Let's be real: the MCU feels incomplete without the gruff, cigar-chomping energy of Nick Fury anchoring the chaos. But for the December 18 release of Avengers: Doomsday, fans of the S.H.I.E.L.D. director are out of luck. Samuel L. Jackson isn't in the cast list. It’s a strange omission for a film headlining the return of Robert Downey Jr., this time as Doctor Doom, alongside Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth.
Jackson didn't mince words when pressed about his absence. At a red carpet event for his recent film The Beast, the veteran actor addressed the gap in the Avengers lineup with characteristic bluntness. When asked about his next appearance, he simply pointed to the future. "Next movie... movie after this one," he told The Direct. It’s a clear signal that the Russo brothers—Anthony and Joe, who helmed Endgame—are saving the glue of the universe for the grand finale.
So, what does that mean for Doomsday? The film is expected to lean heavily on the multiverse concept, a theme already teased through the VisionQuest series and the recent Endgame re-release. With X-Men alumni joining the fray, the narrative seems focused on universes colliding rather than the traditional S.H.I.E.L.D. structure. It’s a bold gamble to drop the most recognizable face in the franchise for a crossover event.
For now, the wait is long. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, but if you’re holding out for that familiar scar on Jackson’s face, you’ll have to wait another year. Fury’s big comeback is locked in for Avengers: Secret Wars, currently planned for December 17, 2027. Until then, the universe is flying blind.