This Avenger Lost Everything in Infinity War and Endgame — And Avengers: Doomsday Could Take Even More
Rumor has it the God of Thunder won’t wait for the final act this time: in Avengers: Doomsday, Thor reportedly starts on the sidelines before charging into the main storyline much earlier, echoing his Infinity War and Age of Ultron arcs.
Thor might be cruising back into Avengers: Doomsday with the spotlight on him… and a storm cloud over his head. The latest chatter says the Odinson is basically the No. 2 lead this time, and it sure does not sound like a victory lap for Chris Hemsworth.
What I’m hearing about Thor’s role
Alex Perez at The Cosmic Circus says Thor’s arc in Doomsday rhymes with what he did in Age of Ultron and Infinity War: he starts off on his own track and then folds into the main fight earlier than just a last-minute rescue.
"It starts as a subplot but joins in at a much earlier moment than the 3rd act, like he did in Infinity War. What I can tell you a bit about his role is that Thor really goes through it. He always seems like he has a lot to lose in these movies."
Translation: they’re putting him through the wringer again. On top of that, the rumor mill has Thor slotted as the second lead in the movie, which lines up with the idea that he’s central to the plot instead of just swinging the hammer for a scene or two.
Why Thor matters in Doomsday
Right now, Thor is said to be the only original Avenger confirmed to throw down with Doctor Doom in this film. Given how the MCU has leaned on him in every team-up, that tracks. And yes, the Loki angle is part of this: after Loki’s death in Infinity War and everything that went down on the Disney+ series, the current Loki variant is basically the cosmic hall monitor for the multiverse. A reunion between these two estranged brothers is on the table, and you can already hear the sniffles in the theater.
How Doom might make his entrance
Felipe Rangel at ScreenRant flagged Thor as the perfect candidate for what fans call the Worf Effect: when a new villain establishes instant credibility by demolishing a heavy-hitter. If Doom bodies Thor early, that’s a fast way to tell the audience he means business.
About Thor 5
No official greenlight yet. Still, given where Thor: Love and Thunder left things (hello, Hercules), there’s plenty of runway if Marvel wants it.
The trailer: when and what to expect
ComicBookMovie.com says the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer is locked to play in theaters next month, attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash on December 19, 2025. The word is it will center on Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Kristian Harloff added that the trailer will lean hard on Doom in the mask, which lines up with another interesting detail: CBM reports the character is taking cues from Phantom of the Opera, hiding a badly scarred face beneath the iron. Eric Voss at New Rockstars also heard that Doom literally needs the armor to stay alive because his body is shattered. That’s a gnarly way to introduce him.
The big picture (as it stands)
- Title: Avengers: Doomsday
- Release date: December 18, 2026
- Director: The Russo Brothers
- Main villain: Doctor Doom
- Plot snapshot: Avengers, Wakandans, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers, and the X-Men team up to stop Doom from kicking off a multiversal catastrophe
- Reported cast: Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Pedro Pascal (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson)
- MCU placement: Phase Six
- Timeline: Set 14 months after Thunderbolts (2025) and aimed as the runway into Secret Wars (2027)
Bottom line
If the marketing really starts a full year out, Marvel’s swinging for the fences. A Thor-heavy arc, a broken-but-deadly Doom, and a reunion with Loki? That’s a lot of heat to cut through audience fatigue. Trailer next month, movie in theaters December 18, 2026. Buckle up.