With Doctor Doom as the big bad and a battle shaping up to have serious consequences for the heroes of the MCU, Avengers: Doomsday isn't exactly radiating good cheer. But the Russo brothers clearly have no intention of letting their characters sulk their way through the entire film. Marvel Studios' latest TV spot (30 seconds) gives us a small taste of that with Ant-Man, who runs into a rather unexpected problem: what do you call three Captain Americas gathered in the same room? Scott Lang, true to his slightly awkward sense of humour, has come up with an answer that should raise a smile among fans.
Three Cap Americas is starting to be a bit much...
In this new video, the Avengers, the New Avengers and the Fantastic Four all gather in the Watchtower, the former Avengers Tower, to prepare their response to Doctor Doom. Suffice to say, the mood is serious. But Paul Rudd is on hand to lighten things up, and it doesn't take much for him to cause chaos. Because when it comes to addressing Captain America, the problem is that there are now three people who could answer. We see Ant-Man toss out a simple "So, we're all set, Cap?", clearly thinking of Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Except that Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, also turns his head, convinced Scott is talking to him. And you can hardly blame him for the reflex, given he was the MCU's Captain America for years. The result: Scott is left a little embarrassed and realises he's going to have to find another way to address them.
That's when John Walker, played by Wyatt Russell, decides to join the conversation. "I was Cap too, for a while", he essentially points out. And he isn't wrong! In the Disney+ series 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier', the US government picked him to take over from Steve Rogers. Except his tenure was cut short after he brutally killed a member of the Flag Smashers in the middle of the street, in full view of everyone. John Walker has since become US Agent, but he hasn't forgotten that he too wore the Captain America suit. So Scott Lang is going to have to work out how to address this lot without offending anyone. A little gag that serves as a reminder that, even in the thick of a showdown that could upend the MCU, Marvel still intends to leave room for a few comic breathers.
What role will the three Captain Americas play in Doomsday?
That little scene aside, all three men should have a part to play in Avengers: Doomsday. Sam Wilson remains the MCU's Captain America and he's the one who will have to lead the Avengers against Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. Steve Rogers' return shouldn't call his position into question either, since he'll be taking on the role of Nomad from now on. Anthony Mackie explained as much himself in an interview: Chris Evans is coming back as Steve Rogers, not as Captain America. The actor even mentioned the character's fate in the comics, where Steve gives up his famous role to become Nomad. Marvel hasn't confirmed that the film will pick up that storyline, but it does suggest a Steve Rogers who has put some distance between himself and the superhero life.
The latest spot also gives us a glimpse of the reunion between Steve and Thor, still played by Chris Hemsworth. And clearly, the two old comrades haven't lost any of their rapport. One sequence even shows Thor looking a little put out at seeing Steve wield Mjölnir, his precious hammer. Enough to bring a few lighter moments to a film that's otherwise shaping up to be especially dark. As for John Walker, he should be rejoining the New Avengers under his US Agent identity. He doesn't quite share Sam or Steve's approach, and his more pragmatic streak could come in handy against Doctor Doom. Safe to say our superheroes will need every bit of firepower going if they want to come out of this in one piece.
It remains to be seen how the Russo brothers will manage to fit this entire crowd into a single film without losing the thread of the story. Avengers: Doomsday, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, arrives in cinemas on 16 December 2026.
