Avengers: Doomsday Cast Asks for Movie Cancellation After Disney CEO Fires Them! | HO~

New Marvel rumor suggests 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer will run ahead of  'Avatar: Fire and Ash', but I'm not buying it

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is no stranger to drama, but the turmoil behind the scenes of its latest blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday, has erupted into an unprecedented crisis.

In a stunning turn of events, the film’s A-list cast has reportedly demanded the cancellation of the movie after Disney CEO Bob Iger allegedly fired several of its stars amid escalating disputes over artificial intelligence, pay cuts, and creative control. The fallout threatens not only the future of the MCU but the very relationship between Hollywood’s biggest studio and the talent that built its empire.

AI Controversy Ignites a Full-Blown Revolt

The trouble began with whispers that Avengers: Doomsday was being constructed using artificial intelligence for more than just special effects. Reports surfaced that over 60% of the film’s production—including major action sequences, background work, and even dialogue—was being handled by AI tools.

The controversy exploded after fans accused Marvel of using AI-generated posters for Fantastic Four, pointing to distorted hands and unnatural objects as evidence. Marvel denied the claims, but the denials only fueled further scrutiny.

Insiders soon revealed that AI’s role extended far beyond marketing. Visual effects teams, already stretched thin and largely non-unionized, were being replaced by AI workflows. These systems generated environments, duplicated crowds, and even rendered secondary characters—without union oversight or actor consent. The revelation that the bulk of Doomsday was being constructed this way set off alarm bells among the cast.

Marvel Confirms the Cast for 'Avengers: Doomsday' | Moviefone

Robert Downey Jr. Leads the Rebellion

Robert Downey Jr., the face of the MCU for over a decade, was already frustrated with Disney executives over his forced involvement in promoting Ironheart—a show that failed to meet expectations. Now, as the new Dr. Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, Downey found himself at the center of a battle over the integrity of the franchise.

He reportedly told Marvel brass that using AI to simulate actors, rewrite dialogue, or replace VFX teams was not only unethical but a betrayal of the artistry that made Marvel a household name.

Downey’s resistance quickly gained allies. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson joined the revolt, warning Marvel’s Kevin Feige that they would refuse promotional appearances if their likenesses were manipulated by AI without explicit consent. Johansson, who famously sued Disney over streaming royalties, declared that the studio was repeating its pattern of exploiting talent while hiding behind new technology.

Legal Threats and Contractual Showdowns

The cast’s revolt wasn’t just public posturing. Leaked meeting notes described tense confrontations, with actors questioning the legal implications of having their performances digitally expanded or replaced. These concerns echoed the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which specifically targeted the use of AI-generated scripts and synthetic actors.

Actors demanded contractual guarantees that their faces, voices, and performances could not be digitally replicated without their approval. Johansson, drawing on her experience from her lawsuit over Black Widow, urged fellow cast members to consider legal action if Disney refused to budge. The cast even sought outside counsel to determine whether Disney’s use of digital doubles constituted a violation of likeness rights.

New Marvel rumor suggests 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer will run ahead of  'Avatar: Fire and Ash', but I'm not buying it

Disney CEO Bob Iger Fires Back—Literally

As tensions boiled over, insiders say Disney CEO Bob Iger made the shocking decision to fire several cast members who refused to cooperate with the studio’s AI-driven production model. The move sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with some calling it a “nuclear option” that risked destroying the MCU’s reputation overnight.

Reports indicated that the firings were accompanied by threats to recast roles using AI-generated digital doubles—essentially replacing human performances with algorithmic replicas. The cast responded with a joint letter demanding the cancellation of Avengers: Doomsday unless Disney reversed course and restored traditional filmmaking practices.

Fan Backlash and “AI Slop” Outrage

The cast’s revolt was quickly mirrored by fan outrage. Social media platforms erupted with hashtags like #CancelDoomsday and #AISlop, as fans dissected every trailer and leaked image for signs of AI-generated content. Critics lambasted Marvel for abandoning human artistry in favor of corporate expediency, accusing the studio of reducing beloved characters to “algorithmic puppets.”

Downey’s warning that his return as Dr. Doom would be “tainted” if the film was mostly AI-driven resonated with longtime fans, who viewed the move as a betrayal of the franchise’s spirit. Evans and Johansson echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that AI replacement devalues the connection between performer and viewer—a bond that has defined the MCU since its inception.

A Franchise in Crisis: Recent Marvel Flops Add Fuel to the Fire

The Doomsday disaster comes on the heels of a string of Marvel misfires. Films like Eternals, Thor: Love and Thunder, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and The Marvels have all underperformed at the box office, with critics and fans alike blaming creative stagnation, overreliance on CGI, and lackluster storytelling.

The use of AI in Doomsday was seen by many as the final straw—a desperate cost-cutting measure that sacrificed quality for scale. Even early screenings of Doomsday were split, with some praising Downey’s performance but most condemning the film for feeling lifeless, glitchy, and emotionally detached.

Jeremy Renner’s Insulting Offer and the Broader Marvel Civil War

The cast revolt was further inflamed by revelations from Jeremy Renner, who claimed Disney offered him only half his previous salary for a potential second season of Hawkeye—despite his near-fatal accident and lengthy recovery. Renner’s pointed rebuke (“Why did you think I’m only half the Jeremy? Cuz I got ran over?”) struck a chord with fans, who saw the offer as emblematic of Disney’s penny-pinching approach.

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Other stars, including John Malkovich and Hugo Weaving, have reportedly walked away from Marvel projects over lowball offers. The pattern of financial disputes reflects a broader strategy by Disney to reduce talent costs, even as the franchise continues to generate billions in revenue.

Bob Iger’s Leadership Under Fire

Disney CEO Bob Iger, long credited with transforming the company into an entertainment juggernaut, has faced mounting criticism from both talent and fans. His public comments during the 2023 writers and actors strikes—characterizing worker expectations as “just not realistic”—sparked backlash across Hollywood.

Marvel stars like Tatiana Maslany and Sean Gunn have publicly condemned Iger for being “out of touch” and highlighting the massive pay disparity between executives and workers. The strikes eventually led to new agreements protecting against AI exploitation, but the damage to Disney’s reputation lingers.

The Future of the MCU: Can Marvel Recover?

With the cast demanding cancellation and Disney doubling down on AI, the future of the MCU hangs in the balance. Industry analysts warn that even a billion-dollar box office won’t be enough to overcome the bad press, fractured fan base, and potential legal battles.

If Avengers: Doomsday is canceled, it would mark an unprecedented retreat for Marvel—one that could signal the end of its reign as the king of blockbuster entertainment. If Disney pushes forward, it risks alienating both its stars and the audiences that have sustained the MCU for over a decade.

For now, the cast’s stand against Disney represents not just a fight over one film, but a battle for the soul of Hollywood itself. As technology reshapes the industry, the question remains: Will studios prioritize human creativity, or surrender to the machines?