Is it too early to call Avengers: Doomsday the most anticipated movie of 2026? With the exception of Dune: Messiah and Sony / Marvel Studios' other big 2026 film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, there aren't any films with that level of hype. That's not to say that the year won't produce some bangers, but it's hard to compete with an Avengers movie of all things when it comes to hype. It's now just up to the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe to deliver on the hype.
The film will be headlined by Robert Downey Jr. who returns to the franchise after nearly a decade away. But this time he isn't playing Tony Stark; no, he's set to be the infamous Victor von Doom, a.k.a. Doctor Doom, who seeks to begin the culmination of the Multiverse Saga and take on The Avengers. The super-sized team of heroes will consist of members of the original Avengers, as well as the Fantastic Four, and the New Avengers / Thunderbolts. Will that be enough to stop Doom?
Marvel Studios and all involved have been hard at work on the blockbuster movie for months, but now a new update suggests that we're about to enter the next phase of the wait for its theatrical release.
Avengers: Doomsday will reportedly wrap filming this week
We're one step closer to the release of Avengers: Doomsday, it seems! Veteran industry insider Daniel Richtman has revealed that the highly-anticipated MCU movie is set to wrap filming this week. The film has been in production since April 28, with filming taking place in Pinewood Studios in the UK, and was expected to finish around six months later. This report would suggest that it will wrap slightly ahead of that timeframe.
Over the past few weeks it has been reported that multiple actors have completed filming their respective scenes, with reports that Pedro Pascal, Chris Hemsworth, and Alan Cumming have all wrapped on the movie, so it isn't too surprising to hear that the end of production could be in sight. And considering the sheer scale of Avengers: Doomsday, completing initial production within a six-month period is pretty darn incredible.
Of course, this is just the first step to its eventual release next Christmas. The movie was initially set for a May 2026 release date, but that quickly changed after production started. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo, as well as Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, want to be sure that all involved have enough of a chance to make the very best movie that they possibly can - and with Marvel's knack for certified critical and commercial hits a little off these past few years, that's probably for the best.
All four Avengers movies have been larger-than-life feats to pull off, but each one has gotten considerably bigger than its predecessor. We thought there would be no getting bigger than 2019's Avengers: Endgame, which brought the Infinity Saga to a close on a $2 billion dollar high note. How does one get bigger than that? Easy: Involve all the worlds and universes. Avengers: Doomsday is the first in a two-part finale for the Multiverse Saga and it's set to not only feature a multitude of returning MCU faces but also the majority of the cast of the classic X-Men movies.
While that shocking cast announcement that took place on that immersive five-hour livestream confirmed that 27 major names will appear in the MCU film, both Marvel Studios and Robert Downey Jr. have teased more surprises on social media. So even though the initial production is coming to an end shortly, there will be plenty of need for that year-long wait in-between until the film's release. Whether that's working on the extensive special effects that the movie will undoubtedly require or adding in some more surprises during the eventual reshoots, Marvel Studios will make the most of the time it has to get the movie to theaters on December 18 next year.
So, yes, even though there is still a long wait until the movie arrives in cinemas around the world, the fact that initial production is almost ready to wrap does bring us all one step closer to the Avengers' upcoming return. And that's exactly what we like to hear!
The movie features an ensemble cast that also includes Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Letitia Wright, Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.