The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Anticipation is at a fever pitch for the next upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday, especially with The Russo Brothers back behind the camera. And the pair of acclaimed directors recently shared the upside of filming the blockbuster without a completed script.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but information and footage is slowly trickling out as we get closer to its release this December. In an interview with The Associate Press, Joe Russo spoke about what it was like filming the big crossover movie, and the upside of not having to strictly follow a script. In his words:

Honestly, I see this appeal. While in theory not having a finished script would be chaotic, The Russo Brothers found a serious silver lining. Specifically that the movie's dialogue and scene work could be changed by improvisation and a deep collaboration with the Avengers: Doomsday cast. And I can't wait to see how this pays off when the movie releases this winter.

This way of working sounds like it's in stark juxtaposition to the last time The Russos were working within the MCU. Namely because Infinity War and Endgame were filmed back to back. The directors needed a clear vision of the narrative to make this happen, but it sounds like Doomsday allowed for more exploration and collaboration with the various A-listers involved in the next Avengers flick.

News of the improvisation-based filming might be surprising for fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order. After all, Doomsday features entire teams of heroes, who will somehow unite in order to battle Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Namely the Avengers, the new Avengers (aka Thunderbolts), Fantastic Four, and the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Servicing all these characters seems like a dizzying job, especially without a completed script. Alas, that's not how the pair of directors saw the opportunity.

The pressure is on for the next Avengers movie to deliver, both critically and financially. There have been number of disappointments in the years since Endgame became the highest grossing movie of all time, including box office bombs like The Marvels.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we're treated to more footage ahead of the movie's arrival, but there's no telling given Marvel's tight security.

Few upcoming 2026 movies have the hype going for them that Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday does, though I guess Secret Wars isn’t so far behind it. As news surfaces about the newest cast member to join the MCU, the latest Scarlet Witch reports point to the character being utilized as Doomsday reshoots are wrapping up. Of course, it’s not so cut and dry as “Elizabeth Olsen was clearly seen on set in costume,” because that would be too easy.

As it often goes with MCU hearsay, the latest rumor mill fodder came from online scoopers. Daniel Richtman (via Patreon) claims that the Russo brothers’ reshoots are completed, and that Scarlet Witch and Sue Storm are among the characters who were filmed. Meanwhile, on X, MyTimeToShineHello is saying that it was Elizabeth Olsen’s stunt double that was involved with the additional filming, and that it was for a post-credits sequence.

To be sure, even if these reports are true, it’s still unclear if this would be the only point in the film where Scarlet Witch appears, given Olsen’s unwavering stance that she knows nothing about her next MCU project. Despite other rumors claiming she’ll be a major villain for the Mutant Saga, and that she’s also supposed to be utilized for Secret Wars. Which brings me to this question…

What If Only Scarlet Witch, Not Elizabeth Olsen, Appears In Avengers: Doomsday?

Hear me out. What if it's both true that Scarlet Witch will appear in Doomsday and also that Olsen did not do any filming for the movie, and was purposefully kept out of the loop so that she wouldn't be lying about that when asked during interviews? It'd be the perfect crime. Well, no, not a crime, and not quite a diversion, but still sly and tricky.

In the first place, Olsen was revealed to be pregnant in June, and while that obviously wouldn't rule her out of filming anything, it does make it slightly less likely.

Additionally, I've previously shared my own conjecture that — based on rumors of Wanda being Doctor Doom's henchwitch — the character will be the one under the Latverian Witch mask, and that she was actually the one who appeared to Franklin in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Even if that second part isn't real, Scarlet Witch being masked until the very end would also be a way to have the character in the movie without the need for Olsen to be on the set.

My final totally-not-flimsy piece of circumstantial evidence is the fact that Agatha All Along alluded to Wanda's presence without the need to show her face. So it's not out of the question to think that the Doomsday post-credits scene could involve her being unmasked from behind, so that all audiences see is her long red hair as "proof."

What are we thinking? Am I way offbase? Do we think Olsen has just been lying and that Scarlet Witch is all over Doomsday? What about VisionQuest? [Brain glitches.] Everything is normal. Wanda is not in movies. Olsen is right all along. Continue. Continue. Have good day. [Brain glitches again.]

Check out Avengers: Doomsday in theaters on December 18, 2026.

While Avengers: Doomsday has yet to be released, fans are already starting to ask questions about its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars. The 2027 movie release is still well over a year away but, at the moment, it’s in pre-production, which means details are slowly being reported. A big piece of news just hit this week, as the superhero team-up film has reportedly tapped a Marvel Cinematic Universe newcomer for an undisclosed role. Despite that, I have a wild idea regarding who he’s playing.

Avengers: Secret Wars Enlists A Quiet Place Alum

Marvel Studios can certainly attract talent, and it’s just proven that yet again by casting Noah Jupe in Secret Wars, which starts filming later this year. Deadline couldn’t confirm Jupe’s role, but it did allege that the actor is set to play an important role in the film, which serves as the culmination of the Multiverse Saga. Unsurprisingly, none of the bigwigs at the studio have provided any comment on the casting. The lack of concrete details don’t extinguish any of my excitement, though, as I’m more than pleased to see Jupe joining the MCU.

Jupe may only be 21, but he’s amassed a solid number of credits over the past several years. A former child actor, Jupe rose to prominence through his role as Marcus Abbott in 2018’s A Quiet Place and reprised it in the 2021 sequel. (He’ll play Marcus again in the upcoming third movie). The star really garnered attention, though, due to his role in Honey Boy. Shia LaBeouf's 2019 semi-autographical drama film. Since then he’s appeared in films like No Sudden Move, (the Oscar-winning) Hamnet and The Death of Robin Hood.

Another detail that makes this casting so sweet is that Jupe has ties to a relatively new MCU star: Sadie Sink. Earlier this year, Sink made his debut as Jean Grey in the box office behemoth that is Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She and Jupe starred alongside each other in the West End’s production of Romeo & Juliet. Personally, I’d love for the two actors to share some scenes in Secret Wars. Of course, there’s still the matter of who the Carpenter’s Son star is playing in the Marvel flick.

I Think This MCU Newbie Is Playing A Powerful Character

Considering Doomsday hasn’t even hit theaters yet, it’s hard to speculate on Secret Wars’ plot. What producer and Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige has confirmed, however, is that both films take heavy inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 Secret Wars run. That story contains a smattering of different characters, including one known as The Maker, who’s a younger and more dangerous version of Reed Richards from an alternate universe. That’s who I think Jupe might be playing.

Maker was originally the Reed of Earth-1610, which is known as the Ultimate Marvel universe. While this variation of Richards begins as an upbeat and well-meaning man of science, he eventually developed into a malevolent force after experiencing a series of personal tragedies. This Reed eventually becomes a fixture within the main Earth-616 universe and, in 2015’s Secret Wars, he’s amongst those impacted by Doctor Doom’s multiverse-shattering actions. In this story, Maker also forges a shaky partnership with the main Reed.

Jupe definitely has the gravitas to play a character as flawed and layered as Maker and has the ability to be both charming and somewhat unpredictable. While I mentioned the notion of Jupe sharing the screen with Sink, what I’d really love is to see him chop it up with Reed Richards actor Pedro Pascal. What’s more is that I’d completely buy Jupe as a younger version of Pascal’s character.

It may be a while before we get a definitive answer regarding Noah Jupe’s role, but I’m hopeful that directors Joe and Anthony Russo will effectively utilize his talents. And, of course, I’m also curious as to what other non-MCU alums may be tapped to step into this continuity for the first time alongside Jupe. Keep those eyes peeled, folks, because this casting news is surely just the beginning!

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule, while Avengers: Secret Wars hits theaters on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, prepare yourself by streaming the various MCU movies and shows using a Disney+ subscription.

I’ll never forget when I heard Robert Downey Jr. was going to be in Avengers: Doomsday. It happened at the Hall H Marvel panel at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con when the Iron Man actor surprised the audience with the reveal. It was the perfect viral moment to get fans hyped for the next Avengers movie after what happened with Kang. But I just got a reminder recently that not everyone is terminally online like I am.

My Dad Has No Idea About RDJ In Doomsday

Growing up, my dad was the one who got me into comic books and superheroes. We’ve seen most of the Marvel movies in order together over the years, too. I mean, I was twelve when Iron Man came out, so there’s been plenty of daddy/daughter bonding with the MCU. Now my dad is 67 years old, and these days he’s not spending his time scrolling social media, reading the latest on all the Marvel rumors and thinkpieces.

Recently, when I went to see him, we watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps together, which is streaming right now with a Disney+ subscription. When we got to the Doctor Doom tease at the end, something dawned on me… he has no idea RDJ is under that mask. I proceeded to show him the latest Doomsday trailer and realized he doesn’t have to know (and probably won’t) until the movie comes out.

Honestly, I Wish That Was Me Too

There was a moment during our visit when I asked him if he wanted to know who Doctor Doom is, but he declined. I think he made the right move. I actually hope he never finds out until the movie makes the reveal somehow.

I mean, how cool is it going to be for him to experience Doomsday without an awareness that Iron Man is the Avengers' latest greatest villain? Certainly, for most of the movie the team of superheroes won’t have any idea. There has to be a scene when Downey uncovers his mask somehow, and everyone looks in shock and surprise. While I’ll have been anticipating this for years, and probably be let down somehow thanks to all the piled up excitement, but my dad is going to be just as much in disbelief as the likes of Thor or Captain America.

I assume Doomsday has a lot more surprises in store for fans than the Doctor Doom unmasking (which isn’t much of a surprise for most), but now I’m thinking about how much fun it would have been if Marvel never revealed Downey was Doctor Doom. I see why they did it. Too many leaks spoil Marvel surprises all the time, and having RDJ help promote your movie is a great thing to have in your arsenal if you want people to show up for the fifth Avengers movie. But, yeah… I’m jealous of my pops!

I mean, if anything, maybe this is a good reason for me to go see it with him. And maybe you should take note and find your closest family member who doesn’t pay attention to the internet. If you do, you have until December 18 to find your offline Doomsday buddy.

It's almost time. Avengers: Doomsday is coming on the heels of the wildly successful Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The upcoming Marvel movie will be the first movie to feature most of The Avengers since 2019's Avengers: Endgame, and it promises to be a star-studded affair.

Because this 39th installment of the long-running franchise of acclaimed superhero movies is finally bringing in one of the most feared villains in comic book history, Doctor Doom, Kevin Feige and his team are assembling a collection of heroes unlike anything the MCU has seen before. There are familiar faces, newcomers, and even a few people from other corners of the Marvel multiverse who have not been properly introduced into the MCU. Let’s get into who is avenging this time and what else we know about the upcoming superhero movie in the following guide to Avengers: Doomsday.

What Is The Avengers: Doomsday Release Date?

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

That date coincides with the release of Dune: Part 3 on the same day of the 2026 movie schedule, and fans have taken to calling it "Dunesday." It's set up a perfect double feature for hardcore movie fans, though it's going to make for a long day, as it's expected both movies will have runtimes around the two-and-a-half-to-three-hour mark.

Avengers: Doomsday Trailer

After years of anticipation, an epic cast reveal, a brief appearance by Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and a series of teasers featuring different characters, our first real look at Avengers: Doomsday came in July 2026 with the release of the first full trailer. Of course, it was talked about as much for what it didn't show as what it did.

What Avengers: Doomsday Is About

Here's basically what we know: Avengers: Doomsday will bring together superhero teams from across the multiverse who will converge in one place to battle Doctor Doom. For the first time, the biggest teams in the Marvel canon will be teaming up in the MCU, including The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The New Avengers (or The Thunderbolts), and last but certainly not least, The X-Men.

Previously, the plot of the fifth Avengers film was intended to revolve around a different villain and was going to be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty before Kang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors was dropped by Marvel in 2023 following high-profile legal troubles.

The Avengers: Doomsday Cast

As you would expect, the cast for Avengers: Doomsday is huge. The first announcement came way back in the summer of 2024 at San Diego Comic Con. The Hall H crowd erupted into a roar of excitement and confusion when it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU, but not as Iron Man. Instead, the Academy Award winner is the one putting the “doom” in Avengers: Doomsday by starring as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom.

In March of 2025, Marvel Studios revealed who would be taking on Doom with a live-streamed video on X, which is now available on YouTube, lasting more than five hours. Foldout chairs bearing the actors’ names were placed next to each other, one by one, every 15 minutes. In addition to established veterans of the franchise, the previewed ensemble also includes the stars of the yet-to-be-released Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as well as a few who are making their MCU debuts but not their Marvel debuts, having previously starred in the live-action X-Men movies.

Check out the full Avengers: Doomsday cast, complete with character names, below:

• Robert Downey Jr. (Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom)
• Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
• Chris Evans (Steve Rogers)
• Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier / Professor X)
• Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto)
• Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson / Captain America)
• Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes)
• Letitia Wright (Shuri / Black Panther)
• Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau / Gambit)
• Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic)
• Paul Rudd (Scott Lang / Ant-Man)
• Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme / Mystique)
• James Marsden (Scott Summers / Cyclops)
• Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
• Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm / Invisible Woman)
• Simu Liu (Xu Shang-Chi)
• Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
• Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)
• Wyatt Russell (John Walker / U.S. Agent)
• Tenoch Huerta (Namor)
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm / The Thing)
• Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy / Beast)
• Lewis Pullman (Bob / Sentry)
• Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon)
• Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm / Human Torch)
• David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian)
• Winston Duke (M'Baku)
• Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr / Ghost)
• Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler)

There are a few names you might be wondering about who aren't on that list. There are a few actors who have not been officially confirmed for Doomsday, but there is speculation that at least some of them will appear. This includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. Also not on the list is Tom Holland as Spider-Man, and that's because it's very unclear if he'll be in Doomsday or only in the sequel, Avengers: Secret War. There is a lot of chatter that Tobey Maguire may appear as his version of Peter Park/Spider-Man in Doomsday.

Avengers: Secret Wars Is Coming December 17, 2027

Joe and Anthony Russo revealed to Omelete that, while Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were two halves of a finale to the MCU’s first saga, Avengers: Doomsday will be the first half of a new beginning for the franchise. Avengers: Secret Wars will drop on the 2027 movie schedule next December and will mark the end of Marvel Phase Six and the Multiverse Saga overall.

The sixth Avengers movie shares its name with the aforementioned comic book arc, which ran for 12 issues from 1984 to 1985, in which an omnipotent being called the Beyonder brings various heroes and villains (including Doctor Doom) to the planet Battleworld and pits them against each other like gladiators.

All of this was potentially hinted at in the post-credits scene on Spider-Man: Brand New Day and could explain why Tom Holland won't be in Doomsday, as his version of Spidey is now trapped on Battleworld.

Joe And Anthony Russo Are Directing Avengers: Doomsday

Some of the titles considered to be the absolute best Marvel Cinematic Universe movies include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame – all of which are directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The brotherly duo previously claimed they would be walking away from the franchise for good after their 2019 smash, but it looks like you should never say never. The Russos are directing both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which, according to Variety, was a top condition for Robert Downey Jr.’s return.

After most recently working with the Russos as the co-writer for their Netflix original movies, The Gray Man and The Electric State, Stephen McFeely is reteaming with them to pen Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. He had previously written several classic MCU movies, including Endgame, with his frequent partner, Christopher Markus, but this will be his first solo effort with the franchise. Loki creator Michael Waldron was previously serving as the screenwriter when Daniel Destin Cretton was still on board as the director.

What To Watch In Anticipation Of Doomsday

You still have plenty of time to catch up on or revisit all of the Marvel movies in order before Avengers: Doomsday is released if you are up for it. However, Disney and Marvel have also released a list of MCU shows and movies that they say are essential viewing, and thankfully, it's much shorter than diving into everything!

All you need is a Disney+ subscription, and you can watch everything recommended.

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

While there have been some left wondering why certain shows and movies were left out, and others are mad that more of what they watched seemingly isn't important to this installment, I am glad the list isn't too exhaustive. It's hard work keeping up with the MCU, but I'll keep doing it and making updates on this story as often as needed!

Head on over to the Marvel section of Disney+, and you'll find a whole section dedicated to movies and TV shows that you should watch in preparation for Avengers: Doomsday, which just so happens to come out on December 18th of the 2026 movie schedule (the same day as Dune: Part Three, making it Dunesday!).

Oh, wait. Did I say TV shows? I meant TV show, singular, as when you go to the “Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday” section, you'll find 14 movies you should watch before seeing the film, and just ONE TV show: Loki.

