Avengers: Doomsday Could Launch Sooner Amid Marvel’s Concerns Over ‘Dunesday’

Since Marvel Studios revealed that Dr. Doom will take over as the next major villain for the Avengers, they’ve been pushing Victor Von Doom as the ultimate threat in the Marvel universe, rivaling even Thanos. However, with Marvel’s recent decline in prestige, this has been a tough sell. Things could get even trickier for Doom if he’s perceived as retreating from a confrontation with a simple sandworm.

Film critic and industry insider John Campea has shared that with Jumanji 3 shifting its release from December 11 to Christmas Day, Marvel is contemplating moving the release of Avengers: Doomsday to that newly available weekend. Currently, Doomsday is slated for December 18, coinciding with Dune: Part Three. Despite the buzz surrounding “Dunesday,” including excitement from stars like Robert Downey Jr., Dune: Part Three holds a significant advantage at the box office due to its three-week IMAX run, while Avengers: Doomsday won’t be shown in IMAX at all.

While one could argue that the expansive desert landscapes of Dune: Part Three are better suited for IMAX, it’s disappointing that Marvel’s most significant film in seven years won’t have that option. When Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame hit theaters in April 2018 and April 2019, no other major films dared to compete with them for weeks. However, in 2026, Avengers: Doomsday might find itself losing its opening day crown to Dune: Part Three, especially with the latter’s IMAX edge.

This is likely why Disney is considering the date change. If Avengers: Doomsday launches on December 11, it would have a week of IMAX screenings before Dune: Part Three takes over. While this is better than no IMAX at all, a week feels rather short.

Overall, I see this as a positive move, even if it’s not quite enough. As a dedicated MCU fan, I’ve endured everything from mediocre films to some rather dull Disney Plus series. With Avengers: Doomsday, I was eager to escape my Marvel fatigue and relive the glory days of the MCU, and there’s no better way to do that than in IMAX. While a week doesn’t seem like much, if that’s all I can get, I’ll gladly take it and hope to spend a few hours forgetting how far Marvel has fallen.