Will Avengers: Doomsday FINALLY Resurrect The MCU?
What Actually Is “Avengers: Doomsday”?
Before contemplating whether this movie could be the MCU’s saving grace, we should talk about what it’s all about. The reality is… we don’t know all that much. The movie is slated for a 2026 release and is currently in the midst of production, but any major news regarding scripts or story is incredibly scarce. Fortunately for us, we can make some educated guesses. We know for a fact that Robert Downey Jr. is making his long-awaited return to the MCU. Only this time, he’ll be Doctor Doom. So, it’s a safe bet he’ll be a looming presence throughout the movie. He’s probably the movie’s villain or at least the shadowy figure pulling the strings. This isn’t just an Avengers movie either. To announce that the film was in production, Marvel released a video revealing the cast. It was star-studded to say the least, giving us clues for what’s next. Actors from the Avengers, Thunderbolts, new Fantastic Four, and Fox X-Men universe have been confirmed for “Doomsday.” If this is anything to go by, we can expect lots of superpowered team-ups and nostalgic cameos. Considering that the MCU’s Multiverse Saga is nearing its end, a multiverse-heavy movie sounds fitting. We just wish the Multiverse Saga had been better.
The Current State of the MCU
Look, the MCU has been an awesome game-changer that redefined what superheroes could look like in pop culture. But at a certain point, we have to take off the rose-tinted glasses and acknowledge the MCU not for what it was, but for what it is currently. A gigantic, multi-million dollar franchise that’s… just kind of been spinning its wheels ever since “Endgame.” Truth is, the Multiverse Saga has been a bit rocky. Several movies and TV shows, like “Quantumania” and “Secret Invasion,” failed to land. Other projects fell flat, which created an era that’s been unsatisfying. If you add in the consistent trend of wonky CGI, uninteresting characters, and subpar writing, then you’ve got one pretty concerned fanbase.
The multiverse should be an exciting concept, but it’s been run into the ground by Marvel. This could be a saga that explores incredibly interesting alternate realities and dives into infinite possibilities with its storytelling. Instead, what we’ve mostly gotten are tired cameos from actors who don't add anything to the story besides nostalgia. We all loved the three Spider-Men in “No Way Home,” but how many more times can they play that card? And why did “What If…?”, the show that was supposed to explore the vast multiverse, basically just turn into “The Adventures of Captain Carter and Friends?”
This whole saga lacks direction. Connectivity is super important for a shared universe. It’s kind of the whole reason for doing one! Well, that, and to make money. Sadly, several current projects feel completely isolated from one another. It’s like the MCU doesn't know who their big bad is. Granted, some of these problems aren’t entirely Marvel’s fault. If you remember, Kang the Conqueror was being set up to be the big bad, until the actor portraying him, Jonathan Majors, landed in some controversy. Then Marvel had to pivot, which they did by getting Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. With Doom now set as the new big bad, “Doomsday” seems like it’s got a lot going for it. Right?
Pros & Cons for the Movie
Again, we don’t know much about the plot yet, we can make some solid assumptions. Based on the recent casting announcements, this movie will have a huge slew of people. We’re talking characters from the Avengers, Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and X-Men. Maybe our heroes will learn how to work together in this movie, or maybe they’ll butt heads. If that’s the case, this movie could take a page or two from the comic “Avengers vs. X-Men.” That storyline saw those two teams clashing in some big ways. Regardless of what happens, though, the stacked roster alone should be more than enough to get people talking.
But what about downsides? Well, ironically, that gigantic cast of characters could also be a negative. Seeing the X-Men from the past interacting with the Avengers of today will definitely lead to some cool moments, but the movie could easily get overcrowded very fast. This is a blockbuster basically guaranteed to have an influx of fanservice-y moments and cameos. While that might not necessarily kill a film, it could be a huge derailment to the story. The large cast also means it’ll be an all-out war for precious screen time. No matter how you want to slice it, some characters will be lost in the shuffle with the scale this movie will have. Because of that, “Doomsday” could end up being the cinematic equivalent of just smashing a bunch of action figures into each other and seeing what happens.
Will “Doomsday” Make Money?
If “Doomsday soars at the box office, it’ll be a clear sign that Marvel is back. But can this project reach the financial heights of its predecessors? The price tag is on the expensive side, to put it lightly. For pre-production specifically, reports indicated that the amount of money spent by Marvel Studios for “Doomsday” was roughly $8 million. That’s about triple what they poured into the pre-production costs for “Quantumania.” Making “Infinity War” and “Endgame” cost the studio about a billion dollars. If “Doomsday” is expected to top those juggernauts, it’s going to cost Marvel a pretty penny.
That being said, we shouldn’t be too gloom and doom (pun intended).“Endgame” shattered box office records and became a cultural phenomenon. While we don’t know if “Doomsday” can do the same, it’s almost a guarantee that this movie will make a large profit. Come on, this is still an “Avengers” movie. That brand has some serious staying power with the general audience. However, commercial success isn’t going to be the only important factor.
Can Marvel Successfully Follow “Doomsday” Up If It’s Good?
So, what if “Avengers: Doomsday” becomes a roaring success? What if it’s an absolute triumph at the box office and a cinematic masterpiece praised by fans and critics alike? Obviously, that’s a great hypothetical, but they still need to follow that movie up with “Secret Wars.” It’d be really easy to shout from the rooftops that the MCU is back if “Doomsday” is a hit. The past has shown us the problem with jumping the gun. “Deadpool & Wolverine” was a blockbuster that made over a billion dollars and cemented itself as the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever. It stood out as a shining light in this saga. Because of that, many fans believed the MCU was back to its former glory. Heck, even the “Agatha” show that came out a few months later was a solid series. Then the MCU’s next cinematic outing, “Captain America: Brave New World,” was a bit of a dud. It wasn’t an atrocity, but it definitely wasn’t a home run with the fans. That disappointment kind of reignited everybody’s fears. Even if we get a great “Avengers” movie out of this, Marvel needs to make sure future projects can sustain a certain level of quality. The point we’re trying to make is that it’s hard to hinge the entire success of a franchise of this size on just one movie.
Final Verdict
Is “Avengers: Doomsday” going to be what brings life back to the MCU? Well, probably not. But wait, don’t bring out your pitchforks just yet! The reason we say “probably not” is because there’ll need to be more than just “Doomsday” to get the MCU back up and running. Remember, this is essentially part one of a two-parter. That means that “Avengers: Secret Wars” also has to completely knock it out of the park. The Multiverse Saga needs to conclude on a high note. Then, if we’re being honest, Marvel needs to finally move on from the multiverse. Getting fans to be excited about the MCU again isn’t necessarily hard, but keeping that excitement going is what’s tricky. To sustain the hype, they have to go back to the basics. They have to tell interesting stories with something to say rather than chase fads. In short, “Doomsday” can be what jolts the MCU out of its current coma. Yet, subsequent projects need to be consistent hits to prevent the franchise from flatlining again.
Do you think “Doomsday” can save the MCU? Let us know in the comments!