That this is RIDICULOUS! I’ve spent literally HOURS watching MCU TV shows, and you're telling me that only ONE of them matters when it comes to Avengers: Doomsday? Arg. Let's talk.

For A Time, It Seemed Like All Of The MCU Shows Mattered. Now, Almost None Of Them Do

I'll tell you, when WandaVision debuted back in 2021, I was in love. The show was so weird and experimental that it felt like a revelation. What interested me the most, however, was how it would eventually connect back to the MCU movies, proper. Because back then, that was sort of the promise of these MCU shows - They weren't just standalone programs. They would connect to the movies at some point.

The resulting movie following the events of WandaVision was 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which…well, I'll be frank. I didn't love. Even so, I appreciated that my time didn't feel wasted with WandaVision. The same goes for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with Captain America: Brave New World being the result of that series. The point I'm making is that for a time (with Ms. Marvel being another example), the shows fed into the movies, and vice versa.

Then something changed. We started getting shows that didn't really seem to connect to the films at all. Now, with the Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday saying that only Loki really matters when it comes to the events for this movie, well…I kind of feel like I wasted my time watching all of these shows, especially a few in particular, which I’ll get into next.

Certain Shows, Like Moon Knight, And She-Hulk Feel Especially Pointless Now

Moon Knight is my favorite Marvel character, so when there was word that we were getting a Moon Knight TV show, I was seriously losing my mind. However, Moon Knight came and went, and while I liked certain aspects about it, I also greatly disliked other aspects about it. Not only that, but I also felt like it could have been a real turning point for the MCU, but that's neither here nor there.

What bugs me, though, is that, as far as we know, Moon Knight will NOT return in Avengers: Doomsday. Plus, his show was so inconsequential that you don't even need to have watched it in preparation for this film. Same goes with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. I mean, I loved it, but it feels like a forgotten relic now.

Agatha All Along? Unnecessary. Echo? Unnecessary. Hawkeye? Unnecessary. Secret Invasion (which sucked)? Unnecessary. I mean, jeez, now that so many of these shows are not connected to Avengers: Doomsday, they feel like a COMPLETE waste of time to me, which is why…

I Think I'm Done Watching Marvel TV Shows Now...For The Most Part

The other day, somebody asked me what I thought about Wonder Man, and they were shocked when I told them that I didn't even watch it (and now that it's been canceled, I'm glad I didn't watch it).

The truth is, I gave up on the MCU TV shows a while ago. The last one I watched in earnest was Season 2 of Loki (which I guess is a good thing since it's the only show that seems to matter for Doomsday). But Ironheart? Didn't watch. Daredevil: Born Again? Didn't watch. Eyes of Wakanda? Didn’t watch. I probably WILL watch VisionQuest, and because it might connect to Avengers: Secret Wars! And really, that's all it takes.

While this year’s D23 marked the first time we got to see the new X-Men cast, it also featured a very fun reunion between two of Marvel’s most seasoned veterans, Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. They were there alongside Hayley Atwell to promote their upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. And in true Cap and Iron Man fashion, RDJ was busy trolling his pal, Evans, behind the scenes of this big industry event.

I don’t expect Robert Downey Jr. to be anything but silly and sarcastic, so it didn’t surprise me one bit that that’s how he was acting in his BTS D23 video on Instagram. It felt remarkably on-brand for it to begin with him trolling Chris Evans too, as they had the following back-and-forth:

• Chris Evans: What is this? What are we doing?
• Robert Downey Jr.: You know, that’s one of those dumb things they always say in movies. They’re like, ‘What is this place?’

It seems only natural that attending an event like D23 or San Diego Comic-Con (which Evans and Downey were also at earlier this summer) would cause this kind of reaction. They’re big and fancy events, and usually guys like them have busy schedules full of presentations and media. So, this interaction felt both understandable and funny. Plus, the Oscar winner is right; I can perfectly picture plenty of scenes that involve people saying "What is this place?" in movies.

Honestly, the whole video is hilarious, though, and you can see it for yourself here:

Personally, after the trolling moment, my favorite bits of this video are Downey’s reunion with Iron Man director and Happy actor Jon Favreau (who was at D23 to talk about his new Oswald project) and the moment when RDJ decided to punch Winnie the Pooh. I also got a real kick out of seeing him, Evans and Atwell read their lines and try to figure out the order in which they wanted to walk out on stage.

Overall, it was a lovely peek behind the curtain, and it really makes me want to be a fly on the wall during the Avengers: Doomsday press tour. I’m sure Downey and Evans will have more jokes up their sleeves, especially since they’ve been regularly trolling each other (yeah, I saw how the Cap and Doom actors acted on stage at CinemaCon).

Now, once we get to December 18 on the 2026 movie schedule, that joke-fighting will turn serious, because Downey is playing Doctor Doom in the MCU. So, I have a feeling we won’t be seeing him and Evans poking fun at each other on the big screen. However, that’s thrilling too, because, personally, I cannot wait to see how exactly they plan to reintroduce one of Marvel’s most iconic actors as a new character and legendary villain.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see that, though, so in the meantime, I’ll be enjoying this BTS content and going back to see Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. during their early MCU days by streaming the Marvel movies in order with my Disney+ subscription.

Throughout its nearly two decades of existence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become synonymous with constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But in order to guard against spoilers Marvel security is famously tight, especially for upcoming MCU movies. And Loki actor Tom Hiddleston recently revealed why he was so happy with the Doomsday cast announcement with all those chairs.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but back in March of 2025 the majority of the movie's cast was revealed in a viral announcement. Hiddleston's return as Loki was confirmed in the process, and during an interview with ScreenRant the 45 year-old actor he shared why he was so happy to be included in that live stream. In his words:

Points were made. Hiddleston has been in the MCU since the OG Avengers back in 2012, so he's had plenty of experience guarding the shared universe's secrets. Luckily for him, his role in Doomsday was confirmed a while back. As such, he didn't have to spend the last year denying it in interviews. And after seeing how Andrew Garfield lied about his Spider-Man: No Way Home role, I can't blame the Loki star for his feelings.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know how seriously most actors take spoilers, so it's understandable that Tom Hiddleston is feeling relieved about his Doomsday role being out in the open. In the same interview he went on to share:

As we know, not all Marvel actors are so good at keeping secrets. Tom Holland has spoiled a number of things over the years, and Mark Ruffalo even revealed Infinity War's ending prior to it hitting theaters.

It's unclear what Loki will be doing in Doomsday, but we've seen a few brief glimpses of him in his TVA jacket. And while his role was confirmed, Tom Hiddleston is still keeping his cards close the chest. As he put it:

Smart man. We'll just have to wait and see how Loki factors into the story of the next Avengers movie. Luckily we're getting ever-closer to that movie's release this winter. So hopefully we get more footage of the God of Mischief sooner rather than later.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Let's just hope Loki doesn't get killed off yet again in the process. Fingers crossed.

Presale tickets for Avengers: Doomsday became available to buy this week. And, it’s looking like the next of upcoming Marvel movies could be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) films on the 2026 movie schedule. So when Simu Liu took some time to promote it this week, he chose to highlight that in a quite funny way.

Liu took to X to ask people to “spread the word” on a movie that everyone’s been talking about by now. Check it out:

Ah, yes. Simu Liu’s ”little indie feature”, Avengers: Doomsday! The Shang-Chi actor decided to do a bit of trolling here and the sarcasm train just kept going. Here’s some more exchanges between fans and Liu following his latest post:

• @wade_burrell: “Proud to do my part to support your unknown project, Simu. 🤞”
  • Simu Liu: “thanks i know you probably haven’t heard of it but i promise it’s good!"
• @WriteOB: “Are you sure it's good? I'm always skeptical about small budget movies”
  • Simu Liu: “yes! we stretched every dollar of our very limited budget. i have no doubt it won't affect your moviegoing experience!”
• @IgorMatviyets: “Are there special instructions how to watch this little Independent movie?”
  • Simu Liu: “check your local theatre to see if they are planning on showing it! we’re not totally sure how many we’ll get, i’ve heard it’s rough out there for indie stuff…”

Across Simu Liu’s career, the actor may have implemented his social media to let fans know about small or even regular-sized movies and TV shows he’s been part of. But, it sounds like Liu feels a bit ridiculous bringing up Doomsday given all the press it’s already getting leading up to its December release.

The latest special look for Avengers: Doomsday amassed over 32 million views on YouTube alone in less than a week as presale tickets came out earlier this week. Take a look:

Avengers: Doomsday is also very much not an indie movie given it’s allegedly one of the most expensive films ever produced. It bodes well that Doomsday’s presale numbers are already tracking ahead of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. And, that movie recently crossed $2 billion at the worldwide box office, becoming one the highest-grossing films of all time.

Doomsday marks Simu Liu's first appearance in a live-action Marvel movie since his debut in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Liu has teased that Shang-Chi is a “more lived-in” hero this time around. He’s also talked about how mortified he was to meet Robert Downey Jr on the set of the movie, who’s switching out his Iron Man suit to play the lead villain.

Alongside Liu and Downey, the movie will also star Chris Evan and Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Tho and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. There’s also the cast of Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and much of the cast from the original X-Men movies.

Simu Liu may not need to promote Avengers: Doomsday, but you gotta love him showing he’s a good Avengers teammate and doing so anyways.

Avengers: Doomsday will be here before we know it, and it's likely that fans may want to prepare themselves for the showdown between Earth's Mightiest Heroes with Robert Downey Jr.'s enigmatic Doctor Doom. Well, Marvel just dropped a watchlist filled with titles for fans to watch (or rewatch) to prepare for the highly anticipated team-up film. But what’s catching some fans’ attention right now isn’t what’s ON the list, but what’s been left OFF of it. And I can’t blame them for being surprised at this exclusion.

The list that's been released is being considered “essential” for fans ahead of Doomsday's release on the 2026 movie schedule. Pre-MCU films as well as some of the earlier installments in the sprawling franchise fill out this list as well as more recent multiverse-centric shows and movies. Check out what made the cut:

• X-Men
• X-Men 2
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame
• Loki Seasons 1 and 2
• Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
• Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness
• Deadpool and Wolverine
• Captain America: Brave New World
• Thunderbolts*
• The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Truthfully, I wasn’t surprised with some of these choices, especially since the most recent MCU films have set up this epic new Avengers film in key ways. For instance, I don’t think anyone was shocked to see Deadpool & Wolverine to make the cut. I think it's possible that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will actually appear Doomsday. That recent “hostage video” of Hugh Jackman asking for a role in the film (on Reynolds' orders) feels like a marketing ploy.

Despite all the relevant titles, one that was surprisingly left off was 2023's The Marvels, which has an ending that overtly links to Doomsday. Check out what fans had to say on X:

• @michaelp93: It’s absolutely CRAZY that The Marvels isn’t here. That film truly deserved better.
• @undeniablydezzy: Soooo Monica is just stuck then or maybe even another retconned post credits scene that never gets explained? Ugh. I hope that’s not the case!
• @RedHood75: Leaving Days of Future Past and The Marvels out is crazy!
• @MCUPerfectGifs: I don’t get why The Marvels isn’t included on the list of essential projects to watch before Doomsday. Its post-credit scene is directly linked to the multiverse.
• @lil_krispi: Everyone saying “they weren’t needed” when Monica Rambeau is literally in the X-Men universe rn.
• @Sksj002: No The Marvels. No Thor Love and Thunder. No Ms. Marvel. No Moon Knight. The Kang era getting erased from history in real time.

This is a real head-scratcher. And, as can be seen above, what many fans are pointing to is the end of The Marvels, which sees Monica Rambeau waking up in another universe. Not only that, but said world is populated by the X-Men, including Kelsey Grammer's Beast and Binary (a variant of Monica's mother, Maria). It may have just been a small tag, but it's still weird not to include the film on this list.

The fan responses remind me of when Agents of SHIELD was always left out of MCU canon, despite following the timeline set by the films. Hopefully, the events of The Marvels don't ultimately translate into a wasted B storyline of this franchise.

And, while the Nia DaCosta-directed film is being highlighted, fans also pointed out other movies (and shows) left out on the list. Overall, some are worried that they mean Doomsday won't feature characters such as Monica Rambeau, Moon Knight’s Steven Grant/Mark Spector or Kamala Khan (a.k.a Ms. Marvel) again. Another project left out was the original Fantastic Four from 2005, which introduced the origins of Doctor Doom. (Ironically, Robert Downey Jr. was considered for the role then , before it went to the late Julian McMahon.)

It is possible that the events of unlisted films might come into play. Honestly, I just can't see a world where that Monica cliffhanger is left unresolved in Avengers: Doomsday, which includes Beast and other X-Men. We'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out when the movie hits theaters on December 18. In the meantime, prep by streaming the films on this list and more with a Disney+ subscription.

Robert Downey Jr. returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom was already one of the strangest casting turns the MCU has ever pulled. This is the guy who spent more than a decade as Tony Stark, helped turn Iron Man into the foundation of a multibillion-dollar franchise and then got one of the biggest superhero send-offs ever in Avengers: Endgame. Bringing him back as Victor von Doom felt completely out of left field. Except, apparently, it wasn't. That’s right, it's a recycled idea that almost happened 20 years ago.

I somehow missed that the Chaplain star was already in the mix to play Doctor Doom roughly two decades ago. In a resurfaced Marvel Studios retrospective conversation between Iron Man director Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige posted on Instagram, Favreau recalled that Marvel had met with the actor about Doom before he ever became Tony Stark. Feige's reaction confirms Favreau's memory, which makes Downey's eventual casting feel less like a wild new idea and more like Marvel opening a very old folder. You can check out the exchange below:

The project in question was 2005's Fantastic Four. Per Favreau, Downey had met about playing Victor von Doom years before Favreau began putting together Iron Man. Julian McMahon ultimately landed the role and played Doom opposite Ioan Gruffudd's Reed Richards in Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer. Three years after that first FF, Downey became Tony Stark instead, and comic-book movie history took a pretty significant turn. As Favreau recalled:

Favreau has said that when Downey came up for Iron Man, his earlier Marvel meetings meant the people involved already knew him. More importantly, the director thought RDJ understood Tony Stark immediately. Kevin Feige has repeatedly credited that casting as one of the decisions that allowed the MCU to become what it did.

Which makes the Doom thing pretty funny in hindsight. Marvel almost tapped the Dolittle star for one of its biggest villains, but luckily for everyone involved, they instead cast him as arguably its most important hero, where he spent 11 years helping the company flesh out a cinematic universe around him. And, now, just like in wrestling, he has returned after the MCU killed off Stark, and he has turned full heel as he comes back as one of the most popular villains.

Downey was officially revealed as Victor von Doom at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, with the Russo brothers returning to direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. His casting immediately raised questions about whether Doom would somehow be connected to Tony Stark, though Marvel has consistently presented him as Victor von Doom rather than simply an evil Stark variant.

Now, we are finally close to the film’s release date on the 2026 movie schedule and seeing what Marvel has apparently been imagining, in some form, since the George W. Bush administration. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters Dec. 18.

Until we see RDJ return as Doom in a new Marvel movie, fans can revisit Tony Stark’s final MCU chapter by streaming Avengers: Endgame with a Disney+ subscription.

Spoilers below for the handful of people who maybe haven’t seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day yet, so be warned!

There’s no question Spider-Man: Brand New Day is one of the most successful movies of all time, with over a billion box-office dollars earned thus far, and many millions more to come. There’s also no question we’re going to see Peter Parker’s Spider-Man again in an Avengers sequel, thanks to that confusing post-credits scene. But the movie did leave me with several questions that I really hope get answers or clarification without before either Secret Wars or Tom Holland’s fifth Spider-Man solo movie hits theaters in 2027 and beyond. My Spidey-Patience is not so powerful.

And I’m not specifically talking about the biggest-picture questions here, like what Peter and Ned’s handshake really meant, and whether or not Doctor Strange’s spell was broken by the power of friendship. They are related, though. Since first watching Brand New Day, my brain has been preoccupied with speculation about the limits of such magical spells, and how it all works within the characters’ own brains.

Where Does MJ Think Her Necklace Came From?

Taken completely at face value, MJ still wearing her black dahlia necklace throughout the entirety of Spider-Man: Brand New Day is an oh-so-sweet sign that her love for Peter is pure enough that not even sorcery can eliminate all signs of it. In that way, it's also possibly the biggest clue early on that Doctor Strange's spell left room for certain loophole-esque situations where Peter's friends still have totems from the years they spent together. But I'm baffled by what their brains are doing to fill in the memory gaps.

