Director Joe Russo has angered Marvel fans by declaring that re-watching 2019’s Avengers: Endgame is "required viewing" to understand the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set to be released in theatres on December 18.
Speaking ahead of the theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame Encore, which promises a handful of additional footage and a sneak peek at Doomsday, Russo added that a "natural progression" connects the two titles. However, frustrated moviegoers are venting out their anger. "Requiring audiences to watch a 7-year-old film is Marvel admitting they can no longer build independent entry points for casual viewers," noted one netizen. "The homework model is a catalog engagement driver for Disney Plus, but it caps the theatrical ceiling for anyone who stopped paying close attention years ago."
Others suspect the mandate points to creative corner-cutting. "That to me says they are doing something stupid with Avengers: Doomsday, and this re-release is some excuse to explain some sort of nonsense," another reaction read. A third user noted, "Saying you have to rewatch it means they are desperately trying to shoehorn in a character, because Disney/Marvel were too afraid to recast Kang! But saying that, it really wasn't going anywhere AFTER Endgame as it was... so pass!"
Avengers: Doomsday, starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Wyatt Russell, Channing Tatum and others, is produced by Marvel Studios and AGBO.
