It looks like Dunesday is on the way out! Marvel is considering a new release date for Avengers: Doomsday
"Jumanji 3" has also been postponed
The 2026 cinema year is heading towards a monumental climax that is second to none. On "Dunesday", both "Dune: Part 3" and "Avengers: Doomsday" will be shown on the big screen. However, there are now indications that Marvel could apparently back out of the direct duel. As insider John Campea reports, a new start date for "Avengers: Doomsday" is on the table.
The main reason for this decision is to secure IMAX screens, which are a crucial source of income for blockbusters of this size. Director Denis Villeneuve had already secured a three-week IMAX guarantee for his conclusion to the desert saga. If Marvel sticks to the original date, "Avengers: Doomsday" would have to forgo a screening in IMAX completely this time.
It could therefore be that the new "Avengers" film could now be released on December 11, 2026. "Jumanji 3" was originally scheduled for this date. Sony Pictures ultimately decided against this and postponed the new Dwayne Johnson adventure to December 25.
However, it should be emphasized that this is still just a rumor. An official statement from Marvel is still pending. Currently, the two blockbusters are still scheduled for December 18, 2026. We'll keep you up to date!
What we know so far about Dune 3 and Avengers: Doomsday!
What Is the Story of Dune 3 About?
The story is based on Frank Herbert's novel "Dune Messiah" and is set 12 years after Paul Atreides' rise to power on Arrakis. Paul's influence now spans the entire universe. He sits on the throne of Arrakis as Emperor and rules with near-divine authority. At the same time, the Fremen have waged a brutal jihad across the universe in the name of their messiah, resulting in the deaths of billions.
The tone of the book differs greatly from the story told so far: instead of an epic hero's journey, Herbert presents a tragic tale filled with political intrigue, moral conflict, and personal sacrifice. In fact, the author never intended Paul to be seen as a shining hero. Yet even in the 1960s, many readers interpreted the story differently. The same thing has happened with Villeneuve's recent "Dune" films: some viewers see the narrative as a simple battle of good versus evil. The sequel, however, seeks to make it abundantly clear what dangers lie in the blind worship of a leader.
Paul's Visions
One of the central aspects of Part 3 is Paul's ability to see into the future. He sees countless possible outcomes, but almost all of them lead to catastrophe. Only a single course of action seems capable of securing humanity's survival: the so-called Golden Path. However, this path demands enormous sacrifices and forces Paul to make decisions that are almost unbearable for him. The public reveres him as a divine figure, yet he himself knows that his path is anything but heroic.
But there is also resistance to his plans: many of the universe's most powerful factions are secretly plotting to overthrow him. Their goal is to prevent the Golden Path and seize Paul's power for themselves. To achieve this, they devise a diabolical conspiracy in which Paul's past and his love for his friends play an important role – but we don't want to give too much away here due to spoilers.
Paul's relationship with Chani also draws him into a terrible conflict between his personal desires and his duty as the proclaimed savior of humanity. At least, that is how it unfolds in the novel. Denis Villeneuve, however, already deviated from this in the second movie: there, Chani leaves Paul at the end and returns to the desert. As a result, the fate of their relationship is less clear than in the book, where she never leaves his side. What this means for the new film remains an exciting question.
Spoiler: The Assassination Attempt on Paul
Please note: If you don't want to hear any more details about the story, now is the time to skip ahead to the next section. At this point, we will be going into more detail about the further plot of the book – including major spoilers!
The conspiracy against Paul ultimately escalates into an assassination attempt: his enemies detonate an atomic weapon, which causes Paul to go blind. Thanks to his visions, however, he continues to see everything. Spiritually and emotionally, though, he is more isolated from his fellow human beings than ever before.
Shortly afterwards, Chani and Paul's children are born. Contrary to expectations, they are twins: Leto II and Ghanima. Both possess extraordinary abilities and will play a decisive role in the future of humanity. But the birth claims Chani's life – just as Paul had foreseen.
This loss finally breaks him. He realizes that there is no turning back and that his children are the key to humanity's survival. Following Fremen tradition, he walks alone into the desert. The twins are raised by Stilgar's wife and Irulan. The jihad comes to a halt, while Paul's sister Alia rules the universe as regent.
