One ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Writer Says Fans Should Brace for More Than Spectacle

Marvel has always guarded its plots closely, and ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ is no exception. The film is set to hit theaters Dec. 18, 2026, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, with Robert Downey Jr. leading an enormous ensemble as Doctor Doom. Beyond the looming multiverse chaos, the actual story has stayed largely under wraps.

What has come out so far has mostly been marketing. Marvel has released 4 teaser trailers, the first of which revealed that Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is returning to the MCU. Chris Hemsworth has also told Variety that the movie is incredibly emotional and powerful, though he wouldn’t say whether Thor and Loki’s reunion will make audiences cry.

Now a new tease is coming from someone who worked on the script. The film’s writer described the story as “really great and really potent.”

The writer in question is Chris McKenna, who appeared on the podcast The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood.. He says the film balances “big action” and “big worlds” with intimate character moments, including elements that deliver an “emotional gut punch.” It’s a notable pitch for a movie that is otherwise being sold on scale.

New trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

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McKenna confirmed his involvement in both upcoming Avengers films. He is writing ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ and helped out on ‘Doomsday,’ working with Marvel executives Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito and with the Russo brothers, whom he first met while working on the sitcom ‘Community’. He is also working alongside his writing partner Erik Sommers and Stephen McFeely, the writer behind ‘Infinity War’, ‘Endgame’, and the Captain America films.

McKenna credited McFeely with the foundational concept for ‘Doomsday’. Michael Waldron, known for ‘Loki’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, has also remained involved with the film. The credited writing team on the movie includes Waldron, McFeely, McKenna, and Sommers.

Fans didn’t take long to react. One reply under the post suggested that if the emotional moments actually land, the movie could hit really hard. That kind of cautious optimism makes sense, since Marvel’s recent output has left audiences wanting proof that character work can still match the spectacle.

Reassemble the team & relive the experience as Avengers Endgame: Encore returns to theaters September 25.

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The phrasing has also fueled speculation. Comments from someone with direct knowledge of the script have already sent fans guessing about which characters or storylines might be responsible for the emotional gut punch. Marvel hasn’t confirmed anything, so for now it remains a guessing game.

The bigger picture is that ‘Doomsday’ is only the first half of the payoff. ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ follows in 2027, and McKenna is writing that one, which suggests the emotional threads may stretch across both films. Until December arrives, teases like this one will be the closest fans get to the truth.