The actor behind M’Baku has offered one of the clearest hints yet that Marvel’s next major Avengers movie could contain surprises that audiences are not prepared for.
During an interview with CNA Lifestyle while visiting Japan for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Duke confirmed that work on Avengers: Doomsday has continued, including additional photography. But when pressed for details about the highly anticipated Marvel film, the actor immediately went into spoiler-protection mode.
His message to fans was simple: he cannot say much.
And then came the tease.
Duke said the cast had a lot of fun making the movie and described the finished project as being packed with “a lot of crazy surprises that no one sees coming.”
That comment is likely to fuel even more speculation surrounding the film, particularly because Marvel has already assembled an unusually large crossover cast.
Winston Duke keeps ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ secrets under wraps
Duke’s comments are particularly notable because Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of Marvel Studios’ biggest crossover events yet.
According to Disney’s official movie information, the film will bring together heroes from three distinct universes as they face an existential threat. The confirmed ensemble includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Simu Liu, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden and Winston Duke, among many others.
Duke is officially returning as M’Baku, the formidable leader of the Jabari tribe first introduced in Black Panther.
But exactly how M’Baku fits into the larger conflict remains closely guarded.
When CNA Lifestyle asked Duke what audiences should expect, the actor repeatedly avoided giving anything away, laughing as he explained that even seemingly harmless comments could become spoilers.
That secrecy is hardly surprising.
Marvel has built much of the anticipation surrounding Doomsday around its mystery, particularly the return of major legacy characters and the introduction of Robert Downey Jr. as Victor von Doom, rather than Tony Stark.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom raises the stakes
Downey’s return has become one of the defining talking points surrounding Avengers: Doomsday.
The actor, who spent more than a decade playing Tony Stark/Iron Man, is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a completely different role: Doctor Doom.
Recent promotional material has also emphasized the collision of multiple Marvel worlds, including the Avengers, Fantastic Four and legacy X-Men characters. Entertainment Weekly reported that recent footage showcased Downey’s Doom facing characters including Mister Fantastic and Thor, while also featuring returning X-Men stars.
The sheer number of returning characters has consequently made it difficult for Marvel fans to predict where the story is headed.
And Duke’s warning about unexpected twists only adds fuel to that speculation.
Before Marvel, Dragon Ball Z captured Winston Duke’s imagination
Interestingly, Duke’s CNA interview was not solely about Marvel.
The actor also opened up about his longstanding love for anime—and revealed that Dragon Ball Z was the first anime he remembers watching.
Duke recalled discovering the series after moving from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States with his mother and sister. He remembered seeing Dragon Ball Z on television and becoming fascinated by what he initially thought was simply a cartoon.
The fascination quickly became an obsession.
By sixth or seventh grade, Duke said Dragon Ball Z had become a major part of his life. He and his classmates would draw Super Saiyans and compare their artwork, while making sure they did not miss the show’s scheduled broadcasts on Cartoon Network’s Toonami.
For a performer who has since become part of one of the world’s biggest superhero franchises, the connection is an interesting glimpse into the fandom that shaped him.
Japan was more than just another trip for Duke
Duke’s first visit to Japan also carried a personal significance.
The actor explained that much of his early exposure to Japanese culture came through anime and Japanese history. His interest eventually expanded into subjects including the Warring States period, the Edo period, the shogunates and the transition into the Meiji era.
He also spoke about his interest in Yasuke, the historical African samurai who served under Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga.
Being in Japan allowed Duke to experience places he had previously encountered only through anime and other media—including the famous Shibuya crossing.
For the actor, seeing those locations in person appeared to create a particularly surreal full-circle moment.
Voice acting has also changed the way he approaches acting
Duke also discussed his expanding work in animation and voice performance.
His voice-acting credits include work on Invincible and the audio drama Batman Unburied. He explained that voice acting gives performers the freedom to focus almost entirely on their voices rather than their physical appearance.
That experience, he said, has actually influenced his live-action acting.
Without having to think about how his body looks on camera, Duke has been able to explore the range and nuance of his voice more deeply. He believes that experience has helped him become less physically restrained when performing in front of a camera.
His comments also reflect the increasingly blurred boundaries between live-action, animation, anime-inspired storytelling and superhero entertainment.
‘Doomsday’ could be Marvel’s next major turning point
The stakes surrounding Avengers: Doomsday extend beyond the film itself.
Marvel is positioning the movie as a major event leading into Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for 2027. The massive cast and multiverse setup suggest that the story could have consequences across several corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Recent coverage has already generated intense fan theories surrounding Doctor Doom, the return of legacy characters and the possibility of unexpected connections between different Marvel realities. Some theories remain purely speculative and should not be treated as confirmed plot information.
That distinction is important.
Duke did not reveal a specific twist or confirm any fan theory.
What he did reveal is that the cast knows there are moments in Avengers: Doomsday that could surprise audiences—and he clearly intends to keep those secrets locked away.
With the film scheduled for Dec. 18, 2026, Marvel fans will have to wait a little longer to discover exactly what Duke means by “crazy surprises.”
And considering how carefully Marvel has guarded the movie’s biggest revelations, the things Winston Duke isn’t saying may ultimately be just as interesting as the things he is.
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