Avengers: Doomsday opens only in theaters on Friday, December 18, 2026, with Thursday previews on December 17. Joe and Anthony Russo direct, and Robert Downey Jr. is back, but as the villain Doctor Doom, not Iron Man. Here's everything confirmed about Avengers: Doomsday as of October 24, 2026, from the cast and trailers to tickets, plus the rumors we can't confirm yet.
When does Avengers: Doomsday come out?
Avengers: Doomsday comes out on December 18, 2026, in the US. Disney says it "releases exclusively in theaters" that day, so it won't be on Disney+ at launch. Thursday, December 17 preview showings are already on sale, and the UK gets the film a little earlier, on December 16.
This is the film's third date. Marvel first announced it as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty for May 2, 2025, then moved it to May 1, 2026 in June 2023. In May 2025, Disney pushed it to December 18, 2026, and moved Avengers: Secret Wars from May 7, 2027 to December 17, 2027, according to Variety. The date hasn't changed since.
Why did Kang become Doom?
Because Marvel lost its villain. Jonathan Majors, who played Kang, was fired in December 2023 after being found guilty of reckless assault and harassment. At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Marvel renamed the film Doomsday, brought back the Russo brothers, and had Downey pull off a green mask on stage with the line "New mask, same task."
Who is in the Avengers: Doomsday cast?
About 31 actors are confirmed. Most were revealed in a 5-hour, 27-minute livestream on March 26, 2025, where Marvel showed director's chairs with actors' names one at a time. Disney says the stream drew 275 million views and published the official list of 27 names.
The cast pulls heroes from three different corners of the Marvel multiverse:
Group | Confirmed actors |
|---|---|
Avengers and main MCU | Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Chris Hemsworth, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Simu Liu, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Danny Ramirez |
Thunderbolts | Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman |
Fantastic Four | Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach |
X-Men (from the Fox films) | Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Kelsey Grammer, Channing Tatum |
Villain | Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom |
Four more names came later. Chris Evans showed up as Steve Rogers in the first teaser in December 2025. Kathryn Newton (Cassie Lang) appeared in footage shown at CinemaCon in April 2026, and child actor Wesley Holloway was named there too, without a role. Hayley Atwell was confirmed as Peggy Carter at Comic-Con in July 2026, though it isn't clear if she's playing the original Peggy or the Captain Carter version.
Is Spider-Man in Avengers: Doomsday?
Not officially. Tom Holland isn't on any announced cast list, and insider reports say he's "not currently" in the film. Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out in the summer of 2026 (we cover it in our Tom Holland biography), and its end-credits scene only says "Spider-Man will return." Variety notes that scene may point to Secret Wars instead.
Who isn't coming back?
Some famous names have said no themselves. Scarlett Johansson has said Natasha's story is finished, Jeremy Renner answered "No, damn. No." when asked about returning, and Mark Ruffalo reportedly told Empire he isn't in it. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have made promotional appearances, but Marvel hasn't announced roles for either. Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Bettany and Hailee Steinfeld are rumors only. Marvel does keep some cameos secret, so a missing name isn't final proof.
Is Robert Downey Jr. playing Iron Man again?
No. Downey plays Victor von Doom, one of Marvel's best-known comic book villains. Tony Stark died in Avengers: Endgame, and the Russos won't say whether Doom has any link to him. Asked how Downey can come back, Anthony Russo said, "We can't explain that as it's part of the story."
Joe Russo has called Doom "an original character" but has also talked about "symmetry" in the casting, which keeps the Stark-variant theory alive online. So for now, he's Doom, and Marvel is keeping any Tony Stark connection a mystery on purpose.
What is Avengers: Doomsday about?
Marvel has shared only a short synopsis. Heroes "from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course" as Doom, described as a master of science and magic, sets off a crisis across the multiverse. That's the Avengers' world, the Fantastic Four's universe and the X-Men's universe from the older Fox films.
Detailed "full plot breakdowns" floating around online are based on leaks, and Marvel hasn't confirmed any of them. We'd skip them if you want to go in fresh.
How does it connect to other Marvel movies?
