The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been waiting years for this moment. Avengers: Doomsday is the first true Avengers film since Endgame (2019), and it opens in Finnish cinemas on Wednesday 16 December 2026. Returning as directors are Anthony and Joe Russo, who directed both Infinity War and Endgame – two of the highest-grossing films in cinema history.
The biggest talking point, however, is a casting decision that baffled fans the moment it was announced: Robert Downey Jr. returns to Marvel, but not as Iron Man. He plays Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom, one of the most famous villains in Marvel comics.
What is Avengers: Doomsday about?
Marvel Studios' official description is deliberately sparse: heroes from three different universes find themselves on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they have encountered before.
The first trailer, released in July 2026, opens up the premise a little. It is narrated by Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is assembling a new team and gives a grim speech. He reminds them that the Avengers of old were far stronger than the current group put together – and yet they died. Thor adds that the threat they faced then frightened him less than this one. Coming from a Thor who sank into depression after Thanos in Endgame, the line carries unusual weight.
The trailer's most striking image is brief: Doom stops Thor's axe Stormbreaker with one hand. The final surprise belongs to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), who returns and catches the same axe out of the air.
Three universes, one enormous cast
Based on the trailer and Marvel's announcements, the film brings together three groups of heroes for the first time:
- The Avengers and Wakanda's heroes from the main MCU universe, including Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Scott Lang (Paul Rudd).
- The "new Avengers" from Thunderbolts: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Bob (Lewis Pullman) and Red Guardian (David Harbour).
- The Fantastic Four from their own universe: Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
- The X-Men: Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr, James Marsden as Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Kelsey Grammer as Beast and Channing Tatum as Gambit.
Also appearing are Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor and Winston Duke as M'Baku. According to JoBlo, it is the biggest cast Marvel has ever assembled.
Why is Doctor Doom such a big deal?
In the comics, Doom is the Fantastic Four's arch-enemy: ruler of Latveria, genius and sorcerer, whose pride matches his abilities. Joe Russo has described him as one of Marvel's most complex characters, always three moves ahead of everyone else.
Casting Downey Jr. is both a risk and a masterstroke. Audiences associate him with Tony Stark, the MCU's original hero. Seeing Iron Man's face behind the mask creates a tension no new actor could bring. In the trailer, Doom appears masked, and the marketing has so far avoided the question of any connection between the character and Stark. That is exactly what keeps the speculation going.
The Multiverse Saga nears its end
Doomsday is not the end of the story. Avengers: Secret Wars, which concludes the so-called Multiverse Saga, is slated for December 2027. The set-up echoes Infinity War and Endgame: the first film builds the threat and leaves the heroes in a bad place, the second resolves it.
Interest is enormous. Variety reported that the first trailer drew more than 500 million views in its first 24 hours – more than any previous Disney trailer.
Formats and screenings in Finland
Alongside the film, Disney launched a new Infinity Vision certification for large premium auditoriums. In Finland the film is shown in both 2D and 3D. Elokuvateatteri Star in Oulu, for example, begins screenings on the night of release. The announced running time is 2 hours 45 minutes, making it one of the longest mainstream releases of the year.
KAVI had not yet published the Finnish age rating at the time of writing. We will update this information once the rating is confirmed.
Analysis: can Doomsday repeat the Endgame phenomenon?
Marvel's films have had mixed fortunes in the 2020s. For the studio, Doomsday is therefore more than just another release: it is a test of whether the MCU can still find an Endgame-sized shared audience. It holds plenty of trump cards. The Russo brothers know this scale, Downey Jr. and Evans are back, and the return of the Fox-era X-Men cast appeals to older viewers.
The risks are just as clear. There are so many characters that many will inevitably be sidelined. And Dune: Part Three, arriving the same day, competes for the same IMAX screenings. If the Russos manage to keep the story clear and Doom genuinely frightening, December could be an exceptionally big month for cinemas.
What to watch before Doomsday
Based on the characters Marvel has announced, at least these films provide useful background:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – Thor's and Steve Rogers' stories continue directly from its events.
- Thunderbolts* (2025) – introduces Yelena, Bob and the other "new Avengers".
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) – introduces Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards and his family in their own universe.
- The Fox-era X-Men films – Patrick Stewart's and Ian McKellen's Xavier and Magneto come from this era.
Frequently asked questions
When is Avengers: Doomsday released in Finland?
It opens in Finnish cinemas on Wednesday 16 December 2026, two days before the United States.
Who does Robert Downey Jr. play?
Downey Jr. plays Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom – the Fantastic Four's arch-villain from the comics.
How long is the film?
The running time listed by Finnish cinemas is 2 hours 45 minutes.
Will there be a sequel?
Yes. Avengers: Secret Wars is scheduled for release in December 2027.
This text is based on information published by the film's distributors, production companies and film media. Assessments and interpretations are our own and are not based on seeing the finished film unless stated otherwise.
