Marvel has published an official viewing guide for Avengers: Doomsday, giving Australian fans a clear way to revisit the films and series most closely connected to the upcoming crossover. The list is available through Disney Plus.
The guide arrives after directors Joe and Anthony Russo described Doomsday as a fresh starting point that would not depend heavily on earlier Marvel stories. They suggested the Marvel Cinematic Universe could effectively enter a “phase zero” after the film, with little preparation required.
That idea became difficult to reconcile with the confirmed cast. Chris Evans is returning as Captain America, Benedict Cumberbatch is back as Doctor Strange, and X-Men figures Professor X and Magneto will be played by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen respectively.
The official Avengers: Doomsday watchlist
Marvel’s recommended preparation includes 15 titles spanning the X-Men films, the MCU and Disney Plus series:
- X-Men
- X2
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- The Avengers
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Loki
- Shang-Chi
- Spider-Man: No Way Home
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- Captain America: Brave New World
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
- Thunderbolts
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The selection reflects the film’s unusually broad collection of characters and timelines. Loki, Shang-Chi and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are included alongside major Avengers entries, while the first two X-Men films establish part of the mutant history expected to matter.
Evans’ return also makes the earlier Captain America films and the Avengers saga particularly relevant. Understanding Steve Rogers’ journey—including his decision to travel back in time and live with Peggy Carter—provides important context for his appearance in Doomsday.
The surprising film Marvel left out
The most conspicuous omission is X-Men: Days of Future Past. Its story is built around time travel and alternate versions of history, making it an especially logical choice for a film expected to involve shifting timelines and parallel universes.
The Iron Man films are also absent. That may be a deliberate decision: Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel universe as Doctor Doom, the central villain of Doomsday. Leaving out Tony Stark’s films avoids immediately inviting questions about why Doom resembles Stark—or whether the film will address that resemblance at all.
What the list says about Doomsday
Rather than signalling a clean break, the watchlist confirms that Avengers: Doomsday is drawing on a substantial portion of Marvel’s existing continuity. New and returning viewers can use the guide as a practical viewing order before heading to the cinema.
For more screen-focused entertainment coverage, browse the RETROCADE Arcade Blog or catch up through the site’s arcade videos between viewing sessions. Fans building a dedicated home entertainment setup can also compare arcade machines and use the arcade machine buying guide before choosing a cabinet.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on 18 December 2026, leaving Marvel fans plenty of time to work through the recommended titles.
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