Kat Dennings has dropped a quietly fascinating Marvel revelation — and it’s one that says a lot about where blockbuster filmmaking is heading. While speaking to Entertainment Tonight on the set of her ABC sitcom Shifting Gears, Dennings confirmed that Marvel Studios has digitally scanned her, meaning her likeness can technically be used in future projects — whether she’s physically involved or not.
The comment came up when Dennings was asked about rumors linking her to Avengers: Doomsday, and her response was classic Darcy-level sarcasm mixed with unsettling honesty.
“They scanned me… I’m in the system”
Dennings, who has been part of the MCU since debuting as Darcy Lewis in Thor, joked her way through the question before landing on the bombshell.
She made it clear she is not part of Avengers: Doomsday, insisting she was busy filming her sitcom while the Marvel tentpole was likely shooting. But then came the twist: Marvel has already scanned her body and likeness.
In her own words, while she isn’t in the film, they technically could place her into “anything they want” now — because she’s already been digitized.
It was delivered lightly, but the implication was unmistakable.
A familiar MCU face — with an uncertain future
Dennings’ MCU résumé runs deep. Beyond the original Thor, she returned in Thor: The Dark World, Thor: Love and Thunder, and played a fan-favorite supporting role in WandaVision.
Most recently, she voiced Darcy in multiple episodes of What If…?. As of now, Marvel hasn’t announced any future live-action plans for her character — scanned or otherwise.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and the Thor connection
While Dennings downplayed her involvement, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be a major MCU event. The film is co-headlined by her longtime Marvel co-star Chris Hemsworth, who returns once again as Thor.
Marvel has already released a standalone teaser highlighting Thor’s importance in the film, suggesting Hemsworth’s Asgardian hero will play a central role when the movie hits theatres on December 18.
Digital body scans: a growing — and divisive — Hollywood trend
Dennings’ revelation lands amid a larger industry debate. Body scanning actors has become increasingly common, particularly for franchises, stunts, and VFX-heavy productions. But it’s also raising serious concerns about consent, control, and AI usage.
Last year, Nicolas Cage voiced strong fears about the practice, revealing he was scanned for upcoming projects — including Prime Video’s Spider-Man Noir — and worrying about how that data could be used after his death.
Cage openly questioned whether digital replicas might one day replace the “heartbeat” of real performers, calling the idea terrifying and deeply unsettling.
Final words
Kat Dennings may not be assembling with the Avengers this time, but her candid comment offers a rare glimpse into Marvel’s behind-the-scenes future — one where actors don’t just perform roles, they become digital assets.
Whether that future is exciting or alarming depends on who you ask. For now, Dennings remains firmly outside Avengers: Doomsday — but as she herself put it, she’s already “in the system.”
And in the MCU, that might mean anything.
