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Avengers: Doomsday trailer reveals star-packed Marvel adventure
Marvel has released the first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, its star-studded attempt to revive the flagging superhero franchise ahead of a December cinema release. The preview brings together returning heroes including Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and Chris Evans's Captain America, alongside figures from other Marvel properties such as Pedro Pascal, Patrick Stewart, Letitia Wright and Florence Pugh, while teasing an "unthinkable decision" and the arrival of Robert Downey Jr as the villain Doctor Doom.
Downey Jr, who previously played Iron Man, is reportedly being paid around $100m for this film and its sequel Secret Wars, and co-director Joe Russo has described the project as returning to "phase zero" of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer also features Ian McKellen reprising Magneto, who spoke about filming a destruction scene in Rome. The stakes are high, as Marvel has had a run of underwhelming box-office results with films such as Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World, in contrast to 2019's Avengers: Endgame, which grossed almost $2.8bn. Avengers: Doomsday opens on 18 December, the same day as Dune: Part Three, setting up a potential box-office clash.
In short
- Marvel releases first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday
- Robert Downey Jr returns as villain Doctor Doom, reportedly for $100m
- Film opens 18 December, clashing with Dune: Part Three
Explained simply
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a collection of interconnected superhero films released over more than a decade. These films feature various superheroes who occasionally team up in larger films called the Avengers. The franchise has been enormously successful commercially, with some releases becoming among the highest-grossing films ever made.
In recent years, several Marvel films have underperformed at the box office compared to the studio's major successes from the previous decade. The studio is now releasing a new Avengers film in December with a large ensemble cast in an attempt to attract audiences. The filmmakers have signed Robert Downey Jr, a major star who previously appeared in one of the franchise's biggest films, to play the main villain, reportedly for $100m.
This new film represents a crucial moment for the franchise's future, as its commercial success or failure could shape the studio's direction for years to come. The film releases on the same date as another major science-fiction film, Dune: Part Three, which could affect its box-office performance. The stakes are significant both for the studio and for audiences invested in the future of superhero cinema.
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