Assembling the Avengers was just the beginning. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) expanded over the years and cosmic threats grew more powerful, it was only inevitable that an even bigger team-up would take centre stage — more so now than ever, with Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom ready to wreak multiverse-spanning destruction in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
A new trailer for the long-awaited sequel, which first debuted at CinemaCon in April, features plenty of familiar faces, including the two most recent teams: The Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts (aka the New Avengers), both introduced last year in their own respective films. Then, there’s the mutant camp, comprising Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), Cyclops (James Marsden), and Channing Tatum’s Gambit from 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, who’s seen facing off against Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi. On the other side of the friendly fire, the Wakandans are gearing up for a showdown with Namor (Tenoch Huerta).
Orchestrating this tag-team is Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, who rallies his allies, “Put aside your petty squabbles. Presume nothing except this: If you return, you will return as brothers and sisters. Mark my words — we’re going to need a miracle.” The Asgardian is later caught off guard by the appearance of Chris Evans’ Captain America, exclaiming, “It’s not possible,” as the latter wields Mjolnir.
Not much else is known about the MCU version of Doctor Doom, but the casting of Downey Jr, who previously portrayed Iron Man, has sparked the possibility of an Iron Man variant from another universe. The antagonist was last seen in the post-credits scene of Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the clip marks his first proper extended look since.
Among the major returning cast are Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, and Lewis Pullman. Anthony and Joe Russo, known collectively as the Russo Brothers, are back at the helm and will direct from a script by Michael Waldron and Stephen McFeely.
Avengers: Doomsday marks the duo’s first lead MCU feature since 2019’s Endgame and is set for theatrical release on 18 December, the same day as Warner Bros.’ Dune: Part III (Dunesday, anyone?). Secret Wars will follow on 17 December 2027as the conclusion to Phase Six of the MCU.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