Peter gives MJ the necklace in Far From Home, inspired by learning the black dahlia is her favorite flower. The pendant doesn't make it out fully intact, but MJ chooses to continue wearing it for all the adorable thematic reasons, and it's as much a symbol of their bond as Peter and Ned's signature hand-smacks is of theirs. So from a creative perspective, of course she's still wearing it in BND.

But from a more logistical real-world angle, I think it's lowkey terrifying to consider MJ compulsively wearing this necklace on a daily basis without any front-of-mind reasoning for it. Like, if I made a point of wearing the same watch for years on end, only to realize one day that I had zero clue where it came from or when I got it, I miiiight be too freaked out to put it back on. Sure, I can't tell you exactly when and where I bought every T-shirt or pair of pants that I own, but I still have the general blueprint of events up there. But if my favorite accessory only inspired blank spots, I might need a therapist.

When MJ sees her necklace in a mirror, or moves it with her hands, does her brain attempt to flash back to where it came from, only to short-circuit before real memories can appear? Or does Doctor Strange's spell intentionally dull the part of her brain that attempt to make such connections? I really hope there's a slide-show presentation explaining it before any other MCU movies come out.

Is Jean Grey's Telepathy Powerful Enough To Reverse Magic?

One of the ongoing fan theories about Spider-Man: Brand New Day is that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey knocks a few mental dominos loose in MJ and Ned when her telepathic powers bubble out and force zillions of New Yorkers to stay locked in place. I don't really buy into that idea, though, since everyone is affected by the "forget about Peter" spell, and it'd be amazingly convenient for two of his friends to be the only ones to have such adverse affects to Jean's actions. A little too amazingly convenient.

That said, I do think it's entirely possible that the vengeful mutant has (or will have) the ability to perform more distinctive tasks within people's brains. Such as making someone think they're a different person, that they can only eat brown foods, or any other kind of behavioral change that a state hypnotist might also use in an act. But is telepathy (hers or anyone's) powerful enough to reverse a spell crafted by such a magically dominant entity as Doctor Strange?

I almost have to think so at this point, because part of me doesn't want to just buy into the feel-good notion that MJ and Ned's love for Peter alone is enough to shatter such an ironclad enchantment. That's a little too pat and smooth for my tastes.

I guess now I can start pondering whether Doctor Strange's spell will continue to work if he gets killed off in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Might as well brew some coffee now, because this could take a while.

Robert Downey Jr. got the best deal one could get out of his Iron Man tenure. He helped start the MCU and told a complete and very satisfying arc for the superhero across many years. I wouldn’t blame him if he was never in another one of the upcoming Marvel movies ever again. Yet, here he is, back to play Doctor Doom in the latest MCU flick Avengers: Doomsday. And he even picked the new role over Tony Stark when he was just asked to choose? This guy is full of surprises.

RDJ was just in Anaheim, California on August 14 for D23 to promote his Marvel film coming out on the 2026 movie calendar. During an interview, he was asked to pick between Iron Man and Doctor Doom. Here’s how he responded:

As Robert Downey Jr shared with Good Morning America, it was “weird” for him to be on the other side of a superhero movie now as a villain. And yet, he did like the change of pace. While shooting Doomsday, he didn’t necessarily like to be the guy all the other characters are against. However, he also ended up enjoying the different perspective, too.

Apparently, being under the helmet allowed him to get to know more of the cast, and really revel in the presence and performances of “everybody else.” I find this to be a super unexpected answer from Downey, and ultimately 20 years from now I have to wonder if he’ll say the same thing. However, I do like his reasoning.

After all, as Iron Man, he probably had a lot more on his shoulders work-wise. Since Doctor Doom seems to be the reason why all the heroes are brought together rather than the main character that Iron Man was, it sounds like RDJ appreciated sitting back a bit more and letting them shine. And the cast is brilliant, so I don’t blame him.

Downey’s words come as D23 debuted a special look at Avengers: Doomsday that was previously only for the eyes of SDCC Marvel Hall H attendees. Check it out:

As we wait for Doomsday, I can’t help but have questions about how RDJ being both Iron Man and Doctor Doom will be handled narratively. Also, who else will be joining the cast that we don’t know about? At D23, Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds had a message that’s making me wonder if they’ll be part of it, too, for example.

We’ll find out officially and get to see Downey in this new role when Avengers:Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

Many have been buzzing about Avengers: Doomsday ahead of its release on the 2026 movie schedule, and a large portion of the hype has to do with the film’s cast. It’s been rumored that there are even more players involved that haven’t been officially announced, and Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are among those linked to such reports. Of course, the two actors haven’t explicitly confirmed their involvement. However, Reynolds’ latest “hostage video” involving Jackman has me theorizing about their involvement.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman Drop A Funny MCU-Related Video

Disney’s D23 Fan Event is being held in Anaheim this weekend and, on Friday, guests were treated to the Entertainment Showcase, with which the studio laid out upcoming projects. Amid the Marvel Studios portion of the event, head honcho Kevin Feige promoted Doomsday alongside some members of the cast. The presentation also featured a video featuring Jackman, who directly addressed Feige (while seemingly under duress). Reynolds shared the funny video to Instagram, and you can see it below:

As can be seen above, Jackman is humorously being coerced into pitching himself to be part of the massive Avengers: Doomsday cast. The bit involves Reynolds giving Jackman directions, and what’s funny is that Reynolds could easily be playing himself or Wade Wilson (Deadpool) as part of this bit. Both actors are really committing to the gag, too, with Reynolds captioning his video as such:

The longtime Wolverine actor also shared the video on his own IG account, and he also had a humorously honest caption to share:

The friendship between Hugh Jackman and Ryan Ryan Reynolds has produced some funny (and viral) moments, and I’d certainly call this recent video one of them. It’s been rumored that Wolverine and Deadpool will appear in Doomsday, and this feels like a confirmation in some ways. Of course, that remains to be seen, but it’s not stopping me from thinking about how they could play into the sprawling MCU team-up movie.

How Could Logan And Wade Wilson Figure Into Doomsday?

It was rumored earlier this year that Doomsday would involve a scene that pits Wade and Logan against Spider-Man, and I’m talking about Tobey Maguire’s version of the web-slinger. Of course, if the two titular leads of Deadpool & Wolverine are to return in this latest Avengers movie, I’d hope they’d have a substantial role. What I think would be interesting is to see the pair go on a multiversal journey after incursions (collisions of universes) threaten their own world. Theoretically, that could bring them into contact with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and their allies.

Such a storyline would do more than just serve as an organic way for Wilson and Logan to interact with the power players of the MCU. Having their world be afflicted by incursions would also up the stakes for them and provide a significant amount of motivation for them to help stop Doctor Doom.

Up to this point, fans have seemed quite convinced that Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds will return for Avengers: Doomsday. One fan even claimed he spotted Wolverine in a poster, and I honestly can’t unsee it now. Regardless of whether this “hostage video” was purely a joke or a funny marketing tease, it seems to have been enough to get social media users talking. They can see whether Reynolds and Jackman return when Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, and stream other MCU films using a Disney+ subscription.

Chris Evans has been a movie star for almost two decades. He first gained prominence in Fantastic Four, but became better known for gracing our screens as Captain America. As the actor gears up to return to the character that made him a household name for Avengers: Doomsday, he is also getting candid about his acting career and how his priorities have changed since starting a family.

For years, Evans felt like a bachelor, with his single status being the talk of the rumor mill. However, this changed when he met Portuguese actress Alba Baptista. After a romantic proposal where Evans asked Baptista to marry him in Portuguese, the two tied the knot in a private ceremony in Boston in 2023. They also welcomed their first child together last October, which the Captain America: The First Avenger star says shifted his outlook on taking projects. He explained at Fan Expo Boston (via Instagram):

Having a new baby is difficult for any couple, but it makes things even more difficult if one parent is constantly traveling. Evans' career has taken him all over the world, from Prague for Snowpiercer to Greece, Bulgaria, and Iceland for Sacrifice just last year. However, it seems like the actor is taking a significant step back from projects like this in the wake of having his daughter.

Even if Evans is stepping back slightly to focus on his family, this doesn’t mean he is giving up acting altogether. There are many “really good reasons” for him to return to the silver screen. For example, he is set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which is one of the most anticipated projects on the 2026 movie calendar.

He has also expressed an interest in working with Baptista sometime in the future, which would be a great way to keep this family together, and fans would also get to see this real-life chemistry on-screen. Evans already supports her with her auditions, so this opportunity could be right around the corner.

The Materialists star had been practically working non-stop since 2011, putting out multiple films a year that were often physically demanding as well. After making a name for himself, it makes sense that he would want to focus on his personal life. Having a new baby is a big responsibility, and I think he has done enough in his movie star career to allow for a little bit of a break.

After Doomsday, I’m looking forward to seeing him in other projects when he is ready. His commitment to his family is endearing, and seeing him in his true dad era is also a treat for fans.

While there is understandably not a lot of upcoming projects from Chris Evans, you can still see him in Avengers: Doomsday, which hits theaters on December 18, 2026. Fans can also revisit his iconic tenure as Captain America by revisiting the MCU movies now with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been around for nearly two decades and has become a well-oiled machine of new releases in theaters (and streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Fans who have spent watching the Marvel movies in order know that the OGs have been with us for a long time, including Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan. And while discussing their working relationship, Evans nearly blurted out a spoiler for the next Avengers movie. Let's break it all down.

Evans and Stan both made their MCU debuts in Captain America: The First Avenger, and went on to appear together in The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War and Endgame. While appearing at Fan Expo (via Twitter), the Materialists actor gushed about his co-star by saying:

Marvel is known for its tight security, and while Tom Holland is known for accidentally revealing spoilers, the same can't be said for Evans. And while he almost started talking about what he and Stan are up to as part of the Doomsday cast list, he managed to stop himself. Lucky for fans, we're just a few months away from seeing what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves for the next Avengers flick. You can see Evans struggle not to spill the beans below:

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, and there are countless rumors and theories about what might be coming down the line. So far, the cast has been good about not accidentally spoiling anything, but sometimes that's easier said than done. Luckily, Evans didn't reveal too much during this recent convention appearance. After all, he doesn't want Mark Ruffalo's reputation for spoilers.

While Steve Rogers got his happy ending during Endgame, the Captain America Doomsday teaser confirmed that Chris Evans would be reprising his role after all. This also opened the door for him to work with Sebastian Stan again, as Bucky is a member of the New Avengers. Of course, it's unclear how the heroes of the shared universe will react when they come face to face with Steve all these years after he hung up his shield for good.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully Steve and Bucky have plenty to do throughout its mysterious runtime.

Anthony Mackie has spent more than a decade inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe machine, so you might assume it takes quite a bit to leave him starstruck these days. Then Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart walked onto the set of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, and suddenly the current Captain America was just another fan trying to work up the nerve to say hello.

Mackie recalled meeting the two X-Men legends while speaking with IMDb, and his story about introducing himself to the returning mutant actors is ridiculously sweet. Marvel announced the first Doomsday trailer confirmed McKellen and Stewart were returning for the new Marvel movie, alongside several other veterans of Fox’s X-Men movies, while He returns as Sam Wilson. The 8 Mile star started by describing just how surreal it was to see the pair on set.

Honestly, “their first name is Sir” is a pretty great summation of what it must feel like to suddenly find Professor X and Magneto hanging around your workplace. What a sight to see, and apparently even Robert Downey Jr. was nerding out over the OG stars.

Eventually, Mackie made his way over to the Lord of the Rings star and introduced himself. He said McKellen greeted him with, “Hello, son,” which already sounds exactly like the sort of thing you would hope Gandalf says when you meet him. Then McKellen asked:

Apparently, nobody had given Magneto the complete MCU orientation packet. The Shakespearean actor's response was only five words, but the Desert Warrior actor clearly has not forgotten it. He continued:

That is a lovely bit of encouragement coming from someone who helped define the modern superhero movie long before Mackie ever strapped on a pair of Falcon wings.

The encounter also offers a fun glimpse at just how strange the Avengers: Doomsday set must be. McKellen first played Magneto in 2000’s X-Men, while Stewart debuted as Charles Xavier in the same movie. Mackie did not enter the MCU as Sam Wilson until Captain America: The Winter Soldier more than a decade later. Now all three are appearing in the same Avengers movie.

Marvel’s enormous Doomsday cast also includes James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming and Kelsey Grammer from the X-Men films, alongside MCU veterans including Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright and Paul Rudd. Robert Downey Jr. is returning in a very different role as Victor von Doom.

Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers, which makes Mackie’s place in the movie especially interesting now that Sam carries the Captain America mantle. Whatever happens when all these characters finally meet on screen, the Twisted Metal actor already got one pretty great crossover moment out of the production. Captain America received Magneto’s blessing.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters Dec. 18, 2026. Until then, fans can revisit all the Marvel movies in order, even the Fox era, streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly treating fans to new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, none have as much hype as The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are thrilled for the teams of superheroes to crossover, and James Marsden revealed which of his co-stars geeked out the most on set about the X-Men.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but the fact that the OG stars of the X-Men movies are joining the fun has buoyed excitement. During a conversation with IMDb at San Diego Comic-Con, Marsden revealed which members of the Doomsday cast were most excited to be filming alongside the mutants. He responded with:

Honestly, can you blame them? Despite how much genre work this trio of actors has done over the years, even the Avengers and Fantastic Four couldn't help but nerd out over seeing the X-Men on set... especially since they're finally wearing more comic-accurate costumes in Doomsday.

Marsden is playing Cyclops 27 years after filming the OG X-Men, and will be rocking the blue and yellow suit for the first time in the next Avengers movie. Fans are thrilled about this, but it sounds like Simu Liu couldn't get over the new costume either. You can see The Notebook actor's comments about his superpowered co-stars below:

If the cast of Doomsday was freaking out like this, one can only imagine how fans will react when the next Avengers movie hits the big screen this coming December. Fans have waited a long time for the X-Men to finally join the MCU, with Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opening the door for characters like the mutants and the Fantastic Four to get in on the action. And while mutants have been gradually peppered in, this will be the first time we see the X-Men assembled in the shared universe.

Avengers: Doomsday's trailer teased what it'll be like when all these teams of heroes collide, including a skirmish between the X-Men and the Avengers. We see Shang-Chi and Gambit come to blows, as well as Yelena and Mystique. I'm eager to see who James Marsden's Cyclops might fight during this conflict, especially cuz he'll finally be rocking the iconic yellow and blue costume from the comics and animated series.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. That's when we'll see how the cast's excitement and nerdiness translate into the final theatrical cut.

Well, folks, we're almost there. Avengers: Doomsday comes out December 18th (the same day as Dune: Part 3, making it “Dunesday” for many), and I'm pretty excited.

I mean, how could I not be? My favorite Marvel “hero” is Moon Knight, but when it comes to villains, it has to be Doctor Doom. And yet…I kind of wish we weren't getting Doomsday. At least not so soon.

You see, I'm still very much of the opinion that Marvel should have stayed the course with their plans for Kang the Conqueror. Yes, Kevin Feige said to The Hollywood Reporter that Kang “wasn’t big enough” after Thanos, and yes, I know Jonathan Majors was dropped by Marvel after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment. I still think Marvel should have kept with Kang rather than pivoting to Doctor Doom.

Kang COULD Have Been Big Enough With The Right Push

This might not seem like the right time to bring this up, but I want to talk about the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie. Now, when it was first announced that we were getting a Guardians film, my initial thought was, Are you kidding me? Because look, I grew up in the ‘90s, and I can tell you this: If Spider-Man and the X-Men were considered A-tier Marvel back then, then Guardians of the Galaxy was considered F-tier.

It’s not that Guardians of the Galaxy was a bad series back then, but all of the cosmic stuff (sans Silver Surfer, who was pretty popular even back then) felt pretty obscure in the ‘90s. Nova, ROM, and yes, GotG all felt like SUPER niche characters, and only for the nerdiest of the nerds. So, when we got F-tier Marvel comics as a film… and it was SUPER SUCCESSFUL, well, that just told me any Marvel character was fair game for the MCU… as long as they were handled properly.

Granted, following Avengers: Endgame, the MCU kind of felt like they dropped the ball when it came to introducing new characters (Like my beloved Eternals). That said, Marvel had it in its capabilities to really do something special with Kang the Conqueror if they just did it right!

Which, I understand, they DIDN’T get Kang right when he appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. However, Kang was so great at the end of Season 1 of Loki, and I feel like Marvel should have kept at it with his character, as he just needed that extra something to push him over the top, even without Jonathan Majors, which I’ll get into next.

