Marvel has unveiled an official watchlist of films fans should watch to prepare for the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday," a list that notably omits the "Iron Man" franchise.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo had previously stated that "Doomsday" would be a fresh start, "starting over from scratch" and not leaning on past installments. However, this claim appeared dubious with confirmed appearances from characters like Captain America and Doctor Strange, alongside X-Men icons Professor X and Magneto. Marvel's release of a curated watchlist on Disney Plus now provides a guide for viewers.
The list includes films such as "X2," "Captain America: The First Avenger," "The Avengers," "Avengers: Infinity War," "Avengers: Endgame," "Loki," "Shang-Chi," "Spider-Man: No Way Home," "Captain Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," "Captain America: Brave New World," "Deadpool & Wolverine," "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."
The inclusion of films featuring characters confirmed for "Doomsday" makes sense, aligning with the necessity of understanding their individual journeys within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For instance, Captain America's potential return, as hinted by the notes, would require knowledge of his MCU arc.
However, the absence of certain films has drawn attention. While movies featuring characters like Loki and Shang-Chi are present, "X-Men: Days of Future Past" is missing, despite its relevance to the complex timeline and alternate universe elements often explored within the X-Men narrative.
A more conspicuous omission is the "Iron Man" series. With Robert Downey Jr. reportedly returning as Doctor Doom, the main antagonist of "Doomsday," the exclusion of his foundational "Iron Man" films might be a deliberate move by Marvel to preemptively address potential questions regarding Doctor Doom's visual similarities to Tony Stark, or to avoid discussing the character's past altogether.
"Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday" is scheduled for release on December 18. The provided watchlist offers a roadmap for both new and returning Marvel fans to get up to speed before the film's theatrical debut.