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The massive amount of pressure bearing down on Avengers: Doomsday is enough to make even the Hulk wobble at the knees. After half a decade of middling films and TV shows, it rests on Doomsday’s shoulders to bring the disparate threads of the Multiverse Saga together into something that measures up to the heights of the franchise’s past. If it manages to convince audiences that sitting through the likes of Captain America: Brave New World and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was worth it, then Doomsday has done its job.
While the jury is still out on whether it can purge the memory of MODOK and the Leader from fans' minds, the good news is that the inaugural full trailer for the first half of the Multiverse Saga’s epic conclusion promises that Doomsday will at least make up for another of Marvel’s less well-received recent entries. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor Odinson has always been a fan favorite, but his last cinematic appearance unfortunately wore away much of that good will. The Doomsday trailer, though, seems to indicate that a redemption for the Avenging Asgardian is at hand.
Thor Is Finally Being Treated Right After the Mistakes of Thor: Love and Thunder
Like many Multiverse Saga projects, the idea of Thor: Love and Thunder seemed like a great one on paper. Bringing director Taika Waititi back to helm another comedic space adventure for the hero appeared to be an easy win for Marvel after the success of Thor: Ragnarök. Unfortunately, most critics and fans alike agreed that the 2022 four-quel was a big step-down from its predecessor in many ways, not least in the depiction of Thor himself.
While ostensibly similar in tone to Ragnarök, Love and Thunder has been accused of dumbing down Thor's character too much, to the extent that it harmed his reputation and arguably even turned him into a parody of himself. While goofier elements had been introduced to his personality throughout Ragnarök, Infinity War, and Endgame, the core of the character had been protected and honored. But many felt Love and Thunder was too quick to throw that integrity out of the window in exchange for another cheap gag.
This is why Thor’s treatment in the Doomsday trailer is such a breath of fresh air. Gone is the so-called "Meathead Thor" from Love and Thunder and in his place is Thor Odinson as he always used to be. The eloquent and impassioned speech Thor gives to his fellow heroes in the trailer reminds fans of something that was all too easy to forget after his last turn on the big screen: Thor is a hardened warrior with over 1500 years of accumulated wisdom and experience under his belt. Not the Avengers' class clown.
Avengers: Doomsday’s Trailer Hints Thor Is the New Leader of the Avengers
What is particularly exciting about Thor's depiction in the Doomsday trailer is that it hints he may even turn out to be the Avengers' new leader, something that would certainly wash away the stain of Love and Thunder from his legacy. Exactly who could replace Iron Man and Captain America as the team's top dog is a question that’s as old as the Multiverse Saga itself, so it’s surprising that Doomsday is almost here and fans still aren’t entirely sure of the answer. Due to the more scattered nature of this era of the MCU, it’s been hard to pinpoint who could have the clout to call the shots for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but the chief contender may have just reared their head (and hammer).
Thor’s prominence in the Doomsday trailer does suggest that the God of Thunder himself will be leading the charge against Doctor Doom. The narrative of the trailer is certainly shaped around Thor’s initial conflict with Doom, causing him to return to Earth and do his best to inspire the assembled heroes to help him take on this latest, greatest threat to the Multiverse. On the other hand, this role is somewhat reminiscent of Bruce Banner’s function in Infinity War, so it is feasible that it will follow the same template. Thor could have a prominent part in the first act of Doomsday before focus shifts elsewhere.
That said, keeping Thor as the fulcrum of the story would make the most sense, especially considering that Doomsday is a project by the Russo brothers and screenwriter Stephen McFeely, all of whom worked on Infinity War and Endgame. As the trio naturally have less personal connection to the Multiverse Saga’s heroes and more investment in those inherited from the Infinity Saga, it’s easy to imagine the filmmakers deciding that centering on Thor made the most narrative and dramatic sense for them.
Of course, Chris Evans is also back as Steve Rogers, as the trailer's climactic moment celebrates. The superhero formerly known as Captain America is even being framed as if he could be the secret weapon the Avengers need to defeat Doom. Still, this doesn't necessarily mean that Thor will simply be swept aside once Steve appears. Just because you are the biggest gun around, that doesn't automatically mean you're the main character, as Thor himself has found out in past MCU movies. What's more, as the super-soldier is no longer an active member of the team, he may well cede control of the group to his former teammate and allow Thor to continue on as the Avengers' leader.
Doomsday is an Avengers movie, and one helmed by the Russo brothers, so it is bound to be an ensemble piece that juggles its runtime among its frankly ludicrous number of main players. That said, the odds are looking good that Doomsday will belatedly right one of the most offensive wrongs of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga and devote enough time to bringing Thor back to his best. If it is hinting that in its first full trailer, then Doomsday may well be worthy of living up to the lofty standards of prior Avengers films.