If Jonathan Majors Was Also A Factor At The Time, They Could Have Just Written Him Off And Made Him A Variant

Going back to that Kevin Feige Hollywood Reporter session and how he said they were already pivoting away from Kang before the Jonathan Majors incident, fine. I’ll take him for his word, as these things definitely take time, and filling the Russo brothers in that the MCU wanted to integrate Doctor Doom couldn’t have just been some spur-of-the-moment decision. That said, I’m also going to believe that Jonathan Majors' conviction of assaulting his ex-girlfriend had to have at least been a contributing factor to Marvel dropping Kang at the time.

I mean, just look at how fast Marvel dropped James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after his controversy, only to bring him back once the internet had cooled off. So, there's definitely a precedent for Marvel getting squeamish when one of their major players gets a negative spotlight drawn on them. However, the thing about the multiverse is that Marvel could have just written off Majors and put somebody else as a variant of Kang, and I don’t think anybody would have minded.

For example, we got Victor Timely in Season 2 of Loki, and he was a variant of Kang, as well as He Who Remains. And, while sure, these are just different versions of Jonathan Majors, there really wasn’t anything saying that Marvel couldn’t have just gotten another charismatic actor to play a DIFFERENT variant of Kang. Like, instead of David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther (which, you know, cool), perhaps he could have been a variant of Kang. He certainly has the acting chops for it.

Or, I don’t know, anybody besides Jonathan Majors. It could have been done. Because without Kang’s time travel shenanigans, the whole TVA thing kind of feels pointless. Speaking of which…

Plus, Kang's Departure From The MCU Cheapens Loki's Return In Doomsday

If there was ever a time to cry watching anything MCU-related, I can think of two instances: One was when Spider-Man turned to dust at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, and number two was Loki’s sacrifice in becoming the living embodiment of all of the timelines in Season 2 of Loki, which showed true growth in Hiddleston’s character.

All of this timeline stuff ultimately connects to Kang the Conqueror, who is known for his many variants and time-traveling capabilities. In fact, he’s what made the whole TVA thing feel interesting and alive, and Loki being a part of that really felt like something special. In a lot of ways, Loki and Kang felt intertwined in their destinies.

By just dropping Kang, it kind of weakens Loki’s story and the great finality to his role in the MCU. Now, Loki’s coming back in Doomsday, which is kind of weird. Yes, I know Hiddleston has said to The Hollywood Reporter that his role in Doomsday picks up after his sacrifice in Season 2, but I still can’t vibe with the idea of Kang just being poof, gone, forgotten.

Kang felt so instrumental to everything involving the multiverses and the timeline, and now none of that seems to matter with Kang gone. And this is all just to move on to Doctor Doom, who I really need to talk about now.

Doctor Doom Really Did Need More Time To Cook

Kevin Feige has recently shared his thoughts on Doctor Doom’s lack of build-up, and he’s compared it with Thanos, saying that the big purple dude really didn’t have all that much build-up, either. However, I’d say that was a hell of a lot more than what we got at the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps with Doctor Doom (IF that was even him).

Honestly, one post-credit scene is nothing, and it feels like it really should be something given the existential threat that Doctor Doom should present. I mean, this is Doctor FREAKING Doom we’re talking about here, and we’re really just going to get him introduced to us in this movie…which is also going to bring the X-Men into the fray?

For real? I mean, I do have faith in the Russo brothers, but Doctor Doom is a TOP TIER Marvel villain (I’d say even more so than Thanos), and I think he needed to be built up A LOT more before just throwing him against the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.

Plus, where do we go from Doctor Doom? He’s like THE big bad guy in Marvel along with Thanos. Kang could have been that nice in-between if done right.

Even as the dust is settling from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and its mysterious ending and how it may lead to one or both of the Avengers sequels, all eyes are shifting to the next MCU movie to hit theaters, Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downy Jr. is understandably drawing a lot of attention, thanks to his Marvel return as Dr. Doom. The actor is already showing off his method-dressing skills with a surprisingly dense Doom-themed wardrobe, and I think he may have divulged a major spoiler that possibly also ties back to Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Let’s first dig into why I think RDJ unwittingly let the cat out of the bag regarding Doctor Doom’s second-in-command, and why I think it’s directly related to the final moments from the Fantastic Four’s MCU debut.

Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Shoes Feature A Coded Reference To Franklin Richards' Sister

If one scrolls through RDJ's post dedicated to his extensive Doctor Doom duds, one will come across a pic and video of some bright green shoes with the same rune-esque language that was emblazoned on the actor's jacket during his San Diego Comic-Con appearance. (That jacket is also included in the pic gallery, and its messages were previously figured out by Popverse.)

Using just the rune key first revealed in an Instagram post about Dom Latveria Coffee, I was able to figure out the word running across the strap above the laces:

For those in the know, Valeria Richards is the name of two important characters related to Victor Von Doom. One is his former lover, with lots of demonic messiness attached to that storyline.

More importantly for this line of theorizing, Valeria is also the name of Franklin Richards' sister, whose name was given to her by Doom, her godfather. Her exact origins changed over time, as comic origins are wont to do, but she is essentially an unborn child of Sue and Reed Richards' who gets saved and brought into existence through her brother Franklin's reality-altering powers. She possesses a genius intellect that leads her to invent advanced technology that allow her to travel through time, which can make her appear older than Franklin at times.

Valeria also crafts an armor for herself that combines elements of the Fantastic Four's costuming with Doctor Doom's metallic protection. Which is what leads us to why I think this reveal is directly related to the ending of Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Could Valeria Have Appeared To Franklin Instead Of Doctor Doom?

SDCC was also the source of another big theory involving Doctor Doom, as the villain's hyper-detailed display statue was joined by a female counterpart of sorts identified only as "Latverian Witch." Fans quickly jumped to conclusions that the character could be Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch, or at least a variant of her, but the mask's smooth and sleek look seemed to be too close to the mask seen in Fantastic Four: First Steps' final moments, making me think it's the Witch who appears before Franklin, and not Doctor Doom as previously believed.

I wasn't totally sold on Wanda Maximoff being under the hood in FF, but it would make a TON of sense for that to actually be Valeria instead. Even though it's been confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. filmed that scene, he's very clearly not holding the same mask he's wearing in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer, so it stands to reason that it may not actually be the big bad.

Valeria's comic book existence doesn't match up squarely with what the MCU has set up, so I would expect there to be unforeseen changes made that would match up with what the Russos have planned. But whichever way it goes, I'd fully expect her live-action debut to still feature the same close-knit relationship with Doom that makes everything complicated for the Richards fam. (Especially if she comes from a timeline where Sue and Victor are married. The horror!)

Does this theory hold water, or does it sound like a wash? Robert Downey Jr.'s green shoes also feature lots of runes on the shoelaces and elsewhere that couldn't be fully seen, so perhaps those coded messages are all about former loves and are entirely specific to Victor Von Doom's ex. But I think it's more fun to believe that I unwittingly stumbled into a major Doomsday spoiler.

We'll all find out for sure when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.

Major spoilers below for the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and its post-credits scene, so be warned if you haven't already watched it!

By the end of Spider Man: Brand New Day, Tom Holland's Peter Parker is seemingly set to usurp the magical power of Doctor Strange's No Way Home spell with the power of friendship, after helping set up the future of MCU's mutant population, and giving Jon Bernthal's Frank Castle a lot of bullets to scatter. But it's that post-credits scene that we're here to talk about, because what a nutty way to set up a connection between this movie and...probably the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Secret Wars, but maybe also Doomsday?

Let's ascend the nearest skyscraper and leap from it right into breaking the scene down with questions and speculation. (And check out CinemaBlend's thoughts on the movie!)

What Happens In Brand New Day's Post-Credits Scene

On the one hand, not a whole lot, but on the other, maybe a whole lot. The interface from Ned's Spidey-Tracker fills the screen, with Peter's icon showing up in Queens. Then, the app chimes with an alert for a "New Spider-Man Sighting. Location Unknown."

The app then zooms out to beyond the planet Earth and shifts a bit past our moon, where a Spidey icon starts blinking seemingly in the middle of outer space, without a specific location getting zoomed in on as it says "Location Found." Cut to the ominous message: "Spider-Man Will Return" and then black. (But not like, symbiote black...probably.)

#1: Does This Mean Spider-Man's Heading For Battleworld In Secret Wars?

As soon as the app made the jump to space, my brain went right to Doctor Doom's patchwork planet Battleworld (assumedly the same as plenty of others watching), since that's presumed to be a major setting for the Russo brothers' Secret Wars after all the incursions go down in Doomsday. However, that theory actually seems highly unlikely for several reasons, barring any drastic changes from the Secret Wars comic arc.

For one, Earth-616 is among the many comic worlds wiped out of existence for Battleworld's creation, and I don't think that's what the app is indicating. I don't even know that the app would work anymore if Earth is destroyed. Second, Battleworld doesn't exist within any Earth's solar system, as far as I'm aware, and the second alert shows up not that far beyond the moon. (The glitching could indicate more distance being traveled, but the stars in the background stars don't change at all.)

#2: Where Else Could Spider-Man Have Shown Up If Not Battleworld?

It's admittedly a lot easier to guess where Spider-Man is not than to guess where he actually is, especially when there are no immediately obvious choices to pick from. If that really is the depths of outer space, then I'm guessing the webslinger re-popped into existence within the confines of a spaceship of some kind, presumably due to the actions of someone on the ship. But what ship?

One guess might be the Fantastic Four's Excelsior, and another would be the Guardians of the Galaxy's Bowie. Not that I have a whole lot of theoretical reasoning for why Spider-Man would get beamed up (so to speak) into either of this vessels, but either of those scenarios is easier to assume than most alternatives.

Wouldn't it be awesome if this somehow tapped into Frank Tieri and Mark Texeira's Space: Punisher, in which Frank Castle blasts enemies...IN SPACE? It's probably not that, but I'm gonna keep quietly hoping to see leaked photos of Jon Bernthal in astronaut duds.

#3: Is That Even Tom Holland's Spider-Man?

I'm not so sure. Given that the Queens-bound icon on the Spidey-Tracker doesn't disappears when the other one shows up, and the "New Spider-Man Sighting" language used, it seems entirely possible that the post-credits scene isn't showing us any weird blips for Tom Holland's Peter, but rather another friendly neighborhood superhero, presumably the one portrayed by Tobey Maguire.

The star of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy returned in No Way Home alongside #3 Andrew Garfield, and had been heavily rumored to appear in Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. (They did both inspire Peter's new suit, FWIW.) And Holland's wishy-washy responses to questions about Maguire appearing are also part of the speculation. So is it possible that it's that version of Peter Parker's Spider-Man that sparks the Tracker's ping, as his Earth gets doomed for incursion? I kinda think so, yeah.

#4: Who Actually Saw Spider-Man And Set That Tracker Alert?

What might seem like the silliest and least important question could actually be pretty vital. Assuming Ned's Spidey-Tracker works like most other mapping apps that directly depend on user input, that means someone with awareness of the app would be in the same unknown location as the new icon, and would have the wherewithal to input the sighting notification.

So who could that possibly be? (Seems like a good time to return to my Space: Punisher wishes.) Could it be that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey, Ned or M.J. is out there? Or will it be someone that has nothing to do with that trio? I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't get explained at all, honestly, but I'm hoping.

#5: Will Tom Holland Return In Avengers: Doomsday Or Only In Secret Wars?

The ominiousness of the final message makes it seem like Tom Holland's Spidey isn't destined for Avengers: Doomsday, but that doesn't mean that the star-studded sequel will be completely absent of arachnid-based superheroes. As discussed above, the Russo brothers may be bringing Tobey Maguire's webslinger into their first Doctor Doom adventure to represent the Sony-verse getting incurred.

Which would theoretically then pave the way for Holland's Peter Parker to make his heroic return in Avengers: Secret Wars. Not that I know what he'd be SO busy dealing with during the events of Doomsday, but it's probably building sweet LEGO sets with Ned. So while the "Will Return" seems open-ended, I think the blank space is actually meant to imply that Spider-Man will return in both of the upcoming projects, if not more.

We're still months away from learning how Avengers new and old will join forces to take down Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, but I feel more optimistic about seeing Tobey Maguire's biowebbing in the mix after Brand New Day's post-credits scene. But I've been disappointed before...

It’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day week, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot more about the upcoming Marvel movie, Avengers: Doomsday. Between the new trailer dropping online and seeing fresh footage at SDCC’s Hall H presentation, my excitement for the release has really grown. But there are a couple of brain-scratchers I have surrounding Robert Downey Jr. and his Doctor Doom. Let’s get into it.

When Will The Helmet Come Off?

Ever since it was announced that RDJ was coming back to the MCU, I’ve been intrigued. It could be genius if they choose the right moment to reveal the face of Iron Man as the next great villain for the Avengers. I mean, especially after Tony was the one who saved everyone!! So far, Robert Downey Jr’s face has remained completely masked in all the footage I’ve seen of Doomsday, and I’m all for it. I can’t stop thinking about when he might show himself to the Avengers.

If it wasn’t for Marvel Studios making sure we all knew it was the fan-favorite actor, I wouldn’t know it was him at all. There must be a moment when Doctor Doom will be unmasked, and the Avengers will see Tony Stark’s face in front of them in our futures. I’m starting to think that this won’t happen until Secret Wars, but my big question remains. When will they decide to uncover this secret to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

If/When It Does, Will It Include These Key Avengers?

Because I love the drama, I would like the moment to happen when one of Tony Stark’s closest friends is present. Currently, none of them are technically confirmed for Doomsday. Isn’t that crazy?

Let’s start with Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers/Captain America. He’s in the movie, but he seems to be from another variant. His identity hasn’t been confirmed yet, but I’m definitely less excited to see Steve meet RDJ’s Doctor Doom without them having the same history.

The other two characters I would want to be present are Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk. Both of them were just in Brand New Day, and I don’t expect them to be in Doomsday at the moment. Hey, I could be wrong; there’s a new Doomsday cameo rumor every other day, but the things are being marketed so far, I’m starting to get less excited about the Doctor Doom reveal with the information in front of me.

Should I Change My Expectations About RDJ's Doctor Doom?

With these two questions in mind, now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t even expect a reveal like this. Maybe RDJ is playing Doctor Doom, but they’re not going to really make the variant aspect a whole thing? As I type this, I don’t believe that’s possible, but what if it was? What if RDJ decided to come into work to be Doctor Doom, and not play the Tony Stark card?

I have four and a half more months to think about this, so who knows where my head will go. As curious as I am, I do hope that Marvel Studios does keep this reveal out of the marketing, though. Doomsday hits theaters on December 18.

Remember “The Dress”? Back in 2015, one washed-out photo briefly split the internet between people who saw a blue-and-black dress and those convinced it was white and gold. Eleven years later, Marvel fans have stumbled into a sort of sequel fit for a new superhero movie. The new question is whether Ryan Reynolds’ Comic-Con Deadpool suit is blue denim or grey. Depending on the photo, either answer feels perfectly reasonable. Thankfully, the Wade Wilson performer has now stepped in with an answer that is somehow definitive and completely unhelpful.

The Deadpool star shared a close-up of the costume on his Instagram Story with a fan-made fake Pantone-style card laid over the fabric. The color was labeled “9-1963 X-MEN” and, beneath that, “Jean Grey.” Reynolds added the hashtag “#JeanPool” and wrote, “Once you see it, you can’t just unsee it. It doesn’t work that way.” In the pic below, the invented color code appears to reference September 1963, when the first issue of X-Men was published.

So there we have it. The suit is Jean Grey. That answer is so fun because the costume really does sit somewhere between the two colors people have been arguing about. It is designed to resemble denim, which naturally pushes it toward blue, but the fabric has a muted grey cast that connects it to Wade Wilson’s X-Force look. Calling it “Jean Grey” lets Reynolds claim both sides while sneaking in an X-Men pun and play on all those Sadie Sink role rumors.

Reynolds debuted the costume during Marvel’s presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where he initially appeared as a chatty masked fan. He also wore it while wandering the convention floor without handlers or security, posing with fans who did not always realize they were meeting the real Deadpool actor.

The costume keeps Deadpool’s classic look but colorswaps his usual red-and-black colors for a blue-grey denim vibe, with brown/gold accessories and a Canadian flag patch on his chest. This “Canadian tuxedo” idea made the blue choice seem pretty obvious to a lot of folks. On the flip side, fans who know Deadpool’s comic history spotted the grey X-Force influence and made their opinions known.

