Concerns Rise Among Marvel Fans as Batman 2 and Avengers: Secret Wars Begin Filming Nearby, Speculating Bucky Barnes’ Fate in Doomsday

Sebastian Stan’s potential role in The Batman 2 has fans of the Dark Knight buzzing, but it’s left Marvel enthusiasts a bit anxious about what this means for his future in the MCU, particularly regarding Bucky Barnes.

With the news that Stan is in discussions to join Scarlett Johansson and Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ sequel, many took to social media to express their concerns. The Batman 2 is set to begin filming in spring 2026, coinciding with the production of Avengers: Secret Wars, which starts in the summer. This overlap has sparked worries among fans.

“I told y’all all the Thunderbolts besides Yelena are dying, with Sentry being on the thinnest of ice,” one fan tweeted, highlighting the precarious situation for the New Avengers – Bucky, Yelena, Red Guardian, Ghost, John Walker, and Bob – as they prepare to face Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.

“I JUST GOT THE THUNDERBOLTS, MAN. I JUSTTTTT GOT MY NEW FAMILY AND THEY’RE GONNA TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME,” lamented another fan. “THEY’RE GONNA RIP IT AWAY FROM ME.”

“Yeah, Bucky’s cooked,” chimed in a third.

“THE BATMAN PART II and AVENGERS: SECRET WARS will be shooting at the same time on different continents. I suddenly don’t love Bucky’s chances of surviving DOOMSDAY,” wrote ViewerAnon, before quickly correcting themselves: “Scratch that, thought AVENGERS was shooting in Atlanta. Bucky lives!”

Some fans remain hopeful, suggesting that Stan could manage to juggle both roles if his screen time is limited in each film, especially since both productions are based in London.

“I’m picturing a scenario where anyone who’s not a lead for Secret Wars isn’t going to be needed for the whole shoot because of how many other actors/characters they have to get in,” one user speculated, while another added: “Y’all would be surprised with what Sebastian Stan is capable of doing; he’s had tighter schedules than that.”

Even if Bucky were to meet his end, who’s to say Stan wouldn’t return as a different character in the MCU? With the multiverse antics currently unfolding, anything is on the table. “We’ve already killed off Patrick Stewart in the MCU and yet – here he is in a trailer,” noted Whiskey, referencing the latest X-Men-heavy promo for Avengers: Doomsday. “Calm down.”

For now, fans will have to wait and see what lies ahead for the Winter Soldier in Avengers: Doomsday, set to release on December 18.