LAS VEGAS – Kevin Feige is a showman. The Marvel Studios chairman knows how to use his stars to make news about his movies an event. At the end of Disney’s CinemaCon presentation, the last studio presentation of the week, he dropped a bomb. After first introducing the Russo Brothers to tout their highly anticipated blockbuster “Avengers: Doomsday,” none other than Robert Downey, Jr. strides into The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace to the delight of the world’s theater owners and assembled press.
But, wait, there was more.
After saying he couldn’t imagine reuniting with the Russos and Marvel after such a “glorious run,” Downey, Jr. admitted he wanted to give away 30,000 spoilers. He confers with the Russos and Fiege to bring out the “centerpiece, the kitchen island” of Marvel, the “first Avenger,” Chris Evans. The co-stars played a little bit where they were still adversarial – a Russo pretended to break them up – but they were there for a larger purpose. To introduce, as Downey, Jr. called it the “Trailer of Doom.” A trailer that might not release publicly for weeks or even months.
The trailer opens on a tattered sign for “Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters” on the floor. Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) sees a fire, a destructive energy outside the school’s windows. A close-up on Doctor Doom in his full armor follows, and then a montage of Earth’s most powerful heroes (well, multiple Earths’ heroes) pitted against each other.
As Thor narrates with a deadly warning that he’s seen great heroes die “facing enemies and threats that scared me far less than this one,” we see Gambit (Channing Tatum) fight Shang-Chi (Simu Liu). Mystique (Rebecca Romjin) morphs into Yelena (Florence Pugh) as mirror images of the Black Widow fight each other. Thor descends from the heavens, ablaze in lightning, as he throws Stormbreaker at Doom, who stops it with his hand, without even flinching.
There are shots of the Wakandans meeting the Fantastic Four. Professor X consoles a weakened Magneto (Ian McKellen). Namor (Tenoch Huerta) flies through the sky. Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) hugs his daughter Cassandra (Kathryn Newton). Cyclops (James Marsden) unleashes his optic blast. Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) expands her force field. The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) cries as he hugs someone (perhaps Invisible Woman). Wakandans are fighting each other as M’Baku (Winston Duke) stands at his throne. Individual shots of Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Captain America (Anthony Mackie).
The trailer ends with Thor in shock, proclaiming, “It’s not possible.” Mjolnir flies out of his hands, and the camera pans to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). The former Captain America easily holds it because he is worthy enough.
Before Fiege took the stage, Andrew Cripps, head of theatrical distribution, introduced a new theatrical product from Walt Disney Studios, Infinity Vision. A release from Disney later on described Invinity Vision as a “new certification for premium large format (PLF) theaters.” It will certify auditoriums that meet rigorous technical standards, “including a focus on: premium audio formats for fully immersive sound, the largest screens for maximum scale, and laser projection for superior brightness and clarity.”
What this means for the consumer is unclear. Is this a marketing play for Disney and exhibitors to charge more for these theaters with IMAX screens locked up for “Dune Part Three”? How different will the 75 domestic and 300 global exhibitor PLFs actually be from standard big screen theaters? And is Disney in danger of angering moviegoers if it’s just a means to increase ticket prices for specific titles? Speculate amongst yourselves.
“Avengers: Doomsday” opens nationwide on Dec. 18
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