[#item_full_content] [[{“value”:”Okay, so this drama queen is a MAJOR Marvel nerd. And I don’t just mean the MCU, I mean all Marvel. The comics, the games, the movies, the shows, the MUSIC (shoutout Michael Giacchino), everything. And this diva has a few questions for Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige himself.
For those who may not know, I’m actually a D.C.-based marketing student with a concentration in film/TV marketing and production, so I know at least a teensy bit about the thought process behind movie-making and movie marketing! And with that, I find myself a bit intrigued by Marvel Studios’ choices in promoting their biggest film release since Avengers: Endgame.
For anyone who may not know, a few months ago, Marvel released 4 separate teaser trailers to promote the December release. These teasers acted as the very first cinematic introduction to the film, the main conflict, and, most notably, the characters we can expect to see.
The teasers were released in this order:
Teaser #1: Released December 23rd, 2025, and centered on the return of Steve Rogers.
Teaser #2: Released December 30th, 2025, and centered on the return of Thor.
Teaser #3: Released January 6th, 2026, and entered on the X-Men’s return.
Teaser #4: Released January 13th, 2026. Centered on the return of Shuri as Black Panther, Namor, and the Fantastic Four.
The Teaser Problem
What bothers me is that Steve and Thor get an entire teaser trailer to themselves, whereas the Fantastic Four, who are the primary rivals to Doom, share one with Shuri and Namor.
In TV and film marketing, teaser trailers have a greater impact than you might assume, especially for a film on the same scale as Doomsday. Movies like these are unique because, in many ways, they market themselves. How many of us were excited about Doomsday before the teaser came out? Before the director’s chair livestream happened? Before we even knew the movie was called Doomsday? This preconceived hype allows Marvel to take certain liberties that other movies wouldn’t be allowed to take.
A teaser trailer’s job is simple: set the tone and show us who matters to the story. With this in mind, it’s strange that our very first real introduction to the film, from the perspective of regular viewers, not professional journalists with early access, centers on Steve Rogers. This is after Endgame told us to move on. After The Falcon and The Winter Soldier confirmed that we’re entering a new era, one with Sam Wilson as Captain America. And after an entire movie dedicated to Doctor Doom’s primary foes, the Fantastic Four.
It communicates that Cap (see, even I’m still calling him Cap) will have a significant, if not primary, role in the film, followed by Thor, followed by the X-Men, and lastly the Fantastic Four and the Wakandans/Namor. To me, it doesn’t seem right that the 2 characters whose stories have been told are still being presented as anchor characters.
The Elephant in the Room (his name is Steve Rogers)
I don’t entirely understand why Steve Rogers appears to be so central to the plot of this movie. Yes, I know he is a founding Avenger. Yes, I know he is the FIRST Avenger. But from my perspective, after watching (and I’m not kidding) every single TV show and movie Marvel has released, I thought Steve’s story was told.
We all know how Avengers: Endgame ends; Steve Rogers chooses a quiet life with Peggy Carter over his timeline and friends. This was a choice that caused some contention within the entire MCU viewer base. It didn’t feel right that he left his friends and found family, including his best friend that he had recently sacrificed another close friendship to protect (no, I’m not over Civil War). But ultimately, it was a decision we all had to settle with, because it was canon. And Steve giving his shield to Sam signified a passing of the torch, a nonverbal announcement to all MCU nerds that Steve’s story was coming to a close.
This is why I am so puzzled that he’s back AGAIN in the Doomsday trailer. It feels like the Marvel execs want the fans to move on, but they’re not able to do so themselves. It’s hard to get excited about new projects, new stories, and new characters when they’re constantly sidelined for the same 3 guys. As much as I love Steve, Tony, and Thor, and as much as I would love to see them in Doomsday, they don’t need to be the focal point of every Avengers movie. It signals that Marvel still doesn’t trust their newer characters, the Fantastic Four, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, or the Thunderbolts, to carry the weight of the franchise on their own.
An Open Letter to Marvel Studios (and Kevin, of course)
PLEASE start platforming and appreciating your new characters instead of reverting to what’s familiar and comfortable. Because if you don’t stick to your choices and push through the growing pains, how can you expect your fans to do the same? Some fans have learned that if they push back hard enough, Marvel will cave. And Marvel keeps proving them right.
And the worst part is, it’s not like Marvel CAN’T do it. Moon Knight, Daredevil: Born Again, F4, Thunderbolts*, their new projects work when they commit. Marvel will greenlight a fifth Thor movie before giving Shang-Chi a second one. Make that make sense. Marvel has had a rough few years, we all know. But the answer to a creative rut isn’t just nostalgia, it’s trust. Trust your new characters and stories. And trust that audiences are ready to move on.
All This To Say
Of course, I’m going to see Doomsday, duh! My boyfriend Sebastian Stan is in it
I could be 100% wrong about the teaser argument, I’m just going off of what I know and learned throughout my time in this field. And I, like most of us, haven’t seen an official full-length trailer, so I don’t know for sure. But I will say this: if Steve ends up taking a back seat or supportive role in this film, I’ll be happy as a Marvel fan, but disappointed as a marketing student, because it means they used his popularity to get people engaged with the film instead of fully trusting the quality of their work. Maybe I’m reading too much into a teaser, you let me know! This is what happens when none of your friends will watch Marvel with you 3.
Loving you always,
Carrington C.
we’re already besties in my eyes, might as well make it official!
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