Forget ‘Doomsday’ and ‘Secret Wars,’ Marvel Confirms “Avengers: Armageddon”

Marvel Studios is preparing for one of the most consequential chapters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Avengers: Doomsday, slated for a December 2026 theatrical release as the franchise’s fifth Avengers installment.

The road to Doomsday has been anything but straightforward. After years of development—and a widely publicized creative pivot away from Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors)—Marvel recalibrated its long-term strategy. The project shed its original subtitle, The Kang Dynasty, and resurfaced as Doomsday, anchored by the return of Robert Downey Jr.

The reveal came during San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, where it was confirmed that Downey would portray Victor Von Doom, better known to comic readers as Doctor Doom. While Downey’s legacy as Tony Stark/Iron Man dates back to 2008 and effectively launched the MCU, Marvel has not clarified whether this incarnation of Doom is tied to Stark through Multiversal mechanics or exists as a completely separate entity.

What is clear is the scale. Pulling from Disney’s Marvel catalog and the former 20th Century Studios library—including the X-Men corner of the universe—Doomsday is positioned as a crossover event comparable in ambition to Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Anthony and Joe Russo are back to direct Doomsday and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, which is scheduled for December 2027.

Despite multiple teaser trailers circulating online, plot details remain under tight wraps. That hasn’t stopped fan theories from gaining traction. One prevailing idea centers on a confrontation between Doom and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. According to speculation, Steve’s decision at the end of Endgame—traveling back in time to live out his life with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell)—fractured the Multiverse, destroying Doom’s world and igniting a personal vendetta.

The cast list alone signals the scope of Marvel’s ambitions. Veterans like Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) are set to appear alongside newer additions, including Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic) and Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman). A 2025 livestream unveiling portions of the ensemble sent social platforms into a frenzy, reinforcing that Doomsday stands among the studio’s most expansive undertakings.

While Marvel Studios builds toward Doomsday, Marvel Comics is charting its own dramatic course with “Avengers: Armageddon,” a five-issue event launching in June 2026.

Written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Frank Alpizar and Delio Diaz, the storyline continues threads from “One World Under Doom” and Zdarsky’s “Captain America” run. This time, however, the ramifications extend across the broader Marvel Universe.

At the center of “Avengers: Armageddon” is Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross—now operating as Red Hulk—who has seized control of Latveria. The coup destabilizes the region and ignites a global emergency. The Avengers respond, joined by the Fantastic Four, Wolverine, and other major Marvel players in what is described as a sweeping confrontation.

Marvel’s official description underscores the stakes:

“ARMAGEDDON HAS ARRIVED!

Red Hulk’s devastating tear across the globe must be stopped…but it will take a colossal gathering of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to do it! Calling in the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Wolverine and more…but who will survive this super-powered cataclysm?! There will be a pre-Armageddon Marvel Universe and a post-Armageddon Marvel Universe. Be here to bear witness to the transformation.”

The promise of a dividing line between “pre” and “post” Armageddon signals significant long-term consequences. The storyline is also expected to connect to larger Multiversal elements, including developments tied to the Ultimate Universe, potentially reshaping Marvel’s central continuity.

Interestingly, Zdarsky has downplayed the notion that he approached the series as a traditional crossover spectacle.

“I don’t really consider it an event… I just wrote a story that I thought was big and cool and interesting… And then Marvel’s like, ‘Oh, wow. This is a cool event.’… so it feels like a big thing,” the writer said (via Comic Book Movie).

That comment suggests a character-focused core beneath the large-scale destruction. Red Hulk’s takeover may drive the action, but the emotional impact could rest on how the Avengers adapt—and what compromises they’re forced to make.

“Avengers: Armageddon #1” arrives in comic shops on June 3, 2026, with a cover by Dike Ruan, preceding Doomsday’s December debut and marking the next major Avengers storyline before the MCU event film.

Notably, Red Hulk’s most recent on-screen appearance came in Captain America: Brave New World (2025), where Harrison Ford made his MCU debut as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, stepping into the role following the passing of William Hurt. In the film’s climactic act, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson/Captain America battled Ross after his transformation into Red Hulk, leading to Ross’s imprisonment on the Raft.

As anticipation builds for Doomsday, Marvel has started spotlighting Victor Von Doom in other media. A recent installment of Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! on the official Marvel Entertainment YouTube channel features the armored ruler offering a guided tour of Latveria.

“Enjoy as Doctor Doom provides a guided tour of the festivities and history of his kingdom of Doomstadt, Latveria… SO COMMANDS DOOM!” the tagline reads.

The stop-motion animated shorts series reimagines MCU figures as action figures in comedic scenarios. In this episode, Doom doubles as monarch and tourism ambassador, promoting Doomstadt as a haven free from superheroes. His Doombots promise ironclad security, though their omnipresence hints at a more authoritarian edge.

The absurdity escalates with attractions like Lake Doom, a theme park dubbed Doomland, and a “Doomsday Festival.” When Namor and the Talokan warriors disrupt the festivities, Doom nonchalantly hands over tourists as prisoners, treating the invasion as another scheduled activity.

In the final gag, Doom unveils a vacation package built around a time loop—ensuring guests never truly leave. Marketed as a premium perk, it merges dark humor with the character’s outsized ego.

Whether this animated short serves as a simple cross-promotion or a subtle hint at what’s ahead in Avengers: Doomsday remains to be seen. What is certain is that Marvel has moved Doctor Doom to the forefront, well ahead of his big-screen return, setting the stage for what could be the MCU’s next defining chapter.

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