Disney has unveiled an aggressive marketing strategy for what is shaping up to be one of next year’s most consequential comic book movies. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer will be attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash over four consecutive weeks.
4 different trailers for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’ will be attached with ‘AVATAR: FIRE & ASH’
Each trailer will play for 1 week, before switching to the next.
(Source: https://t.co/RDPogOcM3g) pic.twitter.com/1NO2Yd19Pk
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 12, 2025
With this move, Disney is signaling two things. First, it’s confident that Fire and Ash will be an extremely successful event film. Second, that Doomsday has to be a cinematic event on par with James Cameron’s latest.
A screenshot from Avatar: The Way of Water – YouTube, Avatar
The trailers are also expected to be less bombastic and more intimate and character-driven. Marvel has declined to talk about the Doomsday trailer rollout, so it’s unclear if these will be full-length trailers or short teasers. There’s also no official confirmation as to which four characters will be featured, though the expectation is that they will be fan favorites from the height of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The Steve Rogers Surprise
The week-one trailer is expected to focus not on Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, as many expected. Instead, those going to see Fire and Ash at its debut will probably see Steve Rogers’ Captain America.
At the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, Rogers was retired. Except for a comical cameo in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Rogers has been absent from the MCU except in memory. And at the Doomsday cast announcement last March, Chris Evans, who played Rogers to near-universal acclaim, was not given a chair.
Steve Rogers as Captain America – Disney+
Releasing his Doomsday trailer first, when the Fire and Ash audience will likely be at its peak, may serve as a form of damage control on multiple fronts. The surprise of seeing Evans back in the MCU has already been spoiled online, but there’s still a chance of catching a few fans off guard. More importantly, Marvel’s recent attempt at passing Cap’s shield onto Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson led to a box office disaster.
The safest route for Doomsday is placing the legacy characters front and center in the marketing.
The Remaining Three
Other Doomsday trailers are expected to focus on Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Doctor Doom. While Downey Jr. isn’t playing Iron Man this time, he remains one of the most recognizable faces in the MCU.
Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios‘ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.
The last couple of Thor movies divided fans, and even the actor has expressed frustration with the direction the character was taken. However, both Hemsworth and Downey Jr. could help bring some post-Avengers: Endgame goodwill back to the theaters.
The final Doomsday trailer could be a more general, ensemble piece to build hype for newer characters.
Revival
Cutting and distributing multiple trailers is costly. However, given that Doomsday and its follow-up, Avengers: Secret Wars, could have a combined production budget of at least $2 billion, Disney is looking to use every advantage. Avatar movies draw large crowds to premium formats, and putting a Doomsday trailer or four in front of one promises the best first impression.
Robert Downey Jr. revealed to be Doctor Doom at Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con via OnTheRedCarpet YouTube
The MCU still has some of the most iconic characters in recent memory and access to the actors who brought them to the screen. Reminding audiences of earlier phases and promising them that their favorite characters are coming back may be the winning formula Disney is betting on to revive the struggling franchise.
Will you be seeing Avatar: Fire and Ash four times for the Avengers: Doomsday trailers? Let us know in the comments!
