Marvel’s Strategy for Avengers: Doomsday is Broken, But it’s Not Too Late to Fix It

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Three official trailers for the movie have been released so far. The first highlighted the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and the second featured a serious Chris Hemsworth as Thor. The third trailer was just released for fans to enjoy.

So far, I’ve only seen the first three trailers through blurry, fan-made recordings shared on platforms like Reddit, X, and Instagram. Judging by how many comments and shares those low-quality videos have gotten, it’s clear many others have too.

This makes you wonder: is that truly the impression Marvel Studios wants to give fans when they first see footage from a big, eagerly awaited movie like Avengers: Doomsday?

The ‘Theatrical Only’ Strategy Isn’t Working

The plan seemed great on paper: Marvel wanted people to go see James Cameron’s Avatar to get a first look at a trailer for Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Doomsday. However, a version of the Steve Rogers trailer leaked online just days before Avatar’s U.S. release.

The footage was awful and looked very pixelated. Despite this, it was seen by millions of Marvel fans who shared it widely and even used it to create art with artificial intelligence.

As soon as the first trailer for Captain America began playing in theaters, someone was bound to record it and upload it online. Marvel Studios eventually released an official version, but the damage was already done. To make matters worse, a leaked trailer for Avengers: Doomsday – focusing on Thor – also appeared online around the same time.

It feels like Marvel is aiming to recreate the excitement of how movies were promoted when we were kids. Back then, the first glimpse of a big new film usually came as a trailer shown in theaters.

Things have changed since 1985. Today’s Marvel fans are very plugged in and know exactly what’s going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So, skip the tricky marketing tactics and just present things to the fans directly and respectfully!

DC and Warner Bros. Just Showed Marvel Exactly How To Do It

With both DC and Marvel recently offering previews of their 2026 films in December, it’s natural to draw comparisons. DC Films kicked things off earlier this month by releasing a first look at their June movie. Leading up to the release, DC held a special event in New York for media and influencers, where they screened the full trailer and provided interviews with star Milly Alcock and director Craig Gillespie.

A week after that, the full trailer was published online. For almost ten days, they completely dominated the conversation. It felt like everything was perfect.

I’m really puzzled by Marvel’s strategy with the release of Avengers: Doomsday. It’s been awkward and hasn’t worked well, especially compared to how smoothly and successfully they launched Supergirl.

Marvel successfully got people talking about Avengers: Doomsday. The brief hint about Steve Rogers coming back sparked a lot of debate among fans. Online, everyone was guessing what the next trailers would show, and those guesses turned out to be right when clips of Thor and the X-Men appeared online.

The Russo brothers clearly put a lot of effort into these trailers, which offer the first glimpse of what’s expected to be the biggest movie of 2026. Unfortunately, by only releasing the Avengers: Doomsday teasers in theaters, Marvel has unintentionally made it simple for fans to record and share low-quality copies online. This is frustrating, and I hope Marvel addresses the issue soon.

How Can Marvel Fix This?

A fourth teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is reportedly coming soon, and sources have been reliable so far. Like the previous three, it will be shown before screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which has already made $760 million globally and is doing very well on its own, without needing extra promotion.

It’s unclear what the next Doomsday trailer will focus on. Some sources suggest it will show the Fantastic Four and Wakandans teaming up to fight Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, highlighting the scale of the hero alliance needed to defeat him. However, I think it’s more likely the trailer will center on Doctor Doom himself.

You know what? I’m not even that worried about what the next teaser shows. What I really want to know is how Marvel’s going to release it – the way they let us see it is what I’m excited about now!

Continuing to release this content exclusively in theaters is damaging your promotional efforts. Dedicated fans are eagerly seeking out leaks, and those attending showings are happy to share them. The initial three trailers have already leaked online, and currently, we only have a high-quality version of the very first one.

Release all the teaser clips online officially. Then, combine them into a complete trailer. Be sure to include the first actual glimpse of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom – not just a shot of his cape like at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Releasing marketing materials in a fragmented way sends the message that you don’t value your dedicated fans or the quality of the content they’re seeing. This poor strategy gives up control to those who illegally record and share high-quality footage online, like on Reddit.

Marvel, you have the power to decide when and how your fans experience the final Avengers: Doomsday trailer. Make a big impact by including a truly stunning moment.

And I guarantee you, we will talk about it all year long.

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2025-12-29 00:16