Marvel built up Avengers: Doomsday as the next big chapter in its cinematic universe, and the cast reveal quickly made waves. Familiar faces returned, surprise names sparked excitement, and fans braced for another massive crossover. But beneath the hype, one thing stood out—only five women are in the confirmed lineup of 27 characters. That’s under 20 percent. Letitia Wright (Shuri), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost) are the only women announced so far. For a franchise that prides itself on evolution and progress, this kind of imbalance feels like a major step backward.

Seventeen Seconds Was Too Much for Some

Back in 2019, Avengers Endgame featured a 17-second scene where several female heroes stood together on the battlefield. It was a brief moment, but it sparked major backlash. Some critics called it forced or unnecessary. Fast forward to 2025, and Marvel seems to have pulled back even further. In a movie featuring over two dozen heroes, women are barely present.

The Numbers Paint a Clear Picture

Out of 27 confirmed cast members, 22 are men and only 5 are women. That’s a gender split of 81.5 percent male to 18.5 percent female. The numbers on race tell a similar story. About 67 percent of the cast is white. Black actors make up roughly 18.5 percent. Latino actors represent around 11 percent, and there is only one confirmed Asian actor so far. While it’s good to see some racial diversity, the lack of gender balance stands out the most.

Comic History Is Not a Good Excuse

Many fans defend the gender imbalance by pointing to the comic book source material. Most Marvel characters were created in the 1960s, a time when male heroes dominated the pages. But the Marvel Cinematic Universe has never been afraid to change things. Nick Fury became a Black man. Ms. Marvel was reimagined as a Pakistani teen. Characters like Valkyrie and the Ancient One were changed to better reflect the world we live in. Marvel updates what it wants to. Choosing not to update its gender balance is exactly that — a choice.

Women Are a Big Part of the Fanbase

Superhero fandom is not just for men. About 35 to 40 percent of comic book readers are women. When it comes to movies, women often make up nearly half the audience. Marvel knows this. That’s why it invested in characters like Wanda Maximoff, Shuri, and Carol Danvers. These characters have massive fan followings and have carried storylines across movies and shows. The success of WandaVision and the popularity of Black Panther prove that stories led by women work.

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Where Are the Female Heroes

The biggest problem with the Avengers: Doomsday cast is not just the low number of women, but who was left out. Scarlet Witch is gone, despite being one of the most powerful and popular characters in the MCU. Monica Rambeau is missing, along with Agatha Harkness and She-Hulk. There’s no sign of Storm, Jean Grey, or any of the women who helped define the X-Men era. These aren’t side characters. These are leads. Replacing them with mostly male characters sends a message, whether Marvel means to or not.

Even though the lineup favors men, the most talked-about character reveal was Mystique. She trended after the announcement, with fans excited to see Rebecca Romijn return. This shows that fans are not tired of seeing women in action. In fact, they want more of it. The idea that women-led stories don’t sell is false. The issue has always been poor writing, poor marketing, or both. When done right, women characters thrive.

Less Than 20 Percent Is Not Enough

Avengers: Doomsday is meant to lead the MCU into its next big phase. With the Multiverse Saga in full swing, Marvel has the freedom to bring in any character from any timeline. They can introduce new heroes or reinvent old ones. That makes this current lineup feel like a missed opportunity. The story could have included women from all corners of the Marvel universe. Instead, it plays it safe, sticking to what’s familiar.

No one is saying the cast needs to be 50 percent women overnight. The reality is that superhero movies still attract more male viewers. That’s a fact. But less than 20 percent? That is far too low. Marvel has the tools, the characters, and the audience to do better. The question now is whether they will. Because in a universe built on endless possibilities, balance should not be out of reach.

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