The asterisk hullabaloo had everything to do with setting up The New Avengers ahead of Avengers: Doomsday ’s release next summer. While I wasn’t exactly surprised about the reveal when the movie reached its end (especially considering we already know the Thunderbolts* cast are part of the Avengers;

Doom will serve in his stead during the culmination of the MCU's extremely troubled recent history. For whatever it's worth, Disney is sparing no expense in ensuring that Avengers: Doomsday is everything fans hope it will be.