There’s Only One Character Confirmed So Far Who Appears in Both ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ and ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Marvel has spent the past year quietly building toward one of its most ambitious crossover years yet, with only a handful of theatrical releases bridging the gap between franchise chapters. That scarcity has made every casting reveal feel like a bigger deal than usual, and this latest confirmation is no exception.

Florence Pugh has become one of the MCU’s most reliable breakout stars since debuting as Yelena Belova in 2021’s ‘Black Widow,’ and her presence has only grown louder since her turn in last year’s ‘Thunderbolts.’ Fans have spent months speculating about where her character might pop up next, especially with only two Marvel Studios films hitting theaters this year.

Now, Pugh’s involvement in both of those films has been confirmed, making her one of the only actors set to appear in multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe releases in 2026. She’s set to appear as Yelena in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ alongside a previously confirmed role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ later this year.

The reveal came courtesy of Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, who addressed the rumors directly while appearing at BiliBili World in Shanghai. Speaking there, Feige teased that Yelena would play a significant role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,‘ but added that fans wouldn’t have to wait that long to see her again, noting they might see her “a little bit sooner” in an upcoming film. According to Just Jared, Feige explained that “Yelena plays a big part in that,” referring to her expanded role in December’s ‘Doomsday.’

Given that ‘Brand New Day’ is the only Marvel Studios theatrical release standing between now and ‘Doomsday,’ fans quickly connected the dots, and director Destin Daniel Cretton has since confirmed Pugh’s appearance in the Spider-Man sequel directly. Exactly how large her role is remains under wraps, though her scene has already generated plenty of buzz thanks to online rumors describing a comedic bathhouse encounter between Yelena and Peter Parker.

Pugh’s Yelena already has strong ties to the wider MCU, having inherited the Black Widow mantle in spirit after Natasha Romanoff’s sacrifice in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Her chemistry-driven approach to the character, built through appearances in ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Thunderbolts,’ has made her one of the more beloved additions to Marvel’s roster in recent years, which only adds to the excitement surrounding her crossover into Peter Parker’s corner of the universe.

Her role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ places her among a massive ensemble that includes returning X-Men actors like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, and Alan Cumming, further cementing the film’s status as one of the MCU’s biggest crossover events since ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ With that scale of ensemble already locked in, Pugh’s added presence in ‘Brand New Day’ feels like a deliberate bridge connecting Spider-Man’s world to the larger Avengers story building toward December.

It’s also worth noting the timing of Pugh’s packed schedule extends beyond Marvel entirely, with the actress also set to appear in ‘Dune: Part Three,’ which opens the same day as ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ on December 18. That overlap makes her one of the more in-demand actresses working across two of the year’s biggest franchise tentpoles simultaneously.

For a character who started as a scene-stealing supporting player, Yelena’s expanding footprint across Marvel’s 2026 slate says a lot about how much faith the studio has put in Pugh’s ability to anchor major moments. Whether her ‘Brand New Day’ cameo ends up being a quick surprise or something more substantial, it’s clear Marvel sees her as central to wherever the franchise heads next.

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