The new year has finally arrived, and is a highly anticipated one for movies, shows and many games. And at the end of the year, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will release the fifth installment of its biggest superhero collaboration film series, “Avengers: Doomsday,” on Dec. 18.
Although the film’s release is still months away, Marvel is aware that the extended wait has tested fans’ patience. To build anticipation, the studio has released four teasers highlighting specific heroes set to return or being introduced in the franchise’s biggest Avengers film yet, including the unexpected return of one character:
Dec. 23, 2025 – The first teaser featured the shocking return of Chris Evans, who played Captain America in three standalone movies and the previous Avengers films. Having passed his shield and the mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson — who was still the Falcon in “Avengers: Endgame” — Evans is set to reprise his role as Steve Rogers. Since he wasn’t included in the Marvel cast announcement for the film back in March 2025, his return came as a major surprise.
The trailer also shows him holding a child and wearing a wedding ring, suggesting that during his mission to return the Infinity Stones to their proper timeline in “Endgame,” the final scene revealed he was able to reunite with Peggy Carter, marry her and start a family. This hints that Doomsday’s actions may involve disrupting or targeting this specific point in the timeline.
Dec. 30, 2025 – The second teaser gives fans their first look at Chris Hemsworth returning as Thor, sporting a haircut reminiscent of his appearance in “Thor: Ragnarok.” Walking through a forest, he calls upon the strength of the “All-Fathers” who came before him, asking for their guidance in one final battle; one he must survive in order to return to his adopted daughter, Love, who was entrusted to his care after he defeated her biological father, Gorr, in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” The actress who portrays Love is played by Hemsworth’s actual daughter, India Rose Hemsworth.
Hearing Thor speak of “one more battle,” it’s concerning that he may face serious danger in the upcoming conflict. He could be gravely injured, or even fall in the fight against Doom. Given Thor’s history of high-stakes battles and the escalating threats across the multiverse, this moment could test not only his physical limits, but also his emotional resolve. His struggle may have major consequences for the other heroes, as Thor’s leadership and power often serve as a stabilizing anchor for the team.
The teaser also suggests a deeply personal stake for Thor this time, blending his heroic duty with his role as a father. The tension is heightened by his past failures of — he was unable to defeat Thanos during their first encounter in “Avengers: Infinity War” — but later played a crucial role in stopping both the present Thanos and a past variant, ultimately defeated by Iron Man. This sets the stage for an emotional and high-stakes confrontation, leaving fans wondering whether Thor can survive this ultimate challenge while protecting both his family and the multiverse.
Jan. 6, 2026 – After 20 years, a large group of the mutant family, the X-Men, will finally reunite on the big screen, now with the exciting addition of Gambit joining the team. The third teaser hints at either the destruction or abandonment of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the iconic home of the X-Men. It also gives fans a first look at Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen reprising their legendary roles as Professor X and Magneto, rumored to be their final performances before retirement. Adding to the excitement, James Marsden, who played Cyclops in the original X-Men trilogy, returns in a suit inspired by the comics.
Hearing that several original X-Men actors reprising — and possibly a few more — are returning to join the fight is thrilling, especially since “X-Men: The Last Stand” was my favorite film from the series growing up and is confirmed where the entirety of the mutants was last seen together on screen. Marvel’s decision to bring back the heroes we grew up with, now fully integrated into the MCU, is a remarkable nod to the past, while connecting it to the present. This approach not only honors the legacy of the original X-Men films, but also gives fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see both the old and new generations of key actors, as heroes share the screen in one epic film.
Jan. 13, 2026 – The fourth and final teaser, for now, shows Shuri carrying on her late brother’s legacy as the Black Panther, stepping fully into the role and responsibility of Wakanda’s protector. Namor is seen rallying his people, preparing his underwater tribe for the looming battle, while M’Baku — now king of Wakanda — has a tense but intriguing interaction with Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing associated with The Fantastic Four. The scene hints at unexpected alliances and the clash of worlds, suggesting that the conflict ahead will not only test the heroes’ strength but also challenge their loyalties and leadership. With each frame, the teaser builds anticipation for a showdown that promises to unite heroes from across the MCU in ways fans have only dreamed of.
Knowing that Shuri was already in “Infinity War” and “Endgame” as a go-to for everything with technology, I’m highly expecting to see her more in the frontline taking over her late brother’s position as Black Panther than to be on screen as a background character. The Black Panther and the Fantastic Four have already met in the comics to join forces against Doctor Doom, so it was already planned that the MCU would have them meet in any of the upcoming films and the teaser has shown how Marvel introduced themselves during their friendly confrontation leading to the full release.
With rumors of the first official trailer expecting to debut at this year’s Super Bowl in February, not only Marvel fans haven’t seen the rest of the confirmed actors reprising their roles as specific heroes, but it has been known that they are more heroes who haven’t been announced, will be either confirmed in the months leading to the film, or to be revealed in the film itself.