I feel like the “9-1963 X-MEN” code may be carrying even more weight than just the “Jean Grey” punchline. The X-Men (1963) No. 9 featured the mutants’ first meeting with the Avengers, which feels awfully pointed ahead of Avengers: Doomsday's release. The December 18 entry on the 2026 movie calendar will bring returning actors from Fox’s X-Men films together with MCU Avengers for the first time.

Reynolds also used his surprise Comic-Con appearance to jokingly ask when he should report for filming, even though Deadpool has not officially been confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday. Between the color debate, the Jean Grey pun, the comic-book code and that very public request for a role, there is a lot packed into this meme.

Some fans will inevitably read the X-Men Origins: Wolverine star’s post as a clue about Jean Grey’s future in the MCU. For now, though, the safest interpretation is that Reynolds saw everyone arguing over grey versus blue denim and decided to settle the debate with an official pun. That certainly feels appropriate for Deadpool.

Fans can revisit all three Deadpool movies with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth franchise, one that consistently treats the fandom to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, the hype surrounding Avengers: Doomsday is on another level entirely. And Falcon actor Danny Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend about what it was like working with legends like Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart on the forthcoming blockbuster.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are hyped about the various MCU heroes crossing over with the OG stars of the X-Men movies. Ramirez spoke to CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con about that title, and spoke about filming with legends like Stewart and McKellen. He told us:

Honestly, this makes a ton of sense. Both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are legendary actors, who have had long, celebrated careers on both screen and stage. Working with those icons is a dream for many actors, and Danny Ramirez clearly was thrilled to be sharing the screen with them in Avengers: Doomsday. And it sounds like he was all ears in case the X-Men stars (and besties) were ready to drop any advice or tidbits on set.

Later in his same conversation with CinemaBlend, Ramirez went on to share what he learned from working with the great Patrick Stewart. In the Top Gun: Maverick actor's words:

Both Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart definitely have gravitas, and I love hearing how Danny Ramirez even learned from them outside of the Doomsday set. Namely by watching videos from the '80s where they broke down how to properly perform Shakespeare. They've both got lots of experience with The Bard's catalogue of plays, and clearly the videos are still helpful to this day.

During our same conversation with the Last Of Us actor, CinemaBlend's Jeff McCob asked why he thinks A-listers from the Doomsday cast continue to sign up for these types of blockbusters. He responded with:

Fandoms annually travel to San Diego Comic-Con, to cosplay, see panels, and be in the same room as their favorite stars. And it sounds like for Danny Ramirez and other Marvel actors, the love from fans is a big reason why they continue to come back to the superhero genre.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to wait and see how Falcon interacts with the likes of Magneto and Professor X.

With the upcoming releases of Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, Disney has been promoting a new premium format for movie theaters: Infinity Vision. The tricky thing for the House of Mouse is that the new MCU movies are both getting released against some major competition on the 2026 movie schedule: The Odyssey for Spidey and Dune Part III for Doomsday. What’s even more challenging for Disney is that both of those movies have exclusive holds on IMAX theaters around the world. This seems to be what has motivated the company to come up with Infinity Vision.

Like many, I wondered exactly what the new format consists of, so I went down the rabbit hole to find out. (A different rabbit hole from Alice's, to be sure.)

So What Does Infinity Vision Mean?

For starters, I need to point out that Infinity Vision is not the same as other premium formats, like IMAX. Disney is not designing and building new theaters to create a new experience for filmgoers.

Back in April at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Disney unveiled Infinity Vision, and in a press release, the company describes the certification of movie theaters around the country as having:

• The largest screens for maximum scale
• Laser projection for superior brightness and clarity
• Premium audio formats for fully immersive sound

The Head of Theatrical Distribution for Disney, Andrew Cripps, wrote this in regards to the certification:

If it still seems a little bit nebulous, know that there are clear standards set forth, per the FAQ on the Infinity Vision ticketing website:

• Screen: Minimum of 45 feet wide
• Sound: Theaters with either Immersive sound (like Dolby Atmos) or 7.1 sound
• Projection: Theaters with brightness levels reaching either 14 footlamberts in 2D and/or 6 footlamberts in 3D

Okay, so what does all that mean? Well, it means that only the biggest (non-premium large format screens, or PLFs, like IMAX) and brightest screens in theaters with state-of-the-art sound systems will qualify for the designation. It’s important to note, per Disney’s FAQ that:

According to the Disney press release, there are at least 75 theaters in the United States and more than 300 worldwide that have received the certification, though that number may be low, as thousands have since applied to be included in the designation.

Why Is Disney Doing This?

There is a pretty simple answer to why Disney has made a push for this. Getting locked out of PLFs like IMAX will likely put a serious dent in the box office hauls for their two Marvel tent poles in 2026. The company is also releasing Avengers: Endgame in September, under the new name Avengers: Endgame Encore with bonus footage for screenings in theaters that meet the qualifications for Infinity Vision. Endgame Encore will be the first movie released in theaters with the certifications.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will not be part of the rollout, but almost certainly played a role in the development of Infinity Vision. The Tom Holland and Zendaya-led superhero movie is blocked from IMAX due to Christopher Nolan’s deal to hold exclusivity for The Odyssey for three weeks (partly because he shot the whole movie on IMAX technology). That includes the first week of Brand New Day's run in theaters. When you are counting the upcharge that PLFs enjoy on tickets, it plays an important role in the box office take of any big movie, especially movies like Brand New Day and Doomsday, for which people clamber for PLFs.

Is It Really Just Marketing?

Some of the more cynical critics in Hollywood have dismissed Infinity Vision as a simple marketing strategy for Disney given the situation, but I have a different opinion. I mean, I agree that it is marketing, for sure, but it’s actually helpful marketing. It makes it easy for me and others to identify the best theaters to see the upcoming Marvel movies. I have a pretty good idea which theaters around me would qualify, but seeing it as part of the movie listing on my phone when I go to buy tickets is useful. How much that is worth to people is another question, but for me, it’s worth a couple extra bucks.

I do not doubt that some of those same critics will decry the extra charge for a theater that isn’t really bringing anything new and special to a screening, and that is a fair argument. For me, though, I get it. I get that Disney has to make money here, as losing out on IMAX revenue is certainly going to hurt the overall box office numbers. As I said, I appreciate knowing which theaters will present the movie in the best environment possible. For people who don’t go to the movies as often as I do and who might not immediately know which theaters in their area are the best, this is even more helpful.

Will Infinity Vision Last?

Another question some critics have raised is just how long this format will really be a thing. Again, another fair question. It was invented for the upcoming release of Endgame Encore and, mostly, Doomsday. Will we see it in 2027 with the release of Secret Wars, even if it also gets a more traditional release through PLFs that Doomsday has been locked out of in 2026? I think so, yes. At least for Secret Wars, which will also have stiff competition from Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Beyond that, I’ll just say, I’m dubious as to how long the designation will last.

In the meantime, it seems both Disney and theater owners are all too happy to market the movies this way, and if it works, then I do think we’ll see it more often in the future. If the public decides the differences aren’t worth it, we’ll probably see it quietly go away.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine at this point, which has been going strong for nearly two decades... both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were thrilled when both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans were confirmed as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. It turns out the latter actor was pitched for his return or years, and it took RDJ to convince him to finally bite the bullet.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but fans are invested in Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers, as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s debut as Doctor Doom. During a conversation with EW at San Diego Comic-Con, the Captain America icon spoke about how the studio tried to convince him to pop up in upcoming Marvel movies. In his words:

While Evans had a cameo as Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, Doomsday will mark his first return as his signature character. Although it sounds like that wasn't for lack of trying on the studio's part, with Kevin Feige and Louis D'esposito trying to convince the actor to play Steve Rogers again in the MCU. But he turned down idea after idea in the years since Endgame was released in 2019.

The internet exploded when Captain America's Doomsday teaser confirmed that Chris Evans would be continuing his hero's journey. But it was a long time coming; in the same interview the actor spoke about how it took some convincing. As he put it:

So what changed? Well, it turns out it was Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU after Tony Stark's Endgame death. The two A-listers were arguably the leading actors of the entire shared universe, and Evans' interest was piqued when he heard that his Oscar-winning co-star might be returning. He shared:

Honestly, can you blame him? On top of having a great working relationship with Robert Downey Jr., having both he and Evans return for Avengers: Doomsday also makes the blockbuster even more of a must-see event for the fandom. And when you consider how Doomsday's trailer broke YouTube records, it's clear that moviegoers are invested in what The Russo Brothers are bringing to the table.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. The anticipation is steadily building, and should only increase as we get closer to the crossover movie hitting the big screen this winter. And yes, that includes both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a powerful new hero and ended with a post-credits scene that appeared to place him near the center of whatever came next. Nearly five years later, audiences are still waiting for the martial arts hero to headline another adventure. While we fans have waited for some time, franchise star Simu Liu, set to return as the character amid the 2026 movie schedule via Avengers: Doomsday, has now opened up about the long-awaited sequel. According to him, Marvel needs to "do a better job."

During a new interview with Josh Horowitz, shared on the Happy Sad Confused host’s Instagram, Simu Liu was asked when fans might finally see Shang-Chi 2. The actor admitted his guess is as good as anyone else’s, but he left no doubt about how badly he wants to return. He explained:

Liu has been fairly blunt when it comes to the amount of time we've been waiting for a pretty big, well-received Marvel film, but that final line is unusually direct even for him. It's clear he's an actor who understands MCU’s scheduling maze, so he isn't scolding fans for repeatedly asking about the sequel. however, he's also not offering another vague promise to stay tuned.

He clearly recognizes that Marvel introduced a character people loved, teased a larger mystery around the Ten Rings and then left him out of live-action projects for years.

A Shang-Chi sequel was announced in December 2021, with Destin Daniel Cretton returning to write and direct. Cretton, who directed the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, recently confirmed that it remains in development, explaining that changes across the industry following the pandemic contributed to the delay. Marvel has yet to announce a title, production date or release date, as of this writing.

The good news for fans who've been waiting patiently for more than five years is that Liu will play Shang-Chi again before his solo sequel arrives. As a member of the enormous Avengers: Doomsday cast, Liu's character will rub shoulders with a number of others, including Channing Tatum’s Gambit. The martial arts master and the card-throwing mutant apparently get to test each other’s fighting styles as seen in the new Doomsday trailer.

Liu knew Tatum’s background made him more dangerous than the Cajun accent and playing cards might suggest. The Magic Mike star has years of dance and action experience, and Liu said that physical ability became obvious as soon as rehearsals began. He continued:

Shang-Chi fighting Gambit sounds like the sort of comic-book collision Doomsday should deliver. It's going to be one heck of a superhero collision.

Still, a crossover fight cannot replace a proper sequel. Doomsday will finally return Shang-Chi to the larger MCU, but Liu sounds just as impatient to continue the hero’s own story. After years of waiting, “we need to do a better job” may be the most reassuring update fans have heard.

For now, we fans can revisit Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, along with all the other Marvel movies, by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription.

Avengers: Doomsday fans just experienced the biggest promotional week yet for the upcoming Marvel movie, thanks to that gobsmacking trailer reveal dropping and key details being unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con. As it usually goes, Marvel confirming more information leads to more fan theories and rumors getting bandied about. But while a lot of the updated guesswork is seemingly based on pure fantasy, one fan’s Doctor Doom question about Fantastic Four: First Steps has somewhat harder evidence to fall back on.

Doctor Doom’s full movie-specific costume was put on display for SDCC attendees to peep out, and it was later joined by a figure showing off a “Latverian Witch” costume that quickly sparked further theories about the MCU’s most beloved witch, Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff, appearing in the Russo brothers’ sequel. And it’s not hard to understand why, even despite the actress saying previously that she’s not in it.

If the general “witch” connection wasn’t enough to sell it, just look at the specific way the left hand is set, as opposed to being straight down like the other one.

Pretty convincing, right? I mean, not like 100%, but better than a lot of other "clues" that fans have used to prop up their theories. But my overall point here isn't even about the Scarlet Witch, per se, so let's swing the focus over to the final non-cartoony sequence from the MCU's Fantastic Four movie.

Was It Actually The Latverian Witch, And Not Doctor Doom, That Appeared Before Franklin Richards?

One fan who commented beneath a pic of the Latverian Witch made a potentially huge connection between that character's silver mask and the one that "Doctor Doom" removes from "his" face at the end of Fantastic Four, since the latter doesn't look at all like the on-camera mask that Robert Downey Jr. is wearing in the Doomsday trailer. (As well as the one on display behind the Witch.)

The biggest and easiest comparison to make from the jump is that both are smooth and curved in the forehead area, while Doctor Doom's mask is more angular, with layered metal and rivets making it not at all as smooth as the one shown in Fantastic Four. It's 100% not the same mask, to say the least.

But to that same end, the mask in First Steps also isn't identical to the Latverian Witch's face covering. The impressions under the eyes appear deeper, at least, though it's not clear what the rest of the design looks like. So there feasibly could be more similarities to address, and there could be possible differences as well.

The biggest piece of evidence that would seemingly disprove this theory is that Fantastic Four star Vanessa Kirby has confirmed that it was indeed Robert Downey Jr. who filmed the mid-credits scene. But doesn't that really prove that it was Doctor Doom and not his witchy cohort? In the sense that, if it was a stand-in actor under the cloak instead of RDJ, the character would still be seen as Doctor Doom by viewers. So it wouldn't really matter who actually filmed the scene if we didn't see their face.

That said, it would be hilariously amazing if the Latverian Witch was another variant of Victor Von Doom / Tony Stark, but it's just RDJ in a wig and lipstick.

To play devil's advocate here, it's entirely possible that Doctor Doom's mask design wasn't fully flashed out before The Fantastic Four filmed that mini-scene, so the prop designers just went with a more generic look that could be expanded upon later. Or maybe it's not even the same Doctor Doom. There's no end to the theories, really.

Of course, if that wasn't Doctor Doom in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, that'd mean fans complaining about the lack of Doctor Doom's narrative build-up might have even more fuel for their argument. But how realistic is this idea? Realistic enough, even though it may never get addressed directly either in Doomsday or by cast members if it's totally bogus.

Here's hoping we get more clues about that scene ahead of Avengers: Doomsday hitting theaters on December 18, 2026.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is showing no signs of slowing down, with the studio constantly putting out new projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday, which looks like an epic crossover event. Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, and even he was nerding out about the OG stars of the X-Men movies reprising their roles on set.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but the huge list of characters has been buoying excitement. The Doomsday cast features entire teams of heroes, including the X-Men. During a conversation with EW at San Diego Comic-Con, RDJ gushed about seeing actors like Rebecca Romijn and Kesley Grammer back as their (blue) mutants. As he put it:

Talk about a glowing endorsement. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that the MCU started with Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, so he's was a day one member of the shared universe. But despite being in this sandbox for nearly two decades, even the Oscar-winning actor was geeking out about working with the X-Men.

Tony Stark died at the end of Endgame, which fans assumed would be RDJ's final bow in the MCU. But that's changing with Doomsday, although he'll be playing an entirely different character and going from a hero to a villain. And fans can't wait to see how this all shakes out this winter.

Not much about the story of the next Avengers movie had been revealed yet, but the first Doomsday trailer became one of the highest-viewed trailers of all time. So despite the mysteries and Marvel's tight security, there's clearly a ton of fan excitement about the crossover event. And after seeing the above comments, that enthusiasm is clearly echoed by RDJ himself.

While we got the blockbuster's first trailer, much of the details and story of Doomsday remain a mystery to the moviegoing public. Clearly the multiverse is at play, and the teams of heroes will presumably have to unite to fight Doctor Doom and his forces.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Luckily the movie's publicity has kicked off, so hopefully we get more information about its contents sooner rather than later.

Returning to a Hollywood role after 20 years doesn't always require huge transformations for actors, but Rebecca Romijn's X-Men villainess Mystique is obviously an exception. The blue-skinned shapeshifter is back for the upcoming MCU epic Avengers: Doomsday, with Romijn retaking the reins from Jennifer Lawrence, who played the younger version in the mutants' second Fox trilogy. The actress, who's currently keeping the Star Trek franchise going strong, has shared that she wasn't required to spend quite as much time in the makeup chair for the Russos' movie, for better or worse.

Romijn's Mystique will forever remain one of the most elaborately made-up characters in cinema history, and the amount of hours she spent in the makeup chair getting her entire body turned blue and textured remains wildly impressive. She's said in the past that it was initially a 9-hour experience for the first X-Men movie, and that the team got it down to 7 hours by the time X-Men: The Last Stand came around. But that's still an entire workday for some people, and that all had to happen before she could even step in front of the camera.