Who Is in the Cast of Dune 3?
Unsurprisingly, the main cast is returning for "Dune 3". Timothée Chalamet reprises his role as Paul Atreides, Zendaya returns as Chani, and Florence Pugh takes on the role of Irulan. We are also really looking forward to seeing Anya Taylor-Joy: she made a brief appearance in Part 2 and plays Paul's sister, Alia.
A particularly interesting new addition is Robert Pattinson as Scytale, a so-called Face Dancer. Through genetic manipulation, he can transform into other people and plays a prominent role in the conspiracy against Paul.
Anyone unfamiliar with the book may wonder what Jason Momoa is doing in the cast – after all, his character has already died. But we don't want to give away what that's all about just yet. His 16-year-old son Nakoa-Wolf Momoa is also part of the cast, playing Paul's son Leto II. Ghanima, in turn, is portrayed by Ida Brooke. This suggests another deviation from the book, in which the children have only just been born.
A real surprise is the return of Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica: she hardly features at all in the novel. There, she returns to Caladan, the ancestral home of the Atreides.
What Is the Story of Avengers: Doomsday?
Piece by piece, the puzzle of what "Doomsday" will be about is coming together. With every interview, statement, and insider leak, we get an increasingly clear picture. After the latest events in the Marvel movies and series, one thing is certain: the multiverse has never been this unstable. Realities are colliding, timelines are unraveling, and alternate dimensions are beginning to merge.
At this moment, a true Marvel icon enters the scene: Doctor Doom! He sees the chaos not as a threat, but as an opportunity. In the comics, Doom creates the so-called Battleworld, an artificially assembled world made from shattered realities. Each region of this world reflects fragments of other universes – a patchwork of the future, the past, timelines, and dystopian landscapes. And Doctor Doom? He rules over this world like a god.
Battleworld also presents the Avengers with great challenges. Here, fractured variants of familiar heroes come face to face. Allies become enemies, and former foes forge unexpected alliances. It is a moral chaos, where it is hard to tell what is right and what is wrong. Imagine "Captain America: Civil War" – but set in a completely bonkers scenario.
Who Is Part of the Avengers 5 Cast?
You ask: How many characters can fit into one movie? And Marvel replies: Yes. "Endgame" already pushed the limits of what's possible – and "Doomsday" could top that. Chris Hemsworth is probably returning in a more serious manner than we saw in "Love and Thunder". Anthony Mackie leads the Avengers in his role as the new Captain America. Paul Rudd is back as Ant-Man, and Simu Liu reprises his role as Shang-Chi.
Wakanda and Atlantis are also strongly represented: Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Namor actor Tenoch Huerta Mejia will all appear. Following their debut, the Thunderbolts will also get involved – including Sentry, one of the most powerful characters in the MCU. A particular highlight will be the Fantastic Four: after their battle against Galactus, they now face their next major challenge.
The most spectacular comeback likely concerns the X-Men: Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are returning to their iconic roles. With Kelsey Grammer, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and James Marsden, several actors from the old movies are joining the MCU. Channing Tatum will also reprise his role as Gambit following "Deadpool & Wolverine". This will most likely be the final battle for the classic X-Men. After "Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars", Marvel is planning the so-called "Mutant Saga", featuring a new cast. What stands out is that many actors from the later "X-Men" films are absent. It's possible they won't be involved until after "Doomsday".
Who Is Missing?
But other big names are also missing: no Tom Holland, no Benedict Cumberbatch, no Mark Ruffalo. The Guardians of the Galaxy are absent as well. At least for some of them, insider Jeff Sneider has an explanation: "Spider-Man 4" is said to take place during the events of "Doomsday". Characters like Peter Parker and the Hulk would therefore be busy in New York. Elizabeth Olsen also recently stated that Wanda Maximoff will not be in the new "Avengers" film. Whether such statements can be trusted is another matter: it would not be the first time Marvel actors have simply lied about this topic.
Amid all the speculation, we must not forget: Marvel has never claimed that the famous chair video revealed the full cast. On the contrary, public statements have already hinted that more is still to come. So it is quite possible that a second video will be released soon – featuring a host of additional names we have been missing until now.
