” the plot of the film.
Stan’s schedule is also about to get busier in a very different corner of pop culture. He has been linked to a role in ‘The Batman Part II,’ where he is reportedly set to play Harvey Dent. That means Bucky’s next chapter may be one of the last Marvel moments fans see from him for a while.
Put together, the “college reunion” line feels like a perfect snapshot of where this franchise sits. It is a gathering of old friends, with the nostalgia and the pressure of an event film packed into the same room.
Whether the celebration turns bittersweet will depend on what Marvel has planned for its heroes. For now, Stan’s description suggests that on set, at least, the mood was closer to a joyful homecoming than a funeral. Fans will find out soon enough when ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in December.
