Sebastian Stan's DC Casting Fuels Bucky Barnes Death Rumors in Avengers: Doomsday

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Avengers: Doomsday will mark a make-or-break milestone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The franchise, which brought superhero drama to the global stage in 2008, is at an undeniable crossroads. With its audience aging, the MCU is desperate for new blood to oversee its next era, but that means it will need to say goodbye to some of its current heroes. And if a new casting update has told us anything, it is that Bucky Barnes is for sure going to die.

Don't believe it? Well, we are in mourning with you. Sebastian Stan's beloved Marvel character has been a favorite to die in Avengers: Doomsday, and a recent casting announcement has only heated speculation ahead of the movie's debut.

Sebastian Stan Is Ready to Travel in Marvel for DC

The casting in question, if you did not hear, has nothing to do with Marvel. Rather, it is all about DC Comics. Not long ago, reports surfaced that Stan was now attached to The Batman: Part 2, the next movie slated to join Matt Reeve's hit DC franchise. Joining Robert Pattinson, Stan is expected to star in the Batman sequel as it eyes a production start date in 2027. At this point, no word has been given on who Stan will play in The Batman: Part 2, but current theories suggest the actor will be brought in as Harvey Dent, a man fans will know better as Two Face.

Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes holds Steve Rogers' shield in Captain America The Winter Soldier

Avengers: Doomsday Deaths Teased By Sebastian Stan As He Addresses Captain America Variant Rumor

Sebastian Stan addresses rumors of major character deaths and him potentially playing a Captain America Variant in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday.

With Stan eyeing a new superhero role, well, it is easy to see why fans are confident his tenure with Marvel Studios is wrapping up. It is no small thing to play a superhero in Hollywood as it demands a significant amount of time. Avengers: Doomsday filming will not be an issue for Stan as he will not begin shooting for The Batman: Part 2 until 2027. Principal photography on Avengers: Doomsday began in early 2025, and additional filming is expected to occur in 2026 ahead of the movie's launch. Stan's superhero timelines should be free of one another, but that will not be the case if Bucky appears in Avengers: Secret Wars.

After all, the MCU's follow-up to Avengers: Doomsday is slated to begin principal photography in mid-2026 if all goes well. The duration will last six months, and again, this does not account for scheduling changes or reshoots. Production on Avengers: Doomsday will run right into The Batman: Part 2, so you can bet Stan will want to avoid that tension professionally if at all possible. And what's more, the death of Bucky just makes sense for Avengers: Doomsday.

It's Time for Bucky's Journey to End

Stan's take on Bucky made its debut in July 2011, nearly 15 years ago if you can believe it. His comeback as the Winter Soldier propelled Bucky Barnes into the Marvel stratosphere, making Stan's character a fan-fave with ease. To date, audiences have seen Bucky's character arc blossom, and his most recent appearance in Thunderbolts* almost felt too tame for the character.

Bucky's long tenure in the MCU has given the character room to grow, but now, it is time to make way for new stories. Nothing would be more appropriate than to have Stan's character bow out in Avengers: Doomsday where he can reunite with a familiar friend on hand. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers is slated to return in the upcoming film, after all, and Captain America is the steward that brought Bucky into the MCU. It is only right that Evans be at Stan's side as Bucky brings his stirring journey to a close. And with The Batman now closing in on Stan's schedule, it is now clear that Bucky's time left in the MCU is short.