Avengers: Doomsday trailer sparks ‘Dunesday’ chatter about a Dune 3 box office clash
The first Avengers: Doomsday trailer has kicked the Marvel‑versus‑Dune row back into gear, just as both films circle the same December release date.
Right, get ready for possibly the most pointless internet civil war of the year: Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three are both gunning for a 18 December 2026 release, and fans are already sharpening their knives. If you thought the 'Barbenheimer' thing from a few years ago was bonkers, this isn’t shaping up to be nearly as lovey-dovey.
Trailer Wars and “Dunesday”
Marvel lobbed the first big grenade by dropping its full Doomsday trailer this week, with a poster screaming '12.18.26 is Doomsday.' Decent little flex — not subtle at all, knowing it’s the exact date Denis Villeneuve’s Dune threequel rolls in. Marvel’s head boss Kevin Feige isn’t budging on that date either.
Hollywood did try to keep things civil. Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet (you know, Iron Man and Paul Atreides himself) did a bit of peacekeeping back in January — at some snooty Q&A, they dubbed release day 'Dunesday.' Downey even quipped, 'We’ll see if we’re still friends by then.' Frankly, it’s not working. Online, fans have ditched the olive branch and are now acting like it’s Marvel vs. Dune: Thunderbolt vs. Sandworm edition.
The new series began on 5 December and already runs to 19 episodes.
Definitely Not Another Barbenheimer
Social media has clearly picked a favourite, and it’s not Doomsday. The internet’s gone full spice addict — the best zinger so far: 'It’s called “Dunesday” because I’m going to watch Dune and then call it a day.' That sort of pettiness is everywhere. Both films dropped their trailers within days, whipping up even more tribal nonsense. In fairness, it’s not like last time — Barbenheimer had a pink-fluffy comedy up against an R-rated history epic. This is just… two heavy-hitting, serious-faced sci-fi blockbusters cannibalising the same audience.
There’s also some juicy business bickering. Warner Bros. locked up an IMAX exclusivity deal for Dune, so Disney hit back with its own 'Infinity Vision' premium tier for Doomsday. Then Marvel threw tickets on sale the same day the trailer landed, as if to say, 'Oi, you’re booking Avengers first, yeah?' It’s proper handbags at dawn for studio execs.
- Release date for both: 18 December 2026
- Dune: Part Three directed by Denis Villeneuve
- Marvel staying put on their slot, per Kevin Feige
- Warner Bros. lands IMAX exclusive for Dune, Disney launches own premium format
- Tickets for Doomsday already on sale
For all the shouty nonsense online, there’s one note of sanity going round: at least one box office analyst (Jeff Bock, Exhibitor Relations) pointed out the holidays are a massive window, so there’s probably room for both films to survive. And let’s face it, franchise diehards will find a way to see both, even if they mutter about it all the way to the popcorn queue.