At a Glance
- Joe and Anthony Russo insist the four Avengers: Doomsday promos are “not teasers”
- Each clip spotlights a single hero: Steve Rogers, Thor, X-Men, Wakandans/Fantastic Four
- Directors call the footage “stories” and “clues” and urge fans to “pay attention”
- Why it matters: The cryptic campaign keeps the film trending 11 months before release
The directors of Avengers: Doomsday have declared war on the word “teaser.” In an Instagram post accompanying the fourth promo drop, Joe and Anthony Russo wrote: “What you’ve been watching for the last 4 weeks… are not teasers. Or trailers. They are stories. They are clues… Pay attention. #DoomsdayHasBegun.”
The statement forces a semantic showdown. By textbook definition, the four clips are teasers-brief videos designed to stoke anticipation. Each runs under a minute, reveals no plot, and ends with a title card. Yet the Russos reject the label.
Why They’re Not Trailers
The brothers do accept that the clips are not trailers. Traditional trailers deliver a sweeping synopsis and ensemble shots. These four promos stay laser-focused:
- Steve Rogers cradles a child and vows renewed heroism
- Thor battles for his daughter, not Asgard
- X-Men face a conflict they never expected
- Wakandans receive inter-dimensional aid from the Fantastic Four
None of the footage appears likely to appear in the finished film, another break from trailer convention.
Stories Inside the Clips
The Russos’ claim that the videos are “stories” holds up under scrutiny. Each piece delivers a miniature narrative arc:
| Character | Story Beat |
|---|---|
| Steve Rogers | Fatherhood pulls him back into service |
| Thor | Fatherhood redefines his purpose |
| X-Men | A foreign threat invades their sanctuary |
| Wakanda | Extra-dimensional allies answer a distress call |
These arcs, though sparse, give viewers emotional stakes without revealing plot mechanics.
Clues or Marketing?
The directors’ insistence that the footage contains “clues” raises questions. No on-screen text or dialogue points to a larger puzzle. The selection of characters, however, may be the clue.
Are these heroes targets for Dr. Doom? Are we glimpsing the film from the villain’s surveillance perspective? Could these moments exist outside the movie yet prove crucial to understanding it? The Russos offer no answers, only the imperative to “pay attention.”
Leaks and the Doomsday Clock
Fans have indeed paid attention-sometimes too well. Each promo surfaced online hours before the official drop, courtesy of leakers. Whether the leaks were orchestrated remains unclear.
A Doomsday Clock website launched alongside the fourth story, counting down to the film’s release. The clock mirrors the countdown tag that ends every promo. Whether the timer itself is the elusive clue is yet another unanswered question.
The Payoff
One thing is certain: the Russos’ deliberate obfuscation is generating conversation. The film dominates social feeds nearly a year ahead of its debut, a marketer’s dream. If the final product rewards this level of scrutiny, the early mind-games will have been worth it.
Key Takeaways
- The Russos reject the term “teaser” while accepting “story” and “clue” for the four character spots
- Each clip centers on a single hero and likely exists outside the film’s main narrative
- Leaks have undercut surprise, but a mysterious countdown clock keeps fans engaged
- The campaign’s cryptic nature ensures Avengers: Doomsday stays in the spotlight 11 months out
