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Avengers: Doomsday is part of Phase Six and already feels heavier than most titles that came before. Just the name sets the tone. It is positioned before Avengers: Secret Wars, another project that has been talked about for years. Together they form a pair of films that will probably shape how the MCU looks at the end of this cycle.
The announcement brought waves of speculation. That is natural for Marvel releases. People keep looking for hints, cameos, or connections that may not even be there. Among those possibilities, one question stayed alive for some time. Would Michael Chiklis, remembered for playing The Thing in the Fox films, return even for a short appearance?
What Michael Chiklis revealed
In a recent video interview, the question was put directly to him. The answer was not long. Chiklis said the audience is probably not going to see him in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. He added that every moment can bring something new, so it is never wise to say never.
The reaction after his comment
The idea of former actors returning had grown stronger after Marvel used similar strategies in other titles. In this case, though, Chiklis explained that he is not part of the new productions. Once he said it, the debate around his possible presence lost strength.
The current stage of the MCU and the path to Avengers: Doomsday
The comment came while Marvel is preparing its next calendar. Avengers: Doomsday is set to open one part of Phase Six, while Secret Wars follows later. Both were announced in official events, but information beyond titles and release order remains scarce. With that in mind, his confirmation that he is not returning helps narrow expectations to what has already been announced by the studio.
The Thing in comics and film
Ben Grimm, the hero most people know as The Thing, has been around since 1961. One of Marvel’s oldest creations. Over the years, he turned into this mix that is hard to define. On one side, pure strength, the kind of presence that fills a page. On the other hand, the heavy shadow of what happened to him, the weight of living trapped in a body of stone. That contrast is what kept him memorable.
Michael Chiklis was the first to try it on the big screen. Fantastic Four came out in 2005, followed by a sequel not long after, and suddenly there he was, carrying the look and voice of the character. Those films had their flaws, that is clear, but his performance stood out. Somehow, he managed to pull out the human part of The Thing, even hidden under layers of makeup and thick prosthetics. It was rough at times, but it worked enough to stick in memory, which explains why his absence in Avengers: Doomsday feels like a closing of one chapter and the start of another.
A new chapter for Fantastic Four
Marvel has already moved forward with a new cast. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is confirmed as the next actor to take on the role of The Thing in the MCU. His presence, along with the rest of the new team, places the Fantastic Four in a different era. With this official casting in place, Chiklis’s update simply matches the direction already visible. The films now belong to a new set of actors.
Release timeline and expectations
Avengers: Doomsday is expected to premiere before Avengers: Secret Wars. Current discussions place Avengers: Doomsday in 2026, while Secret Wars is expected sometime after. These windows come from reports around Marvel’s schedule but remain subject to change. What has been consistent is the idea that both films will form a central piece of Phase Six, closing this chapter of the MCU.
Why the update matters
The impact of Chiklis’s words is not in the length of what he said, but in the clarity it gave. Speculation can run for months, but a direct answer from the actor ends it quickly. Fans now know that the version of The Thing from the Fox films will not cross into Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
Conclusion
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Michael Chiklis gave shape to the first movie version of Ben Grimm, and that stayed with people who watched those films. It set a memory, a certain way of seeing the character, even if the movies were uneven. Now, with him saying he is not part of Avengers: Doomsday or the other upcoming Avengers projects, that long-running question is finally done. The focus shifts. Eyes turn to the new cast and to whatever Marvel is planning for Phase Six.
The earlier Fantastic Four movies sit in the past now, not erased, just filed as part of the history of superhero cinema. What comes next will carry different actors and a different style, shaped by another moment in time. The future of the story clearly belongs to them.
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