Avengers: Doomsday Can’t Beat Infinity War and Endgame, Admits Robert Downey Jr (So It Won’t Try)

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With releases in 2018 and 2019, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame set a new standard for blockbuster movies. These films were the culmination of a massive 21-movie story arc – something never before attempted on such a scale – and rewarded years of audience engagement with an incredibly satisfying spectacle. Both films were huge financial successes: Infinity War earned over $2 billion worldwide, and Endgame quickly surpassed that, ultimately grossing $2.79 billion to become one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Critics loved Endgame too, giving it a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the subsequent films in the Multiverse Saga haven’t performed as well, with movies like The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania failing to resonate with audiences. Now, Avengers: Doomsday represents the franchise’s biggest effort to regain its momentum.

During a surprise appearance at a special screening of Infinity War at SXSW London, Robert Downey Jr. explained that the new Marvel project, Doomsday, will be a fresh start. He said they can’t build on the success of Infinity War and Endgame and need to earn the audience’s trust again. Downey Jr., who famously played Tony Stark throughout the Infinity Saga and will now portray the villain Victor Von Doom, believes they have a good chance of succeeding, especially with directors Joe and Anthony Russo involved. This sentiment mirrored comments made by Joe Russo at the same event, where he emphasized that Doomsday is essentially a reboot, aiming to feel completely new and independent from previous films (via CBR).

Can Avengers: Doomsday Reach the Same Heights as Infinity War and Endgame?

Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be Marvel’s most ambitious project since Endgame. The film boasts a huge cast, including the return of Chris Evans as Captain America, and features two Avengers teams led by Anthony Mackie and Florence Pugh. Adding to the excitement, the Fantastic Four—Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby—will be crossing over from their universe, and even the original X-Men cast—Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, and more—are returning after the Disney-Fox merger. The film’s villain is Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., who is considered one of Marvel’s greatest villains. Unlike Thanos, Doctor Doom is a complex character driven by intelligence, ambition, and a genuine belief that his actions will save the world.

While Doomsday has potential and a good foundation, it faces a significant hurdle. Infinity War and Endgame felt like the culmination of a ten-year story, and their impact came from the emotional connection built over 21 films. That kind of history can’t be recreated. Audiences now see this franchise as light entertainment, choosing what they want to watch, and no amount of big names or flashy effects can replace that established emotional weight.

Despite being past the peak of the Endgame era, Marvel has still had some successful films. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 offered a heartfelt conclusion for its team, Thunderbolts surprised audiences with its focus on characters, and Deadpool & Wolverine achieved record-breaking numbers thanks to fan excitement. However, none of these movies have had a truly significant impact on the overall story. The Multiverse Saga hasn’t built the same sense of growing fear that made Thanos such a compelling villain. Instead, the franchise spent years trying to establish Kang the Conqueror as the next big threat, but that plan fell apart after Jonathan Majors’ departure. This has left the saga without a clear direction as it approaches its planned finale. Robert Downey Jr. even admitted at SXSW London that their current priority is to win back the audience’s trust, acknowledging that Marvel Studios is aware they’ve lost some of it. Whether their planned reset will be enough to do so remains to be seen, and will likely only be answered when Avengers: Doomsday is released.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 18, 2026.

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2026-06-04 14:42