Marvel Confirms Your List of Avengers: Doomsday Homework, Featuring 15 Movies and TV Series, And a Couple of Deep Cuts
Marvel has released an official watchlist of 15 movies and TV series viewers should watch before Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, available on Disney+. This announcement contradicts earlier statements by directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who claimed in June that the film would “reset” the MCU to “Phase Zero,” requiring no prior viewing and not “leaning on anything from the past.”
The watchlist reveals that Doomsday does build on established MCU continuity. Confirmed cast includes Chris Evans as Captain America and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, alongside newly integrated X-Men characters like Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto.
Marvel is not requiring viewers to watch all 38 existing MCU films or complete Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seasons. Instead, the curated 15-entry list represents essential preparation, acknowledging that while Doomsday functions as a potential entry point, it builds significantly on prior storylines and character arcs. The official watchlist represents a notable shift from Marvel’s “no homework required” messaging toward transparent acknowledgment of the film’s dependence on broader MCU continuity.