It appears that particular headache, as it were, isn’t nearly as time-intensive as it was during the early years of CGI and digital effects. Speaking with EW about going blue for Doomsday, she said it was a relief to learn that she wasn’t being asked to spend a third of her working days getting paint and prosthetics. In her words:

Though she didn't seem to elaborate on that notion, one can assume she potentially meant that the Russos were not eager to wait 7+ hours for actors to get physically set up for shots, and that they were working with the mindset that any amount of costuming and character details can be digitally added into the shot during post-production. It's not the most ideal approach for audiences, since the line between practical effects and CGI remains pretty thick. But definitely good news for certain blue-skinned cast members.

It's still unknown exactly how much of Mystique fans will even get to see in Avengers: Doomsday alongside other co-stars from Fox's extended X-Men franchise, but we know from the explosive first trailer that she'll use her morphing abilities to turn into Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova at some point. (I'd love to see her turn into Thing or Johnny Storm, just to see how that would work, but I'll take whatever I can get.)

For all that she was happy to not spend nearly as long in the makeup chair as she had in the past, Rebecca Romijn explained why that extended prep time actually had a net-positive effect on her performance overall, saying:

Which doesn't necessarily mean that Mystique's return in Avengers: Doomsday will see her doing meditative yoga and showing off her Wordle skills. She still seems pretty angry on the whole, though possibly with different motivations this time around.

Check Romijn and the rest of the ensemble cast out in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer that went public just prior to Comic-Con.

Catch Mystique showing off her unique powers and charms when Avengers: Doomsday joins other 2026 movie releases and hits theaters on December 18.

James Marsden is finally stepping back into Cyclops’ visor in the 2026 movie schedule release of Avengers: Doomsday. This long-hoped-for reprisal comes three decades after Marsden first started playing Scott Summers for the original X-Men. The return brings plenty of nostalgia but, as he recently told us, not every part of suiting up feels exactly as it did the first time

CinemaBlend caught up with Marsden at San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. Our own Jeff McCobb asked what felt most different about playing Cyclops again, along with what remained shockingly familiar. Marsden went straight for the easiest target: the passage of time. He explained:

Our interviewer immediately jumped in to insist that the Jury Duty a-lister still looked the same, which earned a laugh and a grateful response from the actor. He accepted the compliment, though he was not about to pretend that wearing a superhero suit today feels identical to doing it in his twenties.

His answer is funny because the Enchanted star remains one of those actors who, much like his Doomsday co-star Paul Rudd, seems to have negotiated unusually favorable terms with aging. Still, Cyclops is not exactly a forgiving role. The costume is tightly fitted, the posture is rigid and Scott Summers has traditionally carried himself as though relaxing his shoulders might trigger an international incident.

Marsden’s original run also arrived during a very different era of comic book movies. He first suited up during production on the groundbreaking comic book film, 2000’s X-Men, before interconnected universes and annual new superhero movie releases became standard studio business. Now, he is returning in a crossover that places the Fox-era mutants alongside Avengers and Fantastic Four characters.

The physical experience may feel different after nearly three decades, but the returning X-Men star said the emotional charge came rushing back as soon as he put on the costume and visor. That part of playing Cyclops, at least, has not changed. He continued:

That enthusiasm helps explain why fans have been so excited about Marsden’s return. Cyclops was a key member of the original Fox-era X-Men lineup, but those movies often pushed him aside to spend more time with Wolverine, Magneto and Professor X. Avengers: Doomsday gives Marvel another chance to show why Scott Summers is supposed to be one of the team’s central leaders.

You can watch a portion of CB's conversation with James Marsden in the clip embedded below:

Marvel officially confirmed Marsden's return as Cyclops alongside Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Ian McKellen’s Magneto back in March 2025. They'll also be joined in the film by other franchise alums like Rebecca Romijn and Alan Cumming, who will reprise their roles as Mystique and Nightcrawler, respectively. The Russo brothers’ crossover reaches theaters Dec. 18, 2026.

Marsden also joined several of his Doomsday co-stars during Marvel Studios’ Comic-Con presentation, making his return feel considerably more real than a name on a cast list.

Whether Cyclops gets enough screen time to make up for the old movies remains to be seen. Marsden, however, clearly has not lost his affection for the character. His body may be filing a few more complaints, but the visor still flips the same internal switch.

You can revisit Fox's era of Cyclops and all the Marvel movies streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

Avengers: Doomsday will see Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and more join forces to take on the threat of Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.). Like Infinity War and Endgame before them, Doomsday and the upcoming Secret Wars will serve as culmination films, as they’ll close out The Multiverse Saga. While many seem pumped to see Doom take on the heroes, others have argued that there’s been no true “buildup” to the character’s arrival. Now, Kevin Feige is weighing in on that argument.

Throughout the Infinity Saga (Phases One through Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe), it was evident that the overarching narrative was leading to a showdown with the Mad Titan, Thanos. Josh Brolin’s large, brooding character made brief appearances in a couple of movies, including The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Guardians of the Galaxy. Eventually, he became the Big Bad in Infinity War, and that carried into Endgame.

Ahead of Doomsday, Victor von Doom has only appeared in one film, as he makes a brief appearance in the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene. Fans have since taken to social media to air their grievances with the notion of Doom not being teased throughout the last few phases. Feige was asked about this when he spoke with The Brandon Davis Show after Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con. It was there that the veteran producer provided a counterargument for the Thanos/Doom “buildup” comparison:

All jokes aside, though, the Marvel Studios president does make a fair point in that Thanos chair quips were flying around that time. Even Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi joked about the purple alien’s tendency to remain in his chair. Still, Feige now also makes a point about Doom’s MCU entrance compared to Thanos’:

So it would seem that as was the case for Thanos and Infinity War, Marvel is zeroed in on ushering him into this continuity in a big way via an Avengers movie, regardless of how frequently he appeared early on. As a fan myself, I’m intrigued to see how that plays out, though I will say that it’s evident that Doom signifies a creative pivot for the MCU. The Multiverse Saga was previously leading to a multiversal battle with the evil Kang the Conqueror, who appeared in several Marvel projects over the last few years. However, that didn’t come to pass given the firing of Jonthan Majors, who played the character.

There’s been a question as to how much RDJ’s Doom casting was influenced by Majors’ dismissal due to legal issues. Yet Kevin Feige previously said conversations about shifting to Doom from Kang preceded Majors’ personal woes. Even now, I can still understand fans who argue that Doom hasn’t been woven into this MCU era as deeply as he could’ve been. But, if directors Joe and Anthony Russo – and writers Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron – give Victor his due in Doomsday, this could work.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to open in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule, and that film will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027.

Marvel Studios showed up to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 with the big guns. In case you somehow missed all the exciting announcements, Ryan Gosling was announced as Ghost Rider, David Jonsson joined Black Panther 3 as T’Challa’s son and the new Black Panther, and the enormous Avengers: Doomsday cast assembled in Hall H. Then a suspiciously chatty “fan” wearing a svelte grey Deadpool suit interrupted the proceedings, and we now have a better look at that outfit.

At first, it was unclear whether Ryan Reynolds was actually beneath the mask or Marvel had planted another performer using prerecorded audio. The voice and jokes soon gave him away, and the superhero movie veteran later confirmed in an Instagram Stories post by sharing a close-up of himself in the costume, sans mask. Take a look at the full “JeanPool” ensemble below:

The grey suit has roots in Marvel’s X-Force comics, where Wolverine’s covert team traded brighter colors for black-and-grey stealth uniforms. Deadpool adopted the palette after joining the squad in Wolverine: The Road to Hell #1 in 2010, replacing the red sections of his usual costume with grey. Deadpool 2 offered a loose live-action nod when Wade formed his own X-Force team and later emerged with his red suit scorched into darker tones. This denim-inspired Comic-Con version now gives that fan-favorite alternate look a distinctly Canadian upgrade.

During the audience Q&A, Reynolds returned to one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s lingering mysteries by asking Paul Rudd where Thor was and why he had been crying. Luckily for our readers, Cinemablend was in attendance, and you can see our video of the hilarious moment embedded below.

During the audience Q&A, Reynolds returned to one of Deadpool & Wolverine’s lingering mysteries by asking Paul Rudd where Thor was and why he had been crying. Luckily, for our readers, CinemaBlend was in attendance, and you can see our video of the hilarious moment embedded below:

Such a wonderfully great Reynolds moment. While there have been plenty of rumors about Wade and Wolvie showing up in Doomsday, Marvel stopped short of confirming Deadpool for the 2026 calendar release or any other upcoming Marvel movie, for that matter, but we can all hope.

The costume keeps Deadpool’s familiar silhouette but swaps his usual red-and-black palette for shades of slate grey and blue. A small Canadian flag sits on the chest, while brown utility pouches, holsters and gold accents break up the darker design. Even the Deadpool belt buckle has been recolored to match. The result looks polished enough for an Avengers movie but still ridiculous enough to feel unmistakably Wade Wilson.

While the grey color scheme originated in the X-Force comics, Reynolds’ denim-inspired joke gives this version its own identity. Deadpool also recently sported the striking look in the popular Marvel Rivals video game. Should the costume eventually make its way to the big screen, here’s hoping those glowing red eyes come with it.

The Free Guy actor’s interruption came during a packed Doomsday presentation featuring directors Joe and Anthony Russo alongside Avengers, Fantastic Four and Fox-era X-Men actors. Marvel also screened exclusive footage for the Hall H crowd.

Whether the costume was created solely for a Comic-Con joke or has some connection to an upcoming Deadpool project remains unclear. Reynolds’ attempt to invite himself into Doomsday certainly did not produce an official casting announcement, no matter how nicely the suit fit.

Still, this is an awfully detailed costume for a one-night gag. Until Marvel explains more, fans at least have a close-up look at Reynolds proving that denim, a Canadian flag and enough ammunition can make one surprisingly svelte superhero ensemble.

Avengers: Doomsday, possibly including an appearance from Deadpool, arrives in theaters Dec. 18, 2026. Until then, fans can revisit the Merc's entire trilogy, or stream other MCU fare with a Disney+ subscription.

Well, another Marvel Hall H panel is on the books! You may have already heard the big news about Ryan Gosling playing Ghost Rider or a new Black Panther actor being cast, but you had to be in the room to see the footage they showed fans of Avengers: Doomsday. Let's talk about it.

The Exclusive Avengers: Doomsday Footage They Showed Us At Hall H

I'll be honest here. I've been a little bit back and forth about Avengers: Doomsday. I love a superhero team-up movie, and some of my favorites from the MCU are set to star, but it's so crowded, too! I'm worried it's going to be a montage of Marvel meet-cutes and Secret Wars is going to be where the real things go down. But, one thing they showed us is what I think I've really been waiting for the whole time: more of Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom.

The footage we watched focused on highlighting Doctor Doom, and I loved it. (Especially since when we walked into Hall H everyone was given a Doctor Doom mask and cape to put on). The fresh look at Doomsday featured Vanessa Kirby's Invisible Woman explaining to the other Avengers about who they were up against as it panned to their worried faces. Then, we watched as Pedro Pascal's Mr. Fantastic pleaded to Doctor Doom. There was also an extended look at Thor trying to face-off against Doom that was also in the recent trailer that came out.

What really struck me about the footage though was RDJ's voice as Doctor Doom, because it sounds nothing like him, and is a lot deeper and more haunting than I was expecting from the actor. And yes, he's going for an accent.

Let's Talk About Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom Voice

Now during the panel, Robert Downey Jr. also channelled Doctor Doom, but listening it back to that moment really isn't same as what I heard in the footage. And, it doesn't do it justice in my opinion. Now I'm wondering if there's like a voice changer or effect in the movie itself, somehow. Take a look at the Hall H moment.

Look, I know that Robert Downey Jr. is a great actor. Since we learned he was playing another character in the MCU there's a feeling that maybe he would bring back Tony vibes for the nostalgia, but he's clearly trying something else. I also love that he's keeping the helmet on in the trailer. I think above all else, the footage really got me stressed for the Avengers in a way other previews hadn't done yet.

Have I mentioned that the footage ended with him raising an army of Doombots? It was super cool, and most of all awesome! Anyways, there's nothing like being in Hall H to get one amped for the future of Marvel. It hits theaters on December 18.

The first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is here, and at the risk of sounding alarmist, I'm worried. While I'm excited for the upcoming Marvel movie and know it's going to make a big splash with audiences, I can't help but be concerned about the X-Men and their place in the story.

Kevin Feige already confirmed the upcoming movie is heavily influenced by two prominent comic book storylines, but I have a feeling a third is in play. Is it possible this movie is also influenced by Avengers vs. X-Men, and we're going to see an adaptation of that play out in the movie?

Why I Think Avengers: Doomsday May Be Loosely Adapting Avengers Vs. X-Men

If you watch the Avengers: Doomsday trailer clearly, one thing stands out above all else. The Avengers and the X-Men are never seen fighting alongside each other or meeting, but we see them fighting other Avengers. There's a quick shot of Gambit fighting Shang-Chi, and it also seems Mystique transforms into Yelena Belova in the midst of a battle.

It has me wondering if the X-Men are allied with Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, and he's appealing to a cause that benefits both. Note that we see Magneto and Professor X united as equals at a table, rather than at odds. Also, Gambit and Mystique are usually on opposing sides in the comics, so why would they both be fighting the Avengers?

The Avengers vs. X-Men arc is more than just the name implies, of course, as you'd also need a character who can harness the Phoenix Force to complete that. Oh wait, isn't Sadie Sink heavily rumored to be playing Jean Grey in the MCU? You know, the same Grey who has harnessed the Phoenix Force before?

The comics had Hope Summers be the conduit to the power, but that doesn't mean the Russos and Marvel Studios couldn't take some creative liberties. To me, it feels like the table is set for Avengers: Doomsday to loosely adapt Avengers vs. X-Men, and factor in Doctor Doom to help get his story off the ground. Is it possible these mutants, and ones we haven't seen yet, are the "bad guys" in this?

I Would Sooner See That Story Told In A Separate Film, Not As The B-Plot To Service Doomsday

I would love to see Avengers vs. X-Men adapted in the MCU, but not like this. The story of the mutants being torn between saving their species and fighting The Avengers is fantastic and worthy of its own movie. I'd rather see that fleshed out in a meaningful way, rather than pared down just to fill time for Avengers: Doomsday to cross the finish line.

To be clear, I have no idea whether Avengers vs. X-Men is going to be adapted at all in Avengers: Doomsday. Regardless, I still have questions about the X-Men's involvement in the MCU overall, and how they factor into this story.

What I will say is that I've been waiting too long to see the modern iterations of the Mutants added to the MCU, and I would hate to have one of its better stories used as a B-plot when there are plenty of other ways to handle a Doctor Doom story. Unfortunately, it's all cut and in the can now, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see alongside others what this story will be about.

Avengers: Doomsday is in theaters on December 18th. I'm excited for its release for now, and hoping we get more information on what's going on with the mutants closer to its release date.

Every so often two major movies are released on the same weekend and some competition is started at the box office. While Barbenheimer resulted in huge numbers for both Barbie and Oppenheimer, we're about to get another one of these moments with the forthcoming release of both the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday and Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three. The forthcoming theatrical event had been named Dunesday, although Marvel's Kevin Feige reportedly admitted that having another blockbuster to compete with might not have been the best plan.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but there's a ton of hype surrounding both that movie and Dune 3. It's unclear if they'll end up cannibalizing each other's box office performance, or if folks will simply do double features to see both titles.

Kevin Feige allegedly spoke about this at a Chinese event, with a translated quote coming to us from Weibo (via Threads). He reportedly said:

If true, this is illuminating. While I'm gonna take this translated quote with a grain of salt, it sounds like Doomsday wasn't always going to be competing with Dune. But when The Russo Brothers' movie needed more time during the editing process, that's how things shook out. And just like that, Dunesday was born.

When the next Avengers movie got moved to its December release date, some fans worried that it would suffer at the box office due to both competition and superhero fatigue. But if Doomsday's record-breaking trailer performance is any indication, that might not be the case. While superhero fatigue might be a think, folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are still seemingly invested in the forthcoming crossover event.

It should be interesting to see just how much money both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three end up making during the opening weekend. Will this competition result in both movies performing well, or will they interfere with each other's profitability? In addition to Barbenheimer being a pop culture moment, last year we were treated to Wickediator aka the release of Wicked: For Good and Gladiator 2. While they were very different movies, they were both able to make a ton of money at the box office. Only time will tell if that happens this December for Dunesday.

