Forget Marvel fatigue: I counted 5 hidden details in the ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer that made me scream

(Image credit: Marvel / Disney) While it feels like superhero fatigue settled in long ago, Marvel goes and drops a single trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday” that completely turned the tide. I get what people mean by Marvel fatigue, because between the flood of Disney+ shows and a somewhat chaotic Multiverse Saga, things haven't quite felt the same since “Avengers: Endgame.” Replicating a historic high note like that was always going to be an uphill battle. But despite the turbulence, I’ve never actually lost faith in the MCU.Hitting theaters on December 18, 2026, “Avengers: Doomsday” brings the Russo brothers back to direct a massive, multiversal showdown where Earth-616’s Avengers, the Fantastic Four and even Fox's original X-Men cross paths to face an existential threat: Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the sinister armor of Doctor Doom. Avengers: Doomsday | Official Trailer | In Theaters December 18 - YouTube Watch On That being said, my anticipation for “Avengers: Doomsday” isn't just high but through the absolute roof. After rewatching the trailer like a detective, I realized just how many clever details Marvel has included in this new footage. So, I’ve found five details in the “Doomsday” trailer that genuinely made me scream at my screen. (Image credit: Marvel / Disney)The trailer opens with a serious warning from Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor von Doom rather than a typical villain speech. His Eastern European accent reflects Doctor Doom’s comic book origins as the ruler of Latveria. He wears green robes over silver armor, with a design inspired by his appearance in Marvel’s “Secret Wars” comics.Doom’s speech about an unstoppable threat and an impossible choice presents him as more than a simple villain. Instead of seeking power, he appears to believe he is trying to save reality from a greater disaster. This creates similarities to Thanos (Josh Brolin) in “Avengers: Infinity War,” but with even higher stakes, as Doom is trying to prevent the collapse of entire universes.His warning suggests that Doom believes he is the only one willing to make the difficult choices needed to stop the multiverse from being destroyed. His plan may involve sacrificing or combining dying universes to create a new reality, potentially leading to the creation of Battleworld.2. The annihilation of Earth-10005 (Image credit: Marvel Entertainment via YouTube)The scenes at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters hint that the X-Men’s universe (Earth-10005) is already falling apart before the main conflict begins. The damaged gates and broken school sign show that the world has been affected by a major disaster for some time. Inside the mansion, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) shields himself from a bright yellow flash in the sky, which appears to be connected to an Incursion, where two realities collide.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.The trailer also shows several major fights taking place across the ruined school grounds:Shang-Chi vs. Gambit: Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) uses the Ten Rings against Gambit’s (Channing Tatum) explosive playing cards.Yelena Belova vs. Mystique: Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) transforms into Yelena (Florence Pugh) during the fight, using her powers to confuse her opponent.The sequence ends with Cyclops (James Marsden) wearing his classic blue and yellow X-Men suit, screaming as he fires a powerful optic blast into the collapsing sky. In the background, huge structures can be seen moving through the smoke, which could belong to a massive Sentinel, a mysterious cosmic threat, or another multiversal force.3. The tri-reality incursion collision map in new Avengers tower (Image credit: Marvel / Disney)The trailer shows a major meeting inside the new Avengers Tower, where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) brings together a divided group of heroes, including Sam Wilson’s Captain America (Anthony Mackie), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), the Thunderbolts and the Fantastic Four.Behind Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), a large screen displays what first looks like a scientific diagram. However, the image appears to be tracking the movement of multiple collapsing realities and showing how different dimensions are on a collision course. This suggests that Mister Fantastic’s scientific knowledge is helping the heroes understand and monitor the threat of Incursions.The scene also shows the growing connection between different universes, with the Fantastic Four bringing their expertise into the Avengers’ fight. Thor’s speech about past heroes who were stronger but still fell in battle serves as a warning that old rivalries no longer matter. With the multiverse at risk, these divided teams will need to work together if they want to survive.4. Loki’s TVA pass and Steve Rogers’ move to Earth-828 (Image credit: Marvel / Disney)In a quieter scene, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is shown inside a dimly lit house wearing his Time Variance Authority (TVA) jacket. He holds a golden TVA access pass, which features an engraving of Yggdrasil, the multiversal World Tree he created at the end of “Loki” season 2. The room, with its vintage lace curtains and wooden window frames, closely resembles the home where Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) shared their final dance in “Avengers: Endgame.”This setting could connect several unresolved multiverse storylines. Steve’s decision to stay in the past and live with Peggy created a timeline that exists outside the normal flow of history. Loki’s visit suggests the TVA can no longer ignore these isolated branches as Incursions threaten the multiverse. Instead of pruning the timeline, Loki may be there to rescue Steve and his family. (Image credit: Marvel / Disney)A closer look at the trailer’s countdown graphic may reveal a hidden puzzle. Throughout the promotional teasers released before the July 20 trailer, the countdown briefly glitches for a split second. Some fans believe these glitches contain hidden codes that point to key moments from past MCU movies:One code points to the Space Stone in "The Avengers" (2012)Another points to the Reality Stone in "Thor: The Dark World" (2013)A third points to the Power Stone in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)A fourth points to the Mind Stone in "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018)Together, these clues appear to reference the Infinity Stones. This has led to the theory that, even though the original Infinity Stones were destroyed by Thanos, Doctor Doom could be collecting their remaining energy from alternate universes. If true, he may be using that power to hold collapsing realities together and create Battleworld. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow Tom's Guide Entertainment on TikTok and Instagram. More from Tom's GuideRusso Bros say 'Avengers: Doomsday' will take things back to 'Phase Zero'‘Avengers: Doomsday’ could be hiding secret Marvel characters5 ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ theories that will completely blow your mind Alix is a Senior Streaming Writer at Tom’s Guide, which basically means watching the best movies and TV shows and then writing about them. It’s a dream job for someone who’s been obsessed with storytelling since she first figured out how to work a remote. Before joining Tom’s Guide, Alix honed her skills as a staff writer with outlets like Screen Rant and Bough Digital, where she discovered her love for the entertainment industry. She heads to the cinema every week as a tradition, no matter what’s showing. For her, movies aren’t just entertainment — they’re a ritual, a comfort, and a constant source of inspiration. When she’s not at her desk or at the cinema, you’ll probably find her deep into a horror video game on her PC.