Marvel's Avengers: Doctor Doom draws record ticket pre-sales, sparks twist theories

The first trailer for Marvel's upcoming Avengers: Doctor Doom shows Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) reuniting with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and wielding Mjolnir, prompting fans to speculate that the appearance may be a variant, a corrupted version, or an illusion by Loki. The theory draws on comic‑book precedents where a Hydra‑aligned Captain America could lift the hammer.

In the United States, premium‑format ticket pre‑sales for the film generated US$16.5 million, roughly double the pre‑sales recorded for the previous Avengers outing. The sales covered 1,000 cinemas for the Dec. 17 and 18 opening days, excluding IMAX screens, which are reserved for Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 3.

The movie, directed again by the Russo brothers, will feature Robert Downey Jr. as the titular Doctor Doom, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and includes appearances by X‑Men veterans Patrick Stewart (Professor X) and Ian McKellen (Magneto). It is scheduled to debut on Dec. 17, 2024 in Brazil and worldwide.