Marvel Studios Debuts First Avengers: Doomsday Trailer at CinemaCon 2026

Marvel Studios unveiled the first trailer for "Avengers: Doomsday" at CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas on April 16, with actors Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans appearing on stage to present the footage to an audience of theater owners that responded with rousing applause and cheers. Downey Jr., who previously played Iron Man across multiple Marvel films, returns to the MCU in an entirely new role as the villain Doctor Doom, the film's primary antagonist. Evans reprises his role as Steve Rogers, also known as Captain America, a return he had long publicly denied. The trailer was screened twice for the enthusiastic crowd at the Caesars Palace Colosseum, with Downey Jr. himself requesting a second viewing after the audience's reaction.

„Honestly, I could not have imagined reuniting with this amazing team, after such a glorious run of success and creative joy, let alone as a new character.” — Robert Downey Jr. via Reuters

Evans breaks silence on his long-denied comeback Chris Evans addressed his return directly on stage, acknowledging that he had repeatedly denied any involvement in the project before the announcement was made official. The actor explained that he had described himself as "happily retired" and "away from the party" in prior interviews, consistent with the pattern of Marvel actors denying participation before official announcements. Evans confirmed that his return hinged on the story's demands, stating there was a compelling reason for Steve Rogers to be needed by the heroes in this film. According to a report by La Razón, the film confirms that Rogers and Peggy Carter had a son, adding a new dimension to the character's arc. Evans also made a pointed comment about Downey Jr.'s villainous new role, saying simply "I don't like him" in reference to Doctor Doom.

„I said I would only come back if there was a real reason, and in 'Doomsday,' there is a very real reason that these heroes need Steve Rogers now.” — Chris Evans via Reuters

X-Men join Avengers in franchise's biggest crossover yet "Avengers: Doomsday" marks the first major cinematic union of the Avengers and the X-Men, made possible after Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox brought the mutant characters into the MCU. The trailer featured Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Professor Xavier, Ian McKellen returning as Magneto, and Channing Tatum appearing as Gambit. According to descriptions from those present at CinemaCon, the footage included a fight between Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu, and Gambit, as well as Thor attempting to strike Doctor Doom with his weapon Stormbreaker — an attack Doom stops with one hand. The trailer also showed a reunion between Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, and Steve Rogers, with Thor's hammer Mjolnir flying into Rogers' hands. Kathryn Newton confirmed her return as Cassie Lang via Instagram the following day, revealing the news in a video showing a director's chair bearing her name and the film's logo, joking that the chair was "tiny because Cassie Lang gets tiny." The film is directed by brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, who previously helmed "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."

The Russo brothers directed four films in the MCU, including "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," "Captain America: Civil War," "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Avengers: Endgame." "Avengers: Endgame," released in 2019, is the second-highest-grossing film of all time, according to Reuters. Marvel movies have collectively generated nearly $33 billion at global box offices, the highest total for any film franchise. The X-Men characters were previously excluded from the MCU because their film rights were held by 20th Century Fox before Disney's acquisition of that studio.

Fans demand public release as Marvel issues DMCA takedowns The trailer was shown exclusively to CinemaCon attendees and has not been released publicly, prompting significant frustration among fans online. Marvel moved quickly to issue DMCA takedowns against leaked footage that appeared online following Disney's presentation. Threads on Reddit and the ResetEra forums, as well as posts on social media platforms, filled with complaints from fans who argued that, given multiple news outlets had already published detailed descriptions of the trailer, Marvel should simply release it publicly. Many fans also pointed to the proliferation of fake AI-generated trailers online as an additional reason for an official release. "Avengers: Doomsday" is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, the same day as "Dune: Part 3" by Denis Villeneuve, a scheduling clash that has already been dubbed "Dunesday" by industry observers. Cinema operators expressed confidence that both films would rank among the year's biggest box-office events.

33 (billion USD) — total global box office for Marvel film franchise

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