Third 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer hits theaters. Here's what's in it
- - Third 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer hits theaters. Here's what's in it
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYJanuary 2, 2026 at 10:46 PM
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X-Men, assemble!
A third trailer for "Avengers: Doomsday" has debuted in theaters, this one focusing on the cast of the original "X-Men" movies from the 2000s. The trailer is now playing in front of screenings of "Avatar: Fire and Ash," but it hasn't been released online.
The footage opens with shots showing the inside of Charles Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) School for Gifted Youngsters, as Magneto (Ian McKellen) says in a voiceover, "Death comes for us all. It's all I know for sure. The question isn't, 'Are you prepared to die?' The question is, 'Who would you be when you close your eyes?'"
Charles Xavier's wheelchair is shown in a close-up, followed by a shot of a chess board with a piece rising into the air. We then see Charles Xavier and Magneto warmly embracing each other.
This is followed by a dramatic scene of Scott Summers (James Marsden), a.k.a. Cyclops, looking distraught as fiery destruction is seen behind him. Summers, who is wearing a yellow and blue costume, shoots a red beam out of his eyes while on his knees, presumably after some sort of tragic loss. Behind him we can see what appears to be a giant Sentinel robot.
The logo for Marvel's "Avengers: Doomsday," which hits theaters in December 2026.
"The X-Men will return in 'Avengers: Doomsday,'" on-screen text reads, followed by a countdown to the December 2026 release of the film.
Second 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer debuts, reveals character return
Stewart most recently played Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men, in 2022's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," but McKellen hasn't reprised his character of Magneto since 2014's "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Marsden, meanwhile, last had a proper role as Cyclops in 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand," though he made a brief cameo in "Days of Future Past."
Original "X-Men" trilogy stars Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming and Rebecca Romijn were previously confirmed to also be starring in "Avengers: Doomsday," and Channing Tatum will return as Gambit, an X-Men character he originated in "Deadpool & Wolverine."
"Avengers: Doomsday" has released three separate trailers in as many weeks, each one in theaters in front of showings of "Avatar: Fire and Ash." So far, a new trailer has been swapped in every weekend to replace the previous one, though they have all followed a similar format.
James Marsden as Cyclops in 'X-Men.'
The first trailer centered on Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, providing the first official confirmation that Evans will return for the movie. The trailer showed Steve, the former Captain America, arriving to the home he shares with Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and holding a baby. It was later released online.
'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer reveals beloved hero's surprise return
The second trailer, which premiered in theaters the following week, focused on Chris Hemsworth as Thor, who was seen walking through the woods and saying a prayer that he will be able to return to his daughter. This was the first time it was revealed that Thor's daughter, introduced in "Thor: Love and Thunder," will be in the movie. This trailer has also since been released online.
All three trailers to date have ended the same way: with a large, green "Avengers" logo and a countdown to the film's release date.
"Avengers: Doomsday" will star a stacked cast that includes most of the major actors from recent Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, as well as a returning Robert Downey Jr., who is playing the main villain, Doctor Doom. The weekly trailer release is the latest unconventional marketing strategy that Marvel has utilized for the film. In March, the studio made a splash on social media with a live stream that slowly unveiled the cast list, one name at a time, over the course of roughly five-and-a-half hours.
For Marvel, much is riding on "Avengers: Doomsday" after several of the studio's films underwhelmed at the box office over the past few years, raising questions about whether audiences are moving on from a franchise that once dominated Hollywood. In 2025, DC's "Superman" outperformed all three of Marvel's movies: "Captain America: Brave New World," "Thunderbolts" and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."
No official plot synopsis for "Avengers: Doomsday" has been released, though a credits scene in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" suggested Doctor Doom kidnapping Franklin, son of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), will play a role in the story.
'Avengers: Doomsday' cast list
The confirmed cast of "Avengers: Doomsday" consists of:
Chris Evans
Chris Hemsworth
Vanessa Kirby
Anthony Mackie
Sebastian Stan
Letitia Wright
Paul Rudd
Wyatt Russell
Tenoch Huerta Mejía
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Simu Liu
Florence Pugh
Kelsey Grammer
Lewis Pullman
Danny Ramirez
Joseph Quinn
David Harbour
Winston Duke
Hannah John-Kamen
Tom Hiddleston
Patrick Stewart
Ian McKellen
Alan Cumming
Rebecca Romijn
James Marsden
Channing Tatum
Pedro Pascal
Robert Downey Jr.
'Avengers: Doomsday' release date
"Avengers: Doomsday" hits theaters on Dec. 18, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer hits theaters – What it reveals
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