The Russos drop another cryptic Avengers Doomsday set photo: “Look Hard”

The directing duo of Anthony and Joe Russo has once again deployed a cryptic tease from the set of their upcoming blockbuster, Avengers: Doomsday. Echoing the style of their infamous 2018 photo during the production of Avengers: Endgame, the new monochrome image, accompanied by the simple, yet provocative, command to “look hard,” has immediately sent Marvel fans into a frenzy of speculation. While the title of the movie is already confirmed, the objects strategically placed in the background of the shot suggest the film’s core conflict.

What do the letters mean?

The photo features one of the directors seated in a chair, facing away from the camera, surrounded by what appear to be set pieces and lighting rigs carefully arranged. Internet sleuths, particularly those on Reddit, were quick to analyze the shapes formed by these objects. The most prominent theory suggests a clear arrangement spelling out “A,” “V,” and “X,” leading to the widely embraced interpretation: AvX, or Avengers vs. X-Men.

This fan-driven deduction perfectly aligns with a strong possibility already known about the film’s development. Marvel has officially confirmed the inclusion of several fan-favorite X-Men characters from the prior Fox-era films as part of the massive Avengers: Doomsday cast. The list includes iconic actors reprising their roles: Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique. This gathering of mutant legends already suggested a major crossover event, and the cryptic “AvX” tease now heavily implies a direct, competitive conflict between the two super-teams.

While Avengers: Doomsday is set to continue its story in 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, fans are now speculating that the first film’s monumental plot may involve the two teams clashing due to a misunderstanding, perhaps manipulated by the primary antagonist, Doctor Doom. Previous comments from Nightcrawler actor Alan Cumming, who hinted at a potential fight sequence involving Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic, further solidify the notion that these heroes will indeed face off before potentially uniting.

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