Great news for Avengers fans as Robert Downey Jr returns to the blockbuster franchise in 2026 in Avengers: Doomsday. However, it will also clash with Golden Globe winner Timothee Chalamet’s Dune: Part Three, both releasing on December 18. With these heavyweights set to lock horns at the box office, the actors are set for a ‘Dunesday’ celebration.
This term was born as the stars, Robert Downey Jr and Timothee Chalamet, appeared on stage together in LA for a special screening of Kylie Jenner’s partner’s Marty Supreme. During the discussion, Avengers’ Iron Man told the audience, “We both have films opening on December 18, and we decided to coin it … We’re thinking Dunesday.’” However, he swiftly quipped, “We’ll see if we’re still friends by then,” sending the room into a wave of laughter and applause.
Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 6 tentpole, Avengers: Doomsday, will feature Robert Downey Jr returning as Doctor Doom, as he faces off against a powerful medley of Avengers, Wakandas, Fantastic Four, and the original X-Men. It also features Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Hemsworth, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Hugh Jackman.
Dune: Part Three
The third and final part of the Dune franchise, the December 18 release, concludes Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s saga. Continues 12 years after Dune: Part Two, it follows Timothee Chalamet, who plays Paul Atreides, and his reign, visions, with political intrigue and personal torment.
Blockbuster double releases
A similar event in Hollywood history remained a moment in time when Margot Robbie’s Barbie clashed with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Not only did it create a social media phenomenon, ‘Barbenheimer’, but it also gave rise to a wave of moment marketing brands that latched onto. Also starring Robert Downey Jr, Oppenheimer went on to become an Academy Award winner, while Barbie stole the heart of the Internet.
Hollywood also saw a vast range of double releases, which captured the zeitgeist, which included ‘Glicked’ – born from Wicked and Gladiator II.