Marvel Studios wants the world to know that Avengers: Doomsday is coming.
A YouTube livestream started on January 13. All it does is count down the months, days, hours, and seconds until the movie’s release on December 18, 2026. Around the timer flashes one message: “DOOMSDAY IS COMING.”
Marvel also dropped four teaser trailers for the film. Each one spotlights a different character returning (or debuting) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Steve Rogers will return and we see him holding a baby, his child. Another one shows Thor praying as he prepares to face to face a grave threat. The X‑Men from the 20th Century films are finally making their MCU debut. A fourth trailer shows Shuri and M’Baku meeting Ben Grimm (The Thing) of the Fantastic Four for the first time.
It’s clear Marvel Studios is banking on Doomsday to be the next big cultural event that’ll revitalize the franchise. Is eleven months of marketing too much, even for Marvel?
The Upside of a Year Long Campaign
There’s some logic behind all this early marketing. Avengers: Doomsday is the MCU’s biggest movie since Endgame was released. Doctor Doom will make his MCU debut and he’s being hyped up as a massive threat. So much so that characters spanning across different sub-franchises have to band together to stop him.
Spreading out as much content as possible keeps Doomsday fresh in people’s minds. Instead of releasing one giant trailer, fans get smaller, self-contained teasers to analyze. Each mini trailer becomes its own event. One that trends on social media for a day or two before the next one drops.
The countdown stream is a constant reminder that Doomsday is coming. No delays, Marvel is sticking with its release date of December 18, 2026 Knowing that this film will see the light of day can add to the anticipation.
The Risk of Hype Fatigue
There’s the risk of fans checking out before Doomsday comes out. Marketing experts call it “hype fatigue.” Releasing a trailer featuring a character we already know will be in the film can get old real quick. What’s exciting in January could feel boring by the time December comes around.
Plus after four teasers, we still haven’t seen Doctor Doom even though his name is in the title. We don’t know his motives and details about Doomsday’s plot is still unknown. There’s a lot of speculation, which Marvel Studios is probably encouraging.
Guessing what the film will be about and the role certain characters will play can help keep fans engaged, but that won’t last forever. The longer Marvel waits to show something meaningful, the harder it’ll get to sustain the hype.
What is Marvel Planning?
Keeping Doom off-screen could be strategic. A slow burn reveal planned for later this spring or summer. If that’s true, Marvel’s holding its biggest card until its near final stretch of promotions.
But it’s a risky bet. A long tease only works if fans feel it was worth the wait. If the first look at Doctor Doom is underwhelming or people lose interest because they got tired of waiting, all that buildup will be waste. The countdown stream won’t save it from the sense of overexposure. The studio wants steady buzz, but right now their marketing is off.
A Familiar Formula is Showing Its Age
Marvel made a name for itself by taking its time as it builds towards the main story. Drop a few hints, then make people wait until it’s time for the big reveal. That formula might have worked during the Infinity Saga, but it’s a mixed bag when it comes to marketing.
Right now, Marvel is relying on nostalgia to carry this film. Recent releases like Captain America: Brave New World and Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t do well in the box office last year. Bringing back Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Patrick Stewart feels like a cheap thrill. Their appearance in Doomsday is supposed to trigger something in fans, but it lacks substance. Avengers: Doomsday is stuck between the desire to create mystery, and the pressure to keep the MCU afloat. The result is a campaign that is not engaging in the slightest. It’s counting down to December 18, but it’s not actually going anywhere.
