Marvel Considering Last Minute Avengers: Doomsday Move To Avoid Dunesday

1 week ago 16

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) looks concerned in the MCU

Published Apr 2, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT

John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

Marvel Studios is reportedly looking to avoid the next Barbenheimer. And they might be willing to make a last-minute change to Avengers: Doomsday because of it.

Marvel Studios might just be changing the release date for Avengers: Doomsday only months before the Marvel Cinematic Universe's next crossover feature arrives in theaters, according to industry insider John Campea. Reportedly, the change would see Avengers: Doomsday moved up by one week to a Dec. 11 release date, ensuring that the film doesn't make its widespread cinematic debut on the same day as Dune: Part Three. Coincidentally, the date is now available after Jumanji 4 switched to a Christmas release date.

The Current Dunesday Situation — Explained

Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to arrive in theaters on Dec. 18, which seems like the perfect release date, at least on the surface. Unfortunately, Dec. 18 just so happens to also be the planned release date for writer-director Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Three, which is all but assuredly going to be just as big a cinematic event as its MCU competition. This came after Doomsday was pushed back half a year from its initial May 1 release date.

This very specific planned release schedule has come to be referred to as Dunesday by fans, many of whom have expressed overt excitement over the idea of a second Barbenheimer experience. On July 21, 2023, both Barbie and Oppenheimer made their way into theaters, offering cinema-goers the opportunity to take in two decidedly different big-budget films back-to-back at the box office.

As much as Barbenheimer itself was a rare cinematic event that is fondly remembered by those who took advantage of the opportunity, it is understandable that Marvel Studios wouldn't want to compete with Dune: Part Three on its opening weekend. The report has yet to be officially confirmed, so it's mere speculation.

Although the films' release is still more than six months away, the earliest projections have both Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday raking in well over $200 million on their opening weekends, which may be more than enough for a shift in the latter's release date where Marvel Studios is concerned.

What Can Audiences Expect from Avengers: Doomsday When It Arrives?

A shot of the Captain America costume with Steve Rogers arms in the foreground from Avengers Doomsday

Avengers: Doomsday is set to bring back the casts of multiple MCU hits, ranging from the current Avengers lineup to the stars of Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. These heroes and more will be facing the threat of Multiversal incursions capable of destroying their entire realities, not to mention that of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

While specific story details for Avengers: Doomsday are still being kept tightly under wraps, more than one returning MCU star has promised big things to come when the film finally makes its way into theaters. Back in December, Loki star Tom Hiddleston said of the upcoming crossover film, "It is monumental. The centre of the story is absolutely brilliant, and was so surprising when I read it. It just has never been done before."

Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to arrive in theaters on Dec. 18.