The Fantastic Four’s Ballpark Scene From the World Series Promo Is Reportedly Part of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Itself
Movie promos often blur the line between a commercial and a deleted scene. A studio might shoot something special for a partner, splice in a few cameos and release it as a standalone teaser that never appears in the final cut. That’s why fans paused when Marvel’s World Series spot started circulating.
The question was simple: is this baseball scene actually in the movie? The preview featured the Fantastic Four at a retro ballpark, real MLB players watching from the dugout and a short comedic exchange. It looked like a one-off, but the answer turns out to be more interesting than that.
The Fantastic Four’s baseball scenes featured in the MLB ad will appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ according to MLB’s own coverage. The promo contains a brand-new scene from the film set at Ebbets Field, with the Fantastic Four throwing the ceremonial first pitch. A few familiar faces in the dugout were cut into the scene for the special World Series version, but the footage itself comes from the movie.
That distinction matters. The baseball players, including Freddie Freeman, Randy Arozarena, Jacob Misiorowski, Bryce Harper and Junior Caminero, were inserted for the promo and presumably won’t be in the theatrical cut. The rest of the setting, with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards in a Brooklyn cap and a blue uniform with the number 4, belongs to the film.
The images circulating show the 2 sides of the scene. In one, Reed smiles and raises an arm to the crowd. In the other, a batter in a Brooklyn cap and white-and-blue uniform holds a bat at the plate with a catcher crouched behind, consistent with reports that Reed’s pitch goes to Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm.
New teaser for ‘AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY’. In theaters on December 18. https://t.co/gr47mK5Af7
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 24, 2026
The scene takes place on Earth-828, the retro-futuristic world introduced in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps.’ MLB speculated that this might be a universe where the Dodgers and Giants never left New York, which would make Freeman a Brooklyn Dodger. Other coverage noted that the Dodgers ‘World Champs’ banner and New York Giants players in the background reinforce the idea.
That’s a fun piece of worldbuilding, and it suggests the film is willing to spend time in the Fantastic Four’s home universe. It also gives a sense of the story’s emotional starting point. Before Doom arrives, the family is celebrating.
The promo isn’t the first time Marvel has referenced Major League Baseball. In ‘Captain America: The First Avenger,’ Steve Rogers wakes up to a Brooklyn Dodgers game on the radio, which MLB’s writers traced to a May 1941 game between the Phillies and the Dodgers. That detail adds a layer of history to the new scene, especially since Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers is returning in ‘Doomsday.’
It’s a small coincidence, but it fits the tone. The film seems to be using nostalgia as a way to connect different eras of the franchise.
The promo ends with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom arriving in the sky above the field. In the promo, Harper notices and tells the group they have to go right away, in hopes of rallying MLB’s best to help the Avengers. That part is almost certainly specific to the promo, but the image of Doom looming over a ballpark likely echoes the film.
It also reinforces the contrast that the marketing has leaned into. A joyful, sunlit scene is interrupted by a world-ending threat, which is exactly the tone the film promises. Doom’s arrival is being framed as an unprecedented danger to the MCU.
Disney Entertainment Studios Head of Marketing Martha Morrison told MLB.com that there’s no bigger stage in baseball than the World Series and that the studio was thrilled to share the special piece with fans. The partnership gave Marvel a way to reach an enormous live audience while showcasing new footage. It’s a clever way to promote a movie with so many characters.
Reaction has been mixed. Some viewers felt the preview didn’t offer enough new footage, but others said the baseball scene was a charming change of pace after a series of serious trailers. Knowing the scene is part of the actual movie may reassure those who worried it was just an ad.
The Fantastic Four are expected to be central to ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ and the ballpark moment gives them a warm introduction. It also shows that the film isn’t only about spectacle. There’s room for personality and humor alongside the multiverse crisis.
The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and opens on December 18, when all the questions will be answered. Until then, fans will keep studying every frame.
What do you think of the Fantastic Four's baseball scene being part of 'Avengers: Doomsday'?
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