Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Released: The X-Men Return, Doctor Doom Threatens the MCU Multiverse

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans' anticipation is at a fever pitch with the release of various teasers and trailers for "Avengers: Doomsday" in January 2026.

This highly anticipated superhero film will be the fifth installment in the Avengers film series following "Avengers: Endgame" (2019) and the 39th film in the MCU overall.

Scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, "Avengers: Doomsday" will be a crucial part of Phase Six of the MCU.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with a script by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, the film brings back many familiar faces from the MCU universe and introduces iconic characters from the X-Men film series.

One of the most surprising announcements was Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU, not as Tony Stark/Iron Man, but as the main villain, Doctor Doom.

First teaser for the X-Men in ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’In theaters on December 18 pic.twitter.com/B9xmfx37qe

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) January 6, 2026

One of the main highlights of the “Avengers: Doomsday” promotional campaign was the third teaser released on January 6, 2026, which focused exclusively on the X-Men.

Patrick Stewart returned as Professor X and Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, seen in a meaningful telekinetic chess game scene.

James Marsden also returned as Cyclops, wearing a more comic-accurate costume and shown unleashing powerful optic blasts.

Additionally, the teaser hinted at the return of other X-Men characters such as Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn).

Channing Tatum would also return as Gambit, following his debut in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).

This X-Men teaser was released online after its theatrical release, generating immense excitement among fans who had long anticipated the full integration of mutants into the MCU.

The appearance of the X-Men marks a significant step in the development of the Multiverse Saga, uniting multiple realities and characters into one overarching narrative.

Robert Downey Jr.'s role as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom was one of the biggest surprise announcements from Marvel Studios.

This decision followed the film's title change from "Avengers: The Kang Dynasty" to "Avengers: Doomsday" after Jonathan Majors was no longer involved as Kang the Conqueror.

Joe Russo, one of the directors, described Doctor Doom as a complex and multidimensional character, feeling that Downey was the only actor capable of perfectly portraying the role.

The presence of Doctor Doom, played by an actor of Robert Downey Jr.'s caliber, is expected to bring new depth and intensity to the MCU, given the character's long history and complexity in Marvel comics.

“Avengers: Doomsday” has experienced several release delays.

It was originally scheduled for May 2, 2025, then pushed back to May 1, 2026, and finally set for December 18, 2026.

These delays were largely due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and to allow more time for production to realize the film’s ambitious vision.

Principal filming began in April 2025 at Pinewood Studios in England and wrapped in September 2025.

Following “Avengers: Doomsday,” its sequel, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027, marking the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga and promising a monumental conclusion to the current MCU storyline.