Avengers’ Doomsday: The Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony, have officially been honored with a handprint and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, celebrating their contributions to the film industry, especially their work on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, it’s their next major project, Avengers: Doomsday, that has fans buzzing with anticipation. The Russo brothers confirmed that filming for Avengers: Doomsday will begin in London in April 2025, with production for Avengers: Secret Wars to follow directly after, marking a monumental two-part story that will conclude the MCU’s Multiverse story.
The ceremony, attended by big figures including Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Yvette Nicole Brown, Bryan Lourd, Bela Bajaria, Kevin Feige, and Louis D’Esposito, was a momentous occasion for the brothers, who reflected on the collaborative nature of filmmaking. Joe Russo remarked, “The very nature of my brother’s and my relationship is collaboration. We know that this moment is as much your moment as it is our moment. No story gets told without the help of dozens of dedicated, passionate partners working hand in hand, building a story together, brick by brick.”
What Can Fans Expect from Avengers: Doomsday?
While plot details for Avengers: Doomsday remain under wraps, there’s no shortage of speculation and excitement. The film will kick off a two-part arc, presumably leading into Avengers: Secret Wars. The Russo brothers have teased that the storyline will be “radical” and aim to “challenge audiences.” One key piece of information that has been confirmed is the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU, but in a completely unexpected role. Downey, who famously portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man, will now take on the role of Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom, the iconic villain from the Fantastic Four comics. This marks a major departure for Downey, whose portrayal of Iron Man was central to the success of the MCU for over a decade.
Benedict Cumberbatch is also set to reprise his role as Doctor Strange, a character well-versed in the Multiverse, and likely crucial to the story. Meanwhile, Chris Evans has been reported to return as well, though in an undisclosed role, with rumors suggesting he may play a version of his character as Nomad or even a darker incarnation, such as Hydra Supreme.
Avengers: Doomsday will also feature members of the Fantastic Four cast, following their standalone movie release later this year. This includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Anthony Mackie’s Captain America will also return, as well as Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Additionally, several members of the Thunderbolts team are rumored to appear, indicating that this film will unite a broad spectrum of Marvel characters.
Doctor Doom and the Multiverse
Speculation around the plot of Avengers: Doomsday suggests that elements from Marvel Comics’ Emperor Doom storyline could be incorporated. In this arc, Doctor Doom manipulates global events to establish a new world order, which could tie into the ongoing multiversal incursions seen across the MCU. Fans are also eager to see how these events will set up Avengers: Secret Wars, a movie that will likely be the culmination of the Multiverse Saga.
The film’s shift from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty to Avengers: Doomsday was a big change in direction for the MCU, spurred by actor Jonathan Majors’ legal issues, which led Marvel to drop the original antagonist, Kang the Conqueror, in favor of Doctor Doom. This shift has left fans curious about how the MCU will handle its multiverse storyline moving forward, but the inclusion of such a high-profile villain like Doctor Doom has certainly captured the imagination.
The MCU’s Next Big Thing
After the success of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has been in a phase of transition, with Phases 4 and 5 receiving mixed reactions from audiences and critics. While there have been successes like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the lack of a new Avengers film to cap off these phases has been a major point of discussion. Avengers: Doomsday is set to change that, and with the release date now scheduled for May 1, 2026, fans are eager for the next chapter in the MCU’s epic saga.
As production on Avengers: Doomsday approaches, official details are expected to emerge, and fans can’t wait to see how the Russo brothers bring this new chapter of the MCU to life. With Doctor Doom as the central antagonist and a cast packed with fan-favorite characters, Avengers: Doomsday might be a landmark film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.