Xochitl Gomez Says Her Marvel Break Made Finding New Roles Harder

Xochitl Gomez says landing a prominent role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought an unexpected downside: it became more difficult to secure other acting jobs. The actor, who played America Chavez in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has described the experience as both a major opportunity and an obstacle to pursuing the kinds of projects she hoped would follow.

Gomez joined the MCU in 2022 as America Chavez, the dimension-hopping teenager whose unusual ability allows her to punch openings between universes. It was a significant role in a major franchise, particularly for an actor whose earlier television credits included Disney's Raven's Home and Netflix's The Baby-Sitters Club. Yet in comments to Bustle, Gomez said that the perceived consequences of appearing in Marvel had affected how prospective filmmakers viewed her.

She explained that people appeared to assume she would either cost too much to hire after entering the MCU or be difficult to schedule because Marvel might call her back for a future production. Gomez's point is especially notable because, years after her debut, America Chavez has not actually appeared in another Marvel project.

"After [Doctor Strange], I had a hard time getting roles," Gomez said. "They were like, 'She's too expensive. What if she's in this and that, her schedule?' And I'm like, 'Guys...'"

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For Gomez, the appeal of moving beyond a blockbuster franchise was not simply finding another high-profile part. She said she wanted the opportunity to make independent films and take on work that could demonstrate a wider range as a performer. In that sense, the assumptions made around her Marvel status created a strange professional gap: her association with one of entertainment's biggest brands could suggest demand and momentum, while simultaneously making some decision-makers hesitant to approach her.

A Marvel role with no follow-up--so far

America Chavez seemed positioned for a larger future when Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended. After helping Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximoff navigate a multiversal crisis, America was left at Kamar-Taj to train alongside the sorcerers. The conclusion provided a natural path for her development, potentially giving her greater control over powers that are enormously important in a setting increasingly built around alternate realities.

That apparent setup has yet to lead to an on-screen return. Gomez has not reprised the role in another MCU film or series, and Marvel has not formally announced her involvement in Avengers: Doomsday or the following Avengers: Secret Wars. This remains notable because both films are expected to bring the MCU's Multiverse Saga to a close, making America's portal-creating abilities seem like an obvious fit on paper.

Of course, a lack of an announcement does not prove that a character will not appear. Major Marvel productions often keep casting details under wraps, and audiences have become accustomed to surprise cameos, late additions, and characters whose involvement is withheld until closer to release. Gomez herself did not rule out a return when asked whether she could appear in Avengers: Doomsday, observing that Marvel has rights to use her image and that an appearance therefore remained possible.

Still, there is a meaningful distinction between the possibility of a return and confirmed work. Gomez's comments underline that distinction. Whatever plans Marvel may or may not have for America Chavez, the industry perception she encountered was that she was already tied up by them. The result was an apparent scheduling and budgetary assumption based on a franchise future that has not materialized publicly.

Why America Chavez matters to the Multiverse Saga

America's MCU introduction gave the franchise a character whose power is inherently connected to travel between realities. Unlike technology, spells, or cosmic accidents that might temporarily open a path through the multiverse, America's ability is personal and innate. In Multiverse of Madness, her uncontrolled travel creates the central chase of the film, while her eventual growth allows her to take a more active role in determining where those portals lead.

That makes her absence from subsequent multiverse stories more conspicuous than the absence of some other supporting characters. Her character was not merely present during an alternate-universe adventure; she was essential to its plot and its rules. The Kamar-Taj ending also suggested that Marvel could pair her with the mystic side of the MCU while allowing her powers to evolve.

Rumors previously circulated around a possible project called Strange Academy, which was said to potentially explore a magical-school concept and continue elements of the Kamar-Taj setting. Such a project could have offered a straightforward place for America Chavez to continue training. However, no such series has been confirmed or released, and nothing has yet come of the idea.

There are several reasons a franchise character can remain off screen for an extended period. The MCU has a large cast, shifting production plans, changing strategies for streaming and theatrical releases, and storylines that can take years to revisit. A character's absence does not necessarily reflect audience reception or the creative team's assessment of the performance. Gomez's America Chavez was generally well received, and the character's open-ended departure left room for future stories rather than delivering a final farewell.

But the wider industry impact described by Gomez is a separate issue. Actors can be affected not only by the jobs they actually book, but also by the work others assume they will book. In a business where availability, budgets, and timing can determine casting before creative considerations are settled, an actor seen as committed to a blockbuster universe may lose opportunities even during a period without franchise work.

A career beyond the superhero spotlight

Gomez already had notable experience before Marvel. Her roles on Raven's Home and The Baby-Sitters Club established her as a young performer working across family entertainment and streaming television. After Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, she also competed on and won the 2023 season of Dancing with the Stars, adding another major mainstream appearance to her résumé.

Even so, television competition success and a Marvel credit do not automatically translate into the acting opportunities an actor wants. Gomez's comments show a desire to work in smaller-scale productions, including independent films, rather than being defined solely by a single superhero part. That ambition is common for performers who make a breakthrough within a global franchise: the visibility is valuable, but it can also encourage casting professionals and audiences to view them through one established character.

Her description of Marvel as a "gift and a curse" captures that tension. Playing America Chavez introduced Gomez to a vast audience and placed her in one of the most commercially visible film series in modern entertainment. At the same time, she says it gave others an inaccurate picture of her immediate availability and financial expectations.

For Marvel fans, the comments will likely renew questions about America Chavez's future. The character's power set, unfinished training at Kamar-Taj, and direct connection to the multiverse all leave plenty of narrative possibilities. Yet no official confirmation currently places Gomez in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, and speculation should remain just that until Marvel identifies its cast and story plans.

For Gomez, the more immediate concern appears to be having the freedom to take varied roles now. Her experience is a reminder that joining a massive franchise can change an actor's career in ways that are not always visible from the outside. A high-profile debut may look like a guaranteed launchpad, but the assumptions surrounding that visibility can prove restrictive when the anticipated franchise follow-up never arrives.