Two recent films lead right into it. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) ends with a hooded Doom visiting Sue Storm and her baby son Franklin, followed by "The Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday." The end-credits scene in Thunderbolts* shows a Fantastic Four ship arriving at Earth. Doomsday is the first half of a two-part finale for the Multiverse Saga, and Avengers: Secret Wars finishes the story on December 17, 2027.
Is there an Avengers: Doomsday trailer?
Yes, several. Here's the timeline so far:
December 2025: four teasers played in theaters before Avatar: Fire and Ash. Online, they passed about 1 billion combined views by mid-January 2026.
April 2026: the first full footage was shown to theater owners at CinemaCon.
July 20, 2026: the full trailer went online and drew 503 million views in 24 hours, a Disney record and the second-biggest trailer launch ever, behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day at 719 million.
August 14, 2026: a Doom-focused "special look" debuted at Disney's D23 event.
October 23, 2026: a new preview aired during Game 1 of the World Series. ComicBook.com reports it opens with the Fantastic Four throwing out the first pitch at a ballgame on their Earth, and includes a Thor and Steve Rogers moment about Mjölnir.
A final trailer in mid-December has been rumored by insiders, but Marvel hasn't announced one.
Are Avengers: Doomsday tickets on sale?
Yes. Tickets for premium screens went on sale on July 20, 2026, and brought in $16.5 million on the first day. Nationwide sales opened through Fandango on August 14, 2026. By about September 9, Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said domestic presales had reached $50 million, with more than 70% of that from premium tickets, Variety reported.
Early tracking reported by Collider in August pointed to a $260 million to $300 million opening weekend in the US. That's a projection, not a box office result. Bigger numbers you see on fan forums are guesses.
Can you see Avengers: Doomsday in IMAX?
Not in the US at launch. Dune: Part Three opens the same day and has an exclusive deal on domestic IMAX screens, reportedly for about three weeks. The film will still play in IMAX in other countries.
Disney's answer is "Infinity Vision." It isn't a new kind of projector. It's a certification for existing premium large-format theaters that meet Disney's standards for screen size, picture and sound, covering over 75 US theaters and 300 worldwide. You can also catch it in Dolby, ScreenX, 4DX and D-Box.
How long is Avengers: Doomsday?
About 165 minutes, or 2 hours 45 minutes, according to theater ticketing data reported in July 2026. Marvel hasn't announced an official runtime, and the cut could still change. That would make it longer than Avengers: Infinity War (149 minutes) but shorter than Endgame (181 minutes).
Theater listings show a PG-13 rating, but we haven't found an official rating notice yet.
What should you watch before Avengers: Doomsday?
Disney+ has an official 15-title "Countdown to Avengers: Doomsday" list. It includes X-Men, X2, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Infinity War, Endgame, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Deadpool & Wolverine, Shang-Chi, Wakanda Forever, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Loki series.
Short on time? We'd start with The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts*, since both lead straight into this film. You can read more about the studio behind them on our Marvel Studios page.
Should you see Avengers: Doomsday opening weekend?
If you care about spoilers, yes, and book early. Preview shows on premium screens sold fast this summer, and with no US IMAX at launch, the best seats are in Dolby and Infinity Vision theaters. From what Marvel has confirmed, this is a big crossover: the Avengers, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four against Downey's Doom, with the story wrapping up in Secret Wars a year later.
Frequently asked questions
Is Avengers: Doomsday the last Avengers movie?
No. Avengers: Doomsday is the first part of a two-film ending for Marvel's Multiverse Saga. Avengers: Secret Wars, from the same directors, is set for December 17, 2027.
When will Avengers: Doomsday be on Disney+?
Disney hasn't announced a Disney+ date. The film opens only in theaters on December 18, 2026, and any streaming date you see online right now is a guess.
Who directed Avengers: Doomsday?
Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers who directed Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The script is reported to be by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron. Filming ran from April to September 2025, mostly at Pinewood Studios in England.
Is Chris Evans in Avengers: Doomsday?
Yes. Chris Evans returns as Steve Rogers, which Marvel revealed in the first teaser in December 2025. Marvel hasn't said how big his part is.
How much has Avengers: Doomsday made in presales?
Disney said domestic presales reached $50 million by about September 9, 2026. The first day of premium ticket sales on July 20 brought in $16.5 million. The film hasn't opened yet, so there are no box office results.