Both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. No matter what happens Florence Pugh is winning, as she'll star in both of those highly anticipated blockbusters.

We’ve come a long way when it comes to news about December 18th’s Avengers: Doomsday. From seeing a whole bunch of names on chairs to learning that Cap and company were coming back, the info keeps on rolling.

And with the news, we also got a new poster from former visual development director Andy Park, as well as a brand-spanking-new trailer featuring Doctor Doom and everything. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the X-Men, The Avengers (Both old AND new), and The Fantastic Four whoop Doctor Doom’s behind. However, one team is notably absent from the trailer, and that’s the one from my favorite Marvel movie, Eternals.

Which, you know, really bugs me, since if the Eternals were ever coming back, it likely would have been for this extravaganza. Let’s talk.

Look, I Get It. Nobody Likes Eternals Except For Me

Okay, I get it. When most people rank the MCU movies, Eternals always lands somewhere near the bottom, if not THE bottom. And, yeah, I’ve heard all of the complaints: “It should have been a TV series rather than a movie.” “There were just too many characters,” and, the most common of all, “It’s just so BORING.”

However, even after a rewatch, I still consider it my favorite MCU movie. I’m eternally hoping that we’ll see Thena, Sersi, and Kingo again (even though it probably would be in Kumail Nanjiani’s best interest to stay away from Marvel this time, for mental health's sake anyway). I just love these characters. I don’t think Eternals should have been a TV series, and I feel that the film did a great job of managing so many characters. But, most importantly, I don’t find it BORING. I find it ambitious, engaging, and artistic, and I always wanted more of it from Marvel.

So, to not see any hint of them on this new concept art or in the trailer just really upsets me. Especially since I know Marvel still remembers that they exist.

I Mean, Hello. They’re Referenced In Captain America: Brave New World

Another Marvel movie that I know people don’t like, but I enjoy, is Captain America: Brave New World, which I would actually rank higher than the first Captain America flick. Now, something that surprised many a longtime MCU fan is that Eternals were actually referenced in a major way in the fourth Captain America movie, as we actually got to see what happened to the Celestial, Tiamut, with Celestial Island.

That tells me that Kevin Feige still remembers Eternals. Now, I understand that the Russo brothers probably don’t care about Eternals since they have their own vision in mind, plus they also have the X-Men to bring into the fray.

However, I just can’t shake the feeling that Eternals should have at least SOME kind of presence in this movie, which actually brings me to my last point.

Eternals Would Be Really Cool In Avengers: Doomsday, So Am I Being A Fool For Still Holding Out Hope?

There’s still a lot we likely don’t know about Avengers: Doomsday, even with everything they’ve shown us thus far in the trailer. So, am I being foolish for believing that perhaps the Eternals MIGHT make an appearance in this movie somehow?

I mean, I never thought I’d see Thor: The Dark World ever referenced again, but it played a prominent role in Avengers: Endgame.

So, could the Eternals also be hidden away in this movie somewhere and we just don’t know about it yet? I guess only time will tell.

As we barrel towards the release of Avengers: Doomsday on the 2026 movie schedule, everyone was a little surprised when Doomsday's first trailer dropped just days before San Diego Comic Con kicks off. I think most fans thought it was more likely to drop there during the Marvel panel on Saturday. The great news for those of us not attending SDCC, we all got to see it Monday for the first time. We got a good look at many of the characters that we’ve long known are in the upcoming MCU movie, but I was really surprised that we didn’t get surprised by at least one of two characters who are heavily rumored to be in the movie, Spider-Man and Wolverine.

I Expected One Surprise From The Trailer

In the trailer, we saw a ton of characters, so it’s hardly shocking that there were some who we know are going to be in the movie, like Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), who didn’t make it into the short trailer. There are also a handful of major MCU actors who weren’t part of the big director’s chair reveal last year when the movie was officially announced, nor have they been announced since. I’m talking about actors like Elizabeth Olsen (The Scarlet Witch), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Tom Holland (Spidey), and Hugh Jackman (Wolverine).

I really kind of expected at least one of those, most likely Wolverine, based on Jackman’s recent social media posts, or Spider-Man (since Brand New Day is hitting theaters at the end of the month) to be in Doomsday. We saw neither. I get the Russos and the powers that be want to save some surprises for the theaters, or even for future trailers, keeping the hype train going. They may also be holding some back for SDCC later this week, but I really did think we’d see either Spider-Man or Wolverine in the first trailer. Yes, I fully believe that both characters will appear in the movie (along with Dr, Strange and Deadpool).

There Is A Web Of Rumors Surrounding Spider-Man

Maybe it’s less surprising that Spidey wasn’t included, because there are a lot of theories out there that it might not be Tom Holland’s version of the webslinger, but Tobey Maguire’s, who could be in Doomsday. That is definitely a reveal that you’d want to keep for the movie, so if that rumor does end up being correct, I get it. Wolverine, on the other hand, would be the perfect character to surprise fans with in the first trailer.

Doomsday is going to mark the real introduction of the full complement of X-Men into the MCU films, after some flirting with the characters in WandaVision and, of course, Deadpool and Wolverine. Putting the most famous big-screen X-Man, Wolverine, in the trailer would have given us all a “whoa!” moment. It would save the potential reveal of Spider-Man for the movie, but still get people talking about the future of the MCU beyond Doomsday.

Then again, maybe all this is just wild speculation about all these unannounced characters and none of them will be in Doomsday. All I know is that I’ll be keeping a close lookout for any more clues and crumbs that get dropped over the next few days, weeks, and months.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been going strong for nearly two decades, with new titles arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. While there are plenty of upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to, fans are most hyped for The Russo Brothers' Avengers: Doomsday. And that pair of acclaimed directors recently shared a message to fans after Doomsday's trailer quickly broke records online.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, with fan theories and rumors circulating for months. So it shouldn't be surprising that the movie's first full trailer essentially broke the internet when it arrived earlier this week. It's already gotten millions of views and the Russos took to Instagram to thank the fandom for their support. Their message reads:

500 million is a truly wild sum of views, and is especially remarkable when you consider that Doomsday got there in just 24 hours. While there has been some concern over superhero fatigue after box office bombs like The Marvels, it's clear that folks are still invested in big crossover movies like The Avengers. We'll just have to see how it performs at the box office; Endgame became the highest grossing movie of all time upon its release. For now, the trailer is Disney's highest watched trailer of all time.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are super curious about what's coming in Avengers: Doomsday, so the trailer offered at least a taste of what the Russos have up their sleeves. That includes the Avengers crossing over with the OG stars of the X-Men movies, and fighting before presumably uniting against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

As a reminder, you can check out the trailer in its entirety below:

While I wasn't lucky enough to see the first Avengers: Doomsday footage at CinemaCon, it's thrilling that this full trailer has arrived. But as exciting as the action we're shown is, there are still countless questions about the movie's story. Luckily the promotional campaign has begun, so hopefully we'll be treated to more information and content as the project gets closer to its release this winter.

While Doomsday's trailer made history for its record-breaking performance, there is another Marvel movie that it beat. Namely the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer, which got 718.6 million views within 24 hours. Clearly there's a ton of excitement about the next two super hero movies coming from the MCU.

It was thrilling to finally see the Doomsday cast interact, and it should be fascinating to see how the interpersonal dynamics of the ensemble play out on the big screen.

Luckily the wait is nearly, over Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. But first up is Brand New Day, which will arrive July 31st. We'll just have to see if that movie does any set-up for the forthcoming crossover film.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, thanks to its steady stream of new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Arguably the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature a stellar ensemble cast. That includes Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, who had a funny response to fans who say the studio finally "remembered" about his movie. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is extremely limited, with fans filling in the blanks with theories and rumors. The Doomsday trailer finally treated folks to footage, including Shang-Chi fighting Gambit. Folks sounded off on Twitter, hyped that Liu's character was finally returning to the MCU. He ended up responding to one of them, which you can see below:

While Shang-Chi's sequel has been delayed a number of times, Liu seems thrilled about finally being able to return to the MCU as part of the Avengers: Doomsday cast list. The Kim's Convenience actor has been honest about wanting to see his burgeoning franchise continue, but for now his mysterious role in the next Avengers movie will help keep Shang-Chi at the top of mind for fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order.

Liu's debut movie was a big success when it hit theaters back in 2021, and Shang-Chi's credits scene teased his role in the larger MCU, likely as an Avenger. But he's been noticeably absent since, albeit from the character's brief appearances in the animated series What If...?

The end of Shang-Chi certainly made it seem like he had a big role to come in the larger shared universe, with him communicating with Wong, Captain Marvel, and Bruce Banner after the Ten Rings were revealed to be sending a beacon to something. Fans thought this was setting up Kang as the next big bad of the shared universe, although Jonathan Majors' firing resulted in that villain being abandoned in favor of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Despite how long Liu has been missing from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that doesn't take away what his first solo movie was able to do. Shang-Chi performed well at the box office, got good reviews, and director Daniel Destin Cretton was even recruited to direct Spider-Man: Brand New Day. We'll just have to see how long it takes for Shang-Chi 2 to finally begin active development; perhaps his role in the next Avengers movie will help inspire the studio to invest more in his future.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll have to see how much more footage fans are treated to; the first trailer will likely only increase fans calling for more content.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has lots of titles in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription, but no project has the amount of hype surrounding it as Avengers: Doomsday. The upcoming Marvel movie is the shared universe's next big crossover, and lucky for fans Doomsday's first trailer finally arrived. Although the fandom isn't taking one character redesign well: the Fantastic Four's robot sidekick H.E.R.B.I.E..

Moviegoers who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order will recall how H.E.R.B.I.E. became fan favorite after debuting in First Steps. He'll once again appear as part of Doomsday's cast, but he's going to look very different. As one fan pointed out on Twitter:

Talk about a difference. H.E.R.B.I.E. will seemingly be getting a big upgrade during the next Avengers movie, presumably since the Fantastic Four will be popping up in Earth-616 during the course of the blockbuster. And with new tech available, that's likely why we'll be getting a new version for the First Family's robotic member.

Unfortunately, fans aren't taking kindly to this new H.E.R.B.I.E. design. They sounded off the comments section of the above Twitter post, and weren't pleased about the little guy's makeover. Some responses include:

• My mans got that Bluetooth going for him.
• Best case scenario is he got damaged during a fight scene he got caught up in and was repaired perhaps in the main MCU universe with their tech and that’s why he looks so different.
• First image looks disgusting. Why would they change the design for? Stupidity?
• they hurt ma boi!
• What have they done to my boy

Marvel fans are known for being passionate, which is a big reason why the franchise has gone on for nearly 20 years. But they're also not shy about sharing their dissatisfaction for creatives choices... especially when it comes to character design. And unfortunately this change in H.E.R.B.I.E. hasn't been going over well so far. After all, fans loved the retro futuristic design of the Fantastic Four movie.

Following Doomsday's brief teasers, the movie's first trailer finally arrived this week, to the joy of fans. We finally got to see the epic crossovers coming our way, including fights with the OG stars of the X-Men movies. As a reminder, you can check out the trailer below:

This footage is thrilling, but (of course) fans found some things to complain about, including H.E.R.B.I.E.'s new design. Regardless, the Doomsday trailer did increase excitement for the movie, especially with advanced tickets for the movie now available. This anticipation will hopefully result in massive box office numbers, which are especially important after bombs like The Marvels.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see what H.E.R.B.I.E.'s role in the movie is, and if he ends up surviving the battle with Doctor Doom.

After what felt like roughly a billion years (give or take eight or nine zeros), Marvel Studios finally released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming MCU film Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans a slew of new details, shots, quotes, and more to theorize about. (Example: Are we really going to see all the familiar X-Men being killed off?!?) Along with footage-filled new promo, a new Doomsday poster also dropped that is no doubt meant to supply insights regarding Doctor Doom’s emotional plight in the 2026 release.

But wait, does that poster ALSO make a “hidden” reference to everyone’s favorite unbreakable mutant, Wolverine? Does it, does it? I mean, probably not, but now that the suggestion has entered my brain-space, I simply cannot unsee it, Bub.

The idea was first posited over on Reddit without much of a logical narrative foundation, but who needs hypothetical exposition when Wolverine’s mask is clearly kinda-sorta just right there if you use your imagination and really want to believe it. (I slapped my own version together for the side-by-side below.)

It's not exactly perfect or anything, but it's way more convincing than it should be for pure randomness. I get that there's definitely some pareidolia involved, and that my brain is so used to seeing big faces on movie posters that it's trying to make up for that vacant element.

Add to that the ongoing speculation about Hugh Jackman's Wolverine showing up in Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars, with his very recent gym efforts sparking theories about that very thing. But it's not like we're just seeing Wolverine-adjacent shapes on random cereal boxes and floor patterns. (Maybe contact a doctor or a trip-sitter if you are.) This poster is at least a fitting spot to see a mutant visage.

For all that I think the Anthony and Joe Russo would include this kind of visual clue in a Doomsday poster, I can't think of why Wolverine would be showing up on this tapestry of what appears to be Victor Von Doom's family. Even if this movie does wipe out Fox's X-Men timeline and we get introduced to a Wolverine replacement that isn't Jackman, I'm still not sure it makes sense for a poster tease. (Unless the new Wolvie is a variant of Doom's son, or some other convoluted sh-t.)

Considering Steve Rogers' timeline tinkering has been theorized as a root cause for the incursions that possibly killed Doom's brood, it'd make a bit more sense for Steve's Captain America mask to be hiding in there.

Which I guess means I should spend the next couple of hours trying to force my brain to unsee Wolverine so that I can then spend another couple of hours finding a way to perspective-force Cap onto this poster. We all have our missions, and they're all important.

As the coundown clock tells us, Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

For a generation of moviegoers, Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool – the profane, violent and admittedly, lovable mercenary who’s now a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s been a couple of years since audiences have seen the Merc with a Mouth on the big screen, as he last appeared in the box office hit Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. Many have been itching to know what lies ahead for the red-and-black clad character. Reynolds made some comments about that earlier this year but is now backtracking in a way that I’m actually fine with.

Reynolds teased his future plans for the character this past spring during an interview, saying that he had “some stuff kind of written.” However, he notably said he didn’t have plans to make another solo film involving Wade Wilson. Furthermore, the Canadian star asserted that Wilson would work better as a “supporting character” and that “He’s a guy who is great in a group.” These comments surely came as a surprise to fans, especially considering how successful DP’s film series has been.

It seems Reynolds may be changing course a bit when it comes to the direction of his MCU character. The A-lister recently appeared at Fanatics Fest, where he discussed Wade Wilson’s future, and he dropped an interesting bit of information. As seen in an Instagram video, Reynolds seemingly confirms that another installment in the Deadpool franchise is on the way:

Per Reynolds’ sentiments, it sounds like he has unfinished business, and I’m glad to hear it. I honestly don’t doubt his prior assertion that Wade can work as a member of an ensemble, which is why I wouldn’t mind seeing him in Avengers: Doomsday (which just dropped a trailer) or Secret Wars. Still, the character does have his own specific appeal as a lead in his own set of movies, which get a lot of R-rated leeway that other MCU installments don’t get. So, on that note, bring on more Wilson-led flicks!

Still, it would be great to see Wade rub shoulders with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and other major MCU players at some point. It’s been rumored that Deadpool and Wolverine will return in Doomsday, but that’s far from confirmed. Ryan Reynolds also shared other comments about Wade’s future months ago, and they don’t inspire confidence that he’ll be in either of the upcoming Avengers movies. Despite that, wilder things have happened in this franchise, so it would be unwise to rule out the possibility altogether.

It remains to be seen whether Reynolds’ latest comments will prove to be correct, but it’s encouraging to hear that he still has interest in reprising Wade. Also, if another solo film is greenlit, I hope Reynolds commits to not rushing out the film and letting it marinate as needed.

Check out the first three Deadpool movies now by streaming them with a Disney+ subscription. And, regardless of whether Wade Wilson appears in Avengers: Doomsday, see it in theaters when it opens on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Multiverse Saga is approaching its culmination, and that’ll begin with Avengers: Doomsday. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film is set to see various heroes across the multiverse take on the threat of Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.). Fans have been anxiously awaiting a first look at this 2026 movie schedule entry and, now, they have it by way of the first official trailer. It delivers on the film’s promise of uniting the heroes, but what I really love is the role Thor has seemingly taken on.

Thor Steps Up In A Big Way In The Avengers: Doomsday Trailer

Although there are plenty of heroes in the fold with this story, Thor has the most prominent role in this particular trailer, and I love it. It’s Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder who narrates the trailer and stresses to his comrades that they must work together to defeat this new threat. All in all, Hemsworth delivers this dialogue with conviction, and it’s great to see him taking center stage. What’s more is that we even get a shot of him going at Doom head on, and I’m both excited and nervous about how that bout might play out.

