Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Breakdown: Steve Rogers Returns

Doomsday is here. Or at the very least, the Avengers: Doomsday trailer is here.

Marvel Studios dropped the first official trailer for the next Avengers installment, set to hit theaters on December 18. It shows a variety of heroes from across the multiverse, as Chris Hemsworth’s Thor tries to rally his troops to face the danger that is Dr. Doom, aka Robert Downey Jr. making his return to the MCU but not as Iron Man. The God of Thunder knows they are overmatched and will need a miracle. In fact, we see Doom neutralize Thor without much difficulty at all, highlighting why Thor seems to fear Doom more than even Thanos.

Luckily, they’ve got perhaps the one man who is worthy on their side.

It’s not impossible, he’s really here. Steve Rogers (although perhaps not as Captain America) is back. And he’s still worthy to summon Mjolnir. Even if he’s not carrying the shield this time around, and it looks like he won’t since we see Sam Wilson still carrying it in the trailer, Steve changes the equation. Could we be seeing Steve go full Nomad after a bit of tease of it in Avengers: Infinity War? Steve’s look in the trailer certainly leaves the door open for the Russo Brothers to take Steve in that direction.

Whether we see Steve as Nomad or not, this trailer has me excited in a way that a lot of Marvel movies since Avengers: Endgame have not. Suit up, everyone.

Avengers: Doomsday FAQ

When does Avengers: Doomsday hit theaters?

Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

Are Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. returning in Avengers: Doomsday?

Yes. Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. is also back, but not as Iron Man/Tony Stark. Downey will return as the villainous Victor Von Doom, aka Dr. Doom.

Is Steve Rogers Captain America in Avengers: Doomsday?

Steve Rogers handed off his iconic shield to Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson in Avengers: Endgame. The trailer confirms that Rogers has returned, but Marvel has not revealed whether he is once again serving as Captain America. Sam Wilson still appears to be carrying the shield in the trailer.

Who is the villain in Avengers: Doomsday?

Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU, but not as the heroic Tony Stark/Iron Man, but rather as the villainous Victor Von Doom, aka Doctor Doom. Doom first appeared briefly in Fantastic Four: First Steps and the first trailer establishes Doom as the Avengers’ central threat.

Who is in Avengers: Doomsday?

As revealed last year in an extended YouTube reveal, notable MCU stalwarts are returning, including the following seen in the new trailer:

Chris Hemsworth (Thor)
Tom Hiddleston (Loki)
Anthony Mackie (Captain America)
Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes)
Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier)
Ian McKellan (Magneto)
James Marsden (Cyclops)
Rebecca Romijn (Mystique)
Channing Tatum (Gambit)
Letitia Wright (Shuri)
Tenoch Huerta Mejía (Namor)
Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova)
Paul Rudd (Ant-Man)
Simu Liu (Shang-Chi)
Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards)
Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing)
Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch)
Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent)
David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian)
Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost)

I’m sure there will be other returning names yet to be revealed as well.

How does Marvel Studios describe Avengers: Doomsday?

Marvel’s website describes Avengers: Doomsday with the following synopsis:

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Doomsday follows beloved heroes from three distinct universes as they’re set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.