Doctor Doom stars in new Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Studios has released the first full trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans their first proper look at Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. The December 18 release also brings back Chris Evans as Steve Rogers and stacks the MCU with Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Wakandan stars — while several big names stay off-screen.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Downey Jr. appears as Doctor Doom in a green cloak and metal mask after a brief tease in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Chris Evans returns as Steve Rogers for the first time since Avengers: Endgame, ending the trailer by summoning Mjolnir.
- The Russo brothers' film opens December 18, 2026; Infinity Vision tickets went on sale with the trailer.
- Advance ticket sales hit $16.5 million on day one across roughly 1,000 premium U.S. theaters.
- Hulk, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange are among those missing from the reel; Sentry, Beast, and Nightcrawler are confirmed but unseen.
What does the Avengers: Doomsday trailer show?
After months of teasers, Marvel dropped the first full trailer for the blockbuster, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Per Marvel Studios, the story follows heroes from three distinct universes on a deadly collision course against an existential threat.
Doctor Doom takes center stage. Downey — long known as Iron Man — appears as Victor von Doom, the Latverian ruler, warning that "we shall be faced with an unthinkable decision." Chris Hemsworth's Thor urges the team to "put aside your petty squabbles" and says they'll "need a miracle."
Which Marvel stars appear — and who's missing?
Besides Doctor Doom and Rogers, the footage includes Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, Ant-Man and Cassie Lang, Shang-Chi, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers from Thunderbolts, Loki, Shuri, M'Baku, Namor, and Namora. Classic X-Men faces return: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, and Channing Tatum as Gambit.
Missing from the reel: Hulk, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Nick Fury, Deadpool, Wolverine, Captain Marvel, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Lewis Pullman's Sentry, Kelsey Grammer's Beast, and Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler are confirmed for the film but skip this trailer. Scarlett Johansson has ruled out a Black Widow return; Famke Janssen said Marvel made a "mistake" by not asking her back as Jean Grey.
For more celebrity breaking news, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
How big were the Avengers: Doomsday ticket sales?
Variety reports $16.5 million in advance sales after the first day — double Deadpool & Wolverine's first-day haul, even though tickets were limited to premium formats in about 1,000 domestic theaters. The film will expand to more than 4,000 North American screens. Imax is off the table for three weeks because Dune: Part III holds that exclusive footprint. Marvel's Infinity Vision certification marks premium large-format screens meeting Disney's technical standards.
Producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Jonathan Schwartz. A sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, is set for 2027.