After playing the role of Thor since 2011, Chris Hemsworth was replaced, and a new actor has taken on the beloved Asgardian God of Thunder.Credit: Marvel StudiosThe Marvel Cinematic Universe is on the brink of its biggest transformation yet. As Marvel Studios prepares for a sweeping new phase that will redefine its entire future, fans are bracing for one of the most unexpected shake-ups in the franchise’s history–one that replaces some of the MCU’s most familiar faces in surprising ways.Following a major creative pivot, Marvel has officially retired Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, closing the door on Jonathan Majors’ tenure as Kang the Conqueror after his departure from the role. In its place rises Avengers: Doomsday (2026), now positioned as the centerpiece of the Multiverse Saga, and it’s already shaping up to be one of Marvel’s boldest moves yet.Credit: Marvel StudiosRobert Downey Jr., who launched the MCU in 2008, is stepping back into the Marvel fold as Victor von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom. It’s a casting twist that instantly puts him back at the center of Marvel’s storytelling, though in a way no one saw coming.And that’s not the only returning talent. Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary directors behind Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), are officially back in the director’s chairs. With Doomsday and its sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), the Russos aim to deliver another world-shattering cinematic event that could rival the scope and emotion of Endgame–and completely reshape the MCU’s trajectory.Credit: Marvel StudiosBoth films, however, will take longer to arrive than fans initially expected. Avengers: Doomsday now lands on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on December 17, 2027. The delays come as part of Marvel’s new “quality over quantity” strategy, a shift in tone that prioritizes storytelling depth and refinement after years of rapid releases.When Doomsday finally hits theaters, fans can expect a truly jaw-dropping lineup. The Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, and even legacy X-Men actors are confirmed to appear, setting the stage for one of the most ambitious crossover events in cinematic history.According to the Russos, this isn’t just about wrapping up loose threads. Doomsday will serve as a creative turning point, catapulting Marvel into a new era of interconnected storytelling.Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios President Kevin Feige echoed that vision, hinting at what could be the long-awaited debut of the X-Men in the MCU. “Reboot is a scary word,” Feige explained earlier this year. “Reboot can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline — we’re thinking along those lines […] X-Men is where that will happen next.”But before the next Avengers assemble, Marvel’s slate will take a brief breather. The only theatrical release leading up to Doomsday is Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, swinging into theaters on July 31, 2026. In the meantime, Disney+ has kept fans busy with fresh content, such as the recently released Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies series.Credit: Marvel StudiosThe latter, a four-episode limited series, built upon the dark alternate reality first introduced in What If…?, pushing the boundaries with a TV-MA rating and a much more mature tone. Originally pitched as a feature film, Marvel Zombies was helmed by creator Zeb Wells, with Bryan Andrews serving as showrunner and director, and Stellar Creative Lab leading animation.Multiple Characters Recast for Marvel Zombies–Including an Original AvengerDrawing inspiration from Robert Kirkman’s comic series, the show dove into a gruesome survivalist world where heroes like Captain America, Scarlet Witch, and Thanos had all turned undead–and the living were running out of time.The voice cast included Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop), David Harbour (Red Guardian), Dominique Thorne (Ironheart), and Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff). Randall Park and Awkwafina joined as Jimmy Woo and Katy, respectively.Credit: Marvel StudiosOn the other side of the fight were zombified versions of Captain Marvel, Ikaris, Ghost, and Abomination, among others, though not every character featured their original live-action performers.Todd Williams joined the cast as Blade Knight, a precursor to Mahershala Ali’s upcoming portrayal of Blade, while Hudson Thames reprised his role as Spider-Man. Kenna Ramsey continued voicing Okoye, following her appearance in What If…?Perhaps most notably, though, was the recast of the God of Thunder himself. After 14 years of playing the role in live-action and voicing the character in animated MCU projects like What If…?, it was not Chris Hemsworth who played Thor. Taking his place was Greg Furman. Known for his acting and voice work in shorts and video games, Furman voiced Thor for the Marvel Zombies series, marking a historic change for the character.Credit: Marvel StudiosThese casting changes are becoming increasingly common as Marvel releases more animated TV shows. That said, it should be noted that Hemsworth is confirmed to be appearing in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, as revealed during Marvel Studios’ iconic cast reveal earlier this year.How do you feel about the casting changes in Marvel projects? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!The post MCU History Changed as Thor Recast Ahead of ‘Doomsday’ appeared first on Inside the Magic.