What the Asgardian God’s comments represent are the sage advice of a person who’s been around and seen his fair share of battles. I especially get chills when I hear the character talk about having fought alongside fallen warriors “far stronger than” him and his cohorts put together. And as he points out, those fighters died facing enemies that can’t even match Doom’s power. I was thinking new Captain America Sam Wilson would essentially serve as the Avengers’ new leader and, while that may be the case, Thor could be second to him.

Fans probably should’ve assumed Thor would take on a more serious role, given that Doomsday teaser that saw him praying to Odin. I love how Hemsworth is more than rising to the occasion and proving why his character has “earned his seat at the table,” so to speak. The Australian actor may have felt like an “elder” while filming with some of his younger co-stars but, if you ask me, this OG member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes isn’t showing any signs of aging.

Various MCU Heroes Will Unite (And Clash) During Doomsday

The Thor of this aside, though, when it comes to MCU crossovers, where can we even start when it comes to this trailer? At first glance, there are so many character combinations here that have my head spinning in the best way. For starters, there’s a group shot in Avengers Tower that features the New Avengers alongside the Fantastic Four and others like Sam Wilson, Ant-Man and Thor. And, of course, we also see Thor unite with good buddy Steve Rogers, who proves his identity by wielding Mjolnir.

What’s also cool is seeing some of these beloved characters come to blows with one another. For example, we get a look at the rumored Mystique and Yelena Belova battle, and Shang-Chi and Gambit also fight, with the flaming cards and ancient rings flying! It also seems that the bad blood between the Wakandans and the denizens of Talokan following the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. All in all, what I’m assuming, though, is that all of these factions may put aside their differences as they seek to fight Doom.

That’s the advice Thor gives, of course, and I’d certainly take it if I were among the heroes. It goes without saying that the axe-wielding do-gooder knows what tragic events can happen when the Avengers aren’t on the same page. I’m ready to see how all this goes down and, given the size of Thor’s role, I’ll also be curious to see if this marks the end of the road for the Norse god.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18th, and tickets are available now. To prepare for the film, fans can stream the first four Avengers movies using a Disney+ subscription.

Hugh Jackman may have once had a definitive X-Men ending in Logan, but no more. Since his Deadpool & Wolverine return in 2024, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he appears in one of the next Marvel movies. And, as of late, Jackman has been incredibly open about his gym routine. Those workout posts have, unsurprisingly, prompted fans to mention his adamantium-clawed alter ego.

In the past few weeks, Jackman has posted two videos of himself back on a workout routine of sorts. Check out this one from July 1, and try not to get winded while watching it:

Whoa, Jackman’s really putting in the work! In the video above, the movie star is seen doing pushups with massive chains around his neck. In the caption he wrote “best to stay fit” without saying why. I totally get why fans are getting suspicious of the actor returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

If he’s doing this workout all the time he’s definitely going to be Wolverine ripped in no time. Here’s another one he posted this week:

In this video, Jackman shared a workout win where he was able to hit 2k on a rowing machine in just under seven minutes. Amidst the accomplishment, Jackman said he’s “proud, exhausted, grateful and sweating profusely.” Here’s how the Marvel fans were commenting across both posts:

• “Wolverine??? Doomsday???” - @imitandup
• “Bro is training for secret wars” - @melboy_3218
• “Bro getting ready for wolverine😍💪🔥” - @zacksnyderfans
• “He really gonna do it till 90 😂” - @sj_here_11
• “I guess you’re also in Secret Wars lol” - @arlenelaqueen”
• “Damn, wolverine is coming back” - @_choke_on_wax_
• “Wolverine is coming” - @vitobenita

‘Til he’s 90! Since Hugh Jackman has already been the lead in two 2026 movie schedule entries, you know he’s already been dodging questions about whether he’s in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Jackman has been staying strong and not saying much but, back in December, he did say that his gut was telling him he’s “not done” with Wolverine.

Avengers: Doomsday will definitely have some X-Men actors in it of course. We already know for sure that Ian McKellan’s Magneto, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and James Marsden’s Cyclops are in the December 2026 release. Additionally, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique, Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler and Channing Tatum’s Gambit will also be in the movie.

There have also been all sorts of rumors as of late about A-list movie stars filling roles in upcoming X-Men reboot. Adam Driver is rumored to be the new Magneto and a report about Margot Robbie playing Mystique has also gotten around. Some people theorize that the next set of MCU films will be called “The Mutant Saga”.

Marvel Studios is returning to San Diego Comic Con for a massive Hall H panel next weekend, so it’s very possible we’ll know more about the future of X-Men in a week. Of course, that's just speculation, so I’d definitely take Hugh Jackman’s workout videos at face value (for now)!

When Marvel Studios revealed its massive Avengers: Doomsday cast over a year ago, there were plenty of big names that stuck out. One of the most notable actors to be revealed via one of those set chairs was Tom Hiddleston, who was confirmed to be reprising his role as Loki. I’m personally glad that the former God of Mischief will play a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest superhero epic. Now, I’m even more enthusiastic about Hiddleston’s return, thanks to a promise he just made about the movie.

The last time MCU fans saw Loki was during the Season 2 finale of his eponymous show, which was emotional to say the least. Hiddleston’s beloved character saved his allies – and the entire multiverse – by personally wrangling the various timelines and permanently remaining in place to manage them. With that, the God of Mischief essentially became the God of Stories. It was a fitting end for the character, and it’s one I don’t want to be undone in any way. On that note, Hiddleston spoke to THR about Doomsday, and said this:

Of course, the well-trained star didn’t divulge any specific details about his character’s role in the upcoming Avengers flick. What his sentiments seem to indicate to me, however, is that Doomsday won’t seek to reverse the Asgardian prince’s position in some form or fashion. So I’m not expecting to be freed from that throne at the center of the multiverse and put in a position to reunite with friends like Mobius, Sylvie, Hunter B-15 and OB.

Just a few years ago, it was uncertain whether Tom Hiddleston would even return to the MCU at all. The British actor initially didn’t seem too bullish about donning his golden horns again shortly after Loki (which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription) ended. However, Hiddleston later clarified those comments while speaking with CinemaBlend, saying that he hadn’t completely closed the door and that he was “keeping an open heart and an open mind.”

There are also a few other actors in this movie who play characters who’ve had somewhat definitive endings. Chief among them is Steve Rogers, who returns to the fray following his happily ever after in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. And, of course, there’s the metal-faced elephant in the room that is Doctor Doom, who’s played by Robert Downey Jr. following his lengthy stint as Iron Man. As of right now, a connection between Tony Stark and Doom has not been confirmed, but I’m also hoping that doesn’t taint Stark’s sacrifice in Endgame.

Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo – alongside screenwriters Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely – will be dealing with a lot of characters who’ve been absent from the shared universe for some time now, including Shuri, Shang-Chi and many of the OG X-Men characters. The Russos have obviously balanced various characters in Marvel movies before, but this one seems like it could be an even greater feat. Rumors even suggest that Loki only has a handful of scenes.

Nevertheless, I’m confident that Tom Hiddleston’s antihero as well as the rest of the characters will get their moments to shine. Fans can see Loki make his grand return when Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine that constantly treats fans to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. All eyes are on the upcoming Marvel movies, especially Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars. Moviegoers are hyped about The Russo Brothers returning to the MCU for those titles, but they just keep getting asked if they'll do more Marvel movies afterward.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that The Russo Brothers are behind some of the best titles in the entire shared universe. That includes Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, and of course Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, with the latter becoming the highest grossing movie of all time. While appearing at SXSW in London (via Deadline) Anthony Russo responded to questions about their potential Marvel future, saying:

This makes a ton of sense. Endgame's ending wrapped up a number of stories, including Cap's happy ending and the death of both Iron Man and Black Widow. So no one would have blamed The Russos for retiring from Marvel forever. Luckily for fans, they ended up being convinced to return for the next two Avengers movies.

Anthony Russo went on to share how they're approaching Doomsday and Secret Wars, which will tell another full storyline. In his words:

While The Russo Brothers aren't setting any rules about their involvement in the MCU moving forward, it sounds like they're approaching their third and fourth Avengers movie as one narrative. Only time will tell if they're convinced to do more Marvel projects after Doomsday and Secret Wars are both released.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but that'll change when it hits theaters hits coming December. Moviegoers are largely in the dark about its contents, but The Russo Brothers have earned good will among among fans that's helping to buoy excitement. Hopefully we are treated to more footage (and a full trailer) sooner rather than later.

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. As for Secret Wars, it is set to follow suit on December 17th, 2027. Hopefully they won't mark The Russos' last time directing a Marvel movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for constantly expanding with new projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will arrive this December. The Doomsday cast was recently shown in an official poster, although a fan pointed out a "funny outcome" related to Chris Evans' return as Steve Rogers.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday has been limited, but fans are hyped to see entire teams united against Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Former Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park recently took to Instagram to show off an epic post for the forthcoming blockbuster. Check it out:

I mean how awesome is that? This image is the first real glimpse at what costumes various heroes will be wearing in Doomsday. This includes the new looks for the OG stars of the X-Men movies, although one character is especially turning heads. Namely Chris Evan's Steve Rogers, who is shown wearing a casual pants and t-shirt rather than his signature Captain America suit.

This poster quickly went viral online, and fans started sounding off on social media. One tweet that's gotten at on of attention poked fun at Steve's casual outfit for Doomsday, claiming:

The lack of a costume for Chris Evans' hero is definitely turning heads, although it's unclear if the above claim is accurate. Although Captain America: Brave New World bombed at the box office, so perhaps that's what this user is referencing about The Russos "not trusting" Sam Wilson's version of Cap to lead the upcoming Avengers movie.

There were plenty of response to the above Tweet, many of which were fans who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order and aren't pleased about Steve's casual outfit. Check it out below:

• Chris Evans is playing the hero Shirtpants. You can tell it's him because he is wearing a shirt and pants.
• Secret Wars is not a captain america movie at all, its more Doom/Fantastic Four story (with other marvel heroes invovled)
• I don't mind Steve not having the mantle BUT AT LEAST GIVE HIM SOME DAMN BATTLE SUIT HOW WILL HE FIGHT USING A PLAIN BLACK SHIRT COME ON
• Watch it become a twist where this is not our Steve rogers but Captain Hydra hence no actual suit

The latter post is particularly intriguing, as there were rumors we'd see a villainous variant of Captain America in the blockbuster. But Marvel's tight security has been keeping the movie's contents under wraps, so there's no telling what's actually coming.

Despite Steve Rogers getting his happy ever after during Avengers: Endgame, a teaser for Doomsday confirmed that Chris Evans would be reprising his signature role once again. Check it out below:

While Chris Evans cameos as the Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, the next Avengers movie marks the first time he'll play Steve Rogers since Endgame changed the shared universe forever. The pressure is on, and it should be fascinating to see how the character changed since we last saw him.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get a full trailer sooner rather than later.

As we prepare for some of our old favorites to return for the upcoming Marvel Movie Avengers: Doomsday, I do think it’s worth a reminder there’s a reason we love the original gang so much. Their banter is some of the best in the game. Case in point: That time Chris Evans trolled Scarlett Johansson over the best-looking MCU actor, and then she took her sweet time getting revenge.

Chris Evans Thinks Chris Hemsworth Is The Best-Looking MCU Cast Member

Back in the day, MovieManiacsDE talked to some of the major players ahead of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the topic of attractive MCU cast members came up. When asked who was “the best-looking” in the MCU, Chris Evans immediately blurted out “Hemsworth,” despite literally being seated next to Scarlett Johansson at the time. The two had a funny exchange about it, and eventually got on the same page.

It’s worth pointing out that Samuel L. Jackson insta-answered Black Widow earlier in the interview, so she got some brownie points there, and Chris Hemsworth was not involved in this specific conversation himself. Yet, I do love a little tale of petty revenge, and the perfect opportunity came up for Johansson years later.

The Insult Lobbed At Chris Hemsworth Years Later

Thank goodness we get a new Avengers movie every few years, because Scarlett Johansson got the chance to get a great “ugly barb” in years later. She and Hemsworth were paired together as part of Endgame’s press tour, and joined a BBC bit called “Playground insults” in which she just dumped on the Thor actor’s looks right out of the gate. What did she say?

Chris Hemsworth did fumble around a bit to get his own barb in, but the poor guy was out of his depth trying to go toe-to-toe with Scarlett Johannson’s perfect timing. He could only think to target her brain while she gets in the best barb about him wearing a “grandma’s sweater.” Take a look.

I’m not sure Hemsworth was even aware of the prior conversation between Johansson and Evans, but he has to know it’s a recurring theme where his stunningly good genetics come up. He was Sexiest Man Alive in 2014. Benedict Cumberbatch and Elizabeth Olsen agree he’s got that dreamy thing going on. In fact, he’s so good-looking the likes of other handsome men like Kevin Costner have even remarked on it unprompted. Though Hemsworth himself is known to be humble when it comes to his own looks.

Honestly, it’s probably a good thing people aren’t focusing on Scarlett Johansson. The actress has been open about how a lot of roles she was offered early in her career were often good-looking-but-shallow characters like the “side-piece” or “bombshell." Her Black Widow character, despite being a bit of a sex symbol in Iron Man 2, really helped to change that. So, if people want to focus on how Hemsworth’s arms are the size of Elizabeth Olsen’s head instead of her own Black Widow looks, she’s probably OK with that narrative.

Just give her all the props for that Grandma sweater joke.

I had been thinking about the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday as the next massive Marvel roll call. You know the deal: heroes from all corners of the MCU multiverse, the Fantastic Four, returning legacy names, Doctor Doom chaos stirring things up, and so many heroes it could feel a little crowded. But producer Kevin Feige just made me much more interested in the upcoming Marvel movie, thanks to his comments about Florence Pugh’s Thunderbolts* character, Yelena Belova.

During Feige’s appearance at BiliBili World in Shanghai, via Entertainment Weekly, the Marvel Studios boss teased what is coming for Pugh’s fan-favorite former assassin on the 2026 movie schedule. While talking about Yelena’s MCU future, Feige made it clear she will not just be hanging around in the background of the next Avengers movie. He said:

That is the kind of Feige tease that immediately sends Marvel fans like me into detective mode. The obvious part is Doomsday. Yelena playing a “big part” in the next Avengers movie makes sense after everything Marvel has been building with her and how Thunderbolts* ended. Since her debut in Black Widow, Pugh has turned Yelena into one of the MCU’s most reliable newer characters, bringing dry humor, emotional baggage and a very specific “I could kill you, but I’m hungry” energy to every appearance.

The more interesting part is Feige saying we might see Yelena “a little bit sooner in the movies.” Unless Marvel is holding back another theatrical surprise, that seems to point toward the soon-to-be-released Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which hits theaters nearly six months before Avengers: Doomsday. And, honestly, Yelena crossing paths with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker is just odd enough to have my attention.

At first, Peter and Yelena do not sound like an obvious pairing. Peter is still dealing with the fallout from No Way Home, where everyone forgot Peter Parker existed. Yelena is a trained killer with a sharp tongue and very little patience for nonsense. But Brand New Day already seems interested in unusual combinations, especially with the Punisher and Hulk appearing in the movie. If those characters can fit into Peter’s world, Yelena does not feel like much of a stretch.

The team-up of characters is also not as strange as it might sound, because to anyone with a Disney+ subscription who has already watched Hawkeye and seen Yelena work in a more family-friendly Marvel story. She brought a sharper edge to that show, but she never felt out of place or as if she were pulling it into a completely different tone.

From a bigger MCU standpoint, it makes sense too. Avengers: Doomsday is going to be huge and, if Yelena really has a major role in it, Marvel may want to remind audiences where she is before that movie arrives. A smaller appearance beforehand could give her story some momentum and make her role in the next Avengers film feel less sudden.

That is especially important because Yelena is not just another name on the team sheet. Pugh has been one of Marvel’s strongest additions in the post-Endgame era, and the MCU could use more characters who feel specific rather than interchangeable. So, yes, Avengers: Doomsday is still the big heroes team-up. That is clearly the main event. But Feige’s comments have me watching the road to that movie more closely, because Yelena may be more important to this phase than I expected.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which could possibly feature Yelena, hits theaters July 31. As for Avengers: Doomsday, where we know she is confirmed to appear in the stacked cast, that arrives in theaters Dec. 18.