Marvel Studios may be keeping plot specifics under lock and key, but inside Hollywood, the temperature around Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is steadily rising. The film, positioned as a cornerstone for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next chapter, is deep in post-production—and insiders suggest confidence is building behind the scenes.
Speaking on The Hot Mic, industry insider Jeff Sneider offered a concise but upbeat update after checking in on the project.
“It’s still very much in post. Let me see if I have anything on that. I did check in before the show, just in case. I did get a little something. Avengers is in post, and they still have a lot of pick-ups to do, but the buzz is good. The buzz is good. You’re going to like it,” Sneider said. “You’re going to like the movie.”
Additional photography is reportedly underway in the United Kingdom. Rather than serving as a conventional sequel, the film is expected to recalibrate the franchise’s hierarchy and lay the groundwork for what Marvel is seemingly calling the Mutant Saga.
A key factor fueling anticipation is the return of directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The filmmaking duo previously steered Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019)—a run that culminated in one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Their involvement suggests Marvel is looking to recapture the scale and cohesion that defined the Infinity Saga.
Marketing efforts are already teasing an expansive crossover. During the theatrical run of Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), Marvel attached preview footage that reportedly included Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, multiple X-Men characters, Wakandan heroes such as Letitia Wright’s Shuri/Black Panther, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm/Thing from The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). Notably, the footage confirmed that Evans’ Captain America remains in the mix.
Perhaps the most striking development is Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU—not as Tony Stark, but as Victor Von Doom. After anchoring the Infinity Saga as Iron Man, Downey is set to embody one of Marvel’s most formidable antagonists. Doctor Doom was first teased in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, appearing opposite Franklin Richards.
Whether this version of Doom emerges as a full-fledged villain or something more morally complex remains an open question. Online speculation suggests a character who may see himself as a protector of the Multiverse rather than its destroyer—more rival architect than conqueror. Some fan theories even connect Doom’s motivations to the lingering consequences of Steve Rogers’ time-travel choices in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel has offered no official plot confirmation.
Rumors continue to swirl. One claim suggests Doomsday could open with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man clashing with members of the X-Men, including Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Neither actor has been formally announced, but the mere possibility underscores Marvel’s willingness to lean into cross-generational storytelling.
Not every insider is entirely sold. Daniel Richtman recently offered a more measured take, writing, “I have mixed feelings about the direction they’re taking with Avengers: Doomsday/Secret Wars. Some of it sounds super epic, but there are certain decisions I don’t want to spoil that I really don’t understand, and I think they’re going to make people REALLY angry,” the insider said.
Still, industry reporting paints a more confident internal picture. In Variety’s examination of Josh D’Amaro’s new role as Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, the trade offered insight into how executives are responding to early footage.
“Executives are pleased with what they’ve seen for the December release, and rival studio heads privately predict Doomsday will be the year’s highest-grossing film,” the outlet notes.
While some observers frame the fifth Avengers installment as a referendum on the MCU’s long-term viability, internal sources reportedly disagree.
“Recent Marvel films Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World fell far short at the box office,” Variety writes. “Some pundits argue the future of the superhero franchise may ride on the hotly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, although sources inside the company’s film division believe the health of the MCU does not hinge on an individual title.”
As for the story, Marvel remains characteristically guarded. Reports suggest Doom’s arc could bring him into conflict—or uneasy alliance—with the Fantastic Four, Thor, and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as incursions destabilize the Multiverse. If Doomsday and its follow-up, 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, truly function as a “new beginning,” the MCU’s current reality may not survive intact.
Doomsday will arrive as the second major MCU release of 2026, following Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026), led by Tom Holland, which opens in July. For a franchise built on interconnected stakes, Brand New Day and the next two Avengers films appear designed to test how boldly Marvel can reshape its universe—without losing the audience that helped build it.
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