Credit: Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios is gearing up for one of its most ambitious undertakings yet with Avengers: Doomsday, set to arrive in theaters in December 2026 as the fifth Avengers installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Avengers: Doomsday Is Coming Soon
After years of development and a high-profile creative shift away from Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors), the studio retooled the project—dropping The Kang Dynasty subtitle in favor of Doomsday and bringing Robert Downey Jr. back into the fold.
Announced during San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, the film will center on Victor Von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom, portrayed by Downey. While the actor’s history as Tony Stark/Iron Man dates back to 2008, Marvel has not confirmed whether this Doom is connected to Stark via the Multiverse or stands entirely on its own.
The scale is massive. Drawing from across Disney’s Marvel catalog and the former 20th Century Studios properties, including the X-Men corner of the universe, Doomsday is being framed as a crossover event on par with Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Anthony and Joe Russo are back in the director’s chairs for both Doomsday and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled for December 2027.
Though Marvel has kept plot specifics tightly guarded—even with multiple teaser trailers in circulation—fan speculation has zeroed in on a central conflict between Doom and Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers. One popular theory suggests that Steve’s time-travel decision at the end of Endgame, when he chose to remain in the past with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), caused a Multiversal rupture that devastated Doom’s world, setting the stage for a deeply personal vendetta.
The ensemble only fuels expectations. Familiar faces such as Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) are set to appear alongside newer additions like Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic) and Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman). Following a 2025 livestream that sent social media into overdrive, the cast list alone has positioned Doomsday as one of the studio’s largest undertakings to date.
“Avengers: Armageddon” Replaces Doomsday as Next Major Avengers Event
Marvel Comics is preparing to upend the status quo in a major way this summer with “Avengers: Armageddon,” a five-issue event that will send Earth’s Mightiest Heroes straight into the heart of Latveria—and into conflict with its shocking new ruler.
Set to launch in June 2026, “Avengers: Armageddon” is written by Chip Zdarsky, with art by Frank Alpizar and Delio Diaz. The series builds on threads established in “One World Under Doom,” and Zdarsky’s recent “Captain America” run, but this time, the stakes extend far beyond any single title.
At the center of the chaos is Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross—better known as Red Hulk—who has taken control of Latveria. The takeover doesn’t just destabilize the region; it sparks a global crisis that demands an overwhelming response. The Avengers assemble, but they won’t be alone. The Fantastic Four, Wolverine, and several other major players from across the Marvel Universe are drawn into what’s being described as a cataclysmic showdown.
Marvel’s official description sets the tone for just how sweeping this story will be:
“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.”
That promise of a “pre” and “post” Armageddon era suggests the fallout will ripple well beyond Latveria. The event is also said to tie into larger Multiversal threads involving the Ultimate Universe. In other words, this could reshape Marvel’s core continuity moving forward.
Interestingly, Zdarsky himself has taken a more grounded view of the project, pushing back on the traditional “event” label:
“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 perspective hints at something more character-driven beneath the large-scale destruction. While Red Hulk’s rule over Latveria provides the immediate threat, the real transformation may lie in how the Avengers respond—and what they’re forced to become in order to stop him.
“Avengers: Armageddon #1” hits comic shops on June 3, 2026, (ahead of Doomsday‘s December debut) with a cover by Dike Ruan. If Marvel’s teases hold true, readers may be looking at a turning point that divides the Marvel Universe into two very different eras. This makes “Avengers: Armageddon” the next major Avengers event coming before Avengers: Doomsday.
Interestingly, the first (and last) time audiences saw the Red Hulk was in last year’s Captain America: Brave New World (2025), when Harrison Ford made his MCU debut as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, replacing the late William Hurt. In the movie, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson/Captain America faced Ross, who turned into the Red Hulk, in the final act, ultimately leading to Ross’s incarceration on the Raft.
Marvel Quietly Reveals Doctor Doom’s Latveria, But What Could It Mean for Avengers: Doomsday?
While audiences wait for more concrete details, Marvel has begun spotlighting Doom in other corners of its media slate. A recently released episode of Marvel Super Heroes: What The–?! on the official Marvel Entertainment YouTube channel features the armored monarch offering viewers a 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 animated shorts series, known for reimagining MCU icons as stop-motion action figures, leans heavily into satire and slapstick. In this installment, Doom positions himself as both sovereign and travel promoter, pitching Doomstadt as a rare refuge free from superheroes. His ever-present Doombots are presented as proof of airtight security, though their watchful presence suggests guests may not have much say in the matter.
The promotional spin grows increasingly absurd. Viewers are introduced to Lake Doom, an amusement park called Doomland, and even a “Doomsday Festival.” Midway through the segment, Namor and the Talokan warriors interrupt the festivities, with Doom casually handing over tourists as prisoners—treating the incursion like another item on the itinerary.
In a final twist, Doom reveals a vacation package built around a time loop, ensuring that visitors never truly depart. Marketed as an exclusive perk, the concept blends humor and menace in a way that aligns perfectly with the character’s grandiose self-image.
Whether the short is simply playful cross-promotion or a subtle breadcrumb trail toward Avengers: Doomsday remains unclear. What is certain is that Marvel has placed Victor Von Doom front and center months ahead of his next big-screen appearance, keeping conversation swirling as the MCU prepares for its next seismic chapter.
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