How the Russos Picked ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Fights: With Toys

Marvel fans have spent years daydreaming about dream match-ups, from X-Men squaring off with Avengers to heroes meeting for the first time. Now that a huge crossover is nearly here, the burning question is how the filmmakers decide who gets to fight whom. The answer behind the ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ fight sequences turns out to be wonderfully simple.

The Russo brothers, who directed ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’, are back at the helm for the film, which opens in theaters on December 18. The story pits the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts and X-Men against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Four short teasers have been released since December 2025, building anticipation for the biggest team-up in years.

With that many heroes on screen, the match-ups were always going to be the main attraction. In a recent interview with Fandango, Joe Russo was asked how they chose the fights, and he said that Fandango found the process half the fun, adding that “we’re like kids with toys.” He explained that when the team starts thinking about those sequences, they literally lay out toys and play with the possibilities.

From there, Russo said, the team asks a handful of simple questions: who is most compelling to see fight whom, what would be the most fun to watch, and what do the fans want to see. He described the crew as a lot of comic book nerds working on the movie together, excited to bring these moments to life for audiences.

That fan-first attitude runs through the whole project. The sit-down with Fandango correspondent Chris Tait was part of the first-ever double-feature episode of the outlet’s ‘Big Ticket’ series, covering both ‘Avengers: Endgame – Encore’ and ‘Doomsday’. The Russos even said they were fans watching X-Men movies at midnight screenings, which helps explain the care they’re putting into the mutants’ return.

Fans have already caught a taste. During the same interview, Anthony Russo called Channing Tatum’s Gambit a real treat, and the brothers pointed to the Gambit and Shang-Chi fight glimpsed in the trailer. It’s a clash between characters who have never shared a scene, which is exactly the kind of pairing that toy-box brainstorming produces.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

Of course, the heroes will need more than clever match-ups to survive. Joe Russo described Doom as a formidable foe whose ancient magic and genius make him very difficult to beat. He studies his enemies and plans meticulously, and he only steps onto a battlefield with a tactical or power advantage.

Russo also told Fandango that Doom is far more Machiavellian and manipulative than Thanos, whom he called a brute force of nature. He described the movie itself as intense and different from any other Marvel film, adding that it will be very surprising.

Rumors about specific fights have been swirling for months, with insiders floating possible clashes, though none of it has been confirmed. One report claims Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler will trade blows with a member of the Fantastic Four, but that remains unverified.

The Russos have also said they started production without a finished script, treating the screenplay as a living thing that evolved during shooting. They prioritized rehearsal and improvisation, with Joe saying the best moments often happen when the full cast comes together shortly before filming. The directors drew on their comedy background, and Anthony said the film runs roughly 2.5 hours, shorter than ‘Endgame’.

To connect the dots, ‘Avengers: Endgame – Encore’ is in theaters now, with four new post-credits scenes that recontextualize ‘Endgame’ ahead of ‘Doomsday’. Joe likened the audience’s anticipation to kids on Christmas, which fits since the film lands a week before the holiday. ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ follows on December 17, 2027.

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