It appears Avengers Endgame: Encore will eventually head to Disney+, as the movie has shown up on the streaming platform today. No release date has been revealed, though we'd imagine it will debut—with the improved visuals and extra footage—before Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters.
Disney's priority will be getting people to head to their local multiplexes for this re-release, especially as there's a very good chance that Encore will push Avengers: Endgame beyond Avatar at the worldwide box office.
With $2.799 billion, the 2019 blockbuster was the highest-grossing movie ever for a time. That changed when Avatar was re-released, pushing its total to a massive $2.923 billion. So, Avengers: Endgame only needs around $124 million to break the record. It's doable, especially with excitement for Avengers: Doomsday at an all-time high.
Filmmaker Joe Russo has said Avengers Endgame: Encore is "going to connect the story of the two movies. There’s a natural progression from Endgame into Doomsday, which is also inclusive of all the other stories that have been playing out."
"But I think it’s important to see Endgame again in theaters for two reasons," he continued. "One, you’re going to have a lot of fun, and two, I think it’s required viewing for following the story in Doomsday."
Talking of that movie, Empire Magazine recently caught up with the Russo Brothers, who have confirmed that there are "zero similarities" between Doctor Doom and Iron Man in Avengers: Doomsday.
Despite speculation about Victor Von Doom being a Tony Stark Variant, it seems Marvel Studios is handling this like any other actor who has played two characters in the MCU: Downey's previous role won't be acknowledged, and Doom is a completely new character.
While many talented actors could have portrayed Doom, there's something to be said for getting Downey to play the MCU's biggest villain after starring as its greatest hero.
A new ScreenX promo and comic book variant cover for Avengers: Doomsday have also been revealed. Check them out below.
In Avengers: Doomsday, beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered.
Avengers: Doomsday stars Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Winston Duke, Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, and Robert Downey Jr. Wyatt Russell, Simu Liu, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, Mabel Cadena, Florence Pugh, Danny Ramirez, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman, India Rose Hemsworth, and Wesley Holloway all make their Avengers franchise debuts.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps leads Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn join them, as do X-Men franchise stars Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, with Deadpool & Wolverine star Channing Tatum.
The Russo Brothers direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars from a screenplay by Stephen McFeely, with whom they previously collaborated on the Avengers and Captain America franchises. The movie is produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, and Jonathan Schwartz, with Callum McDougall serving as executive producer.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to be released on December 18.