David Harbour has seen just a glimpse of Avengers: Doomsday, and it was enough to make him a true believer. The Stranger Things star, who plays Red Guardian in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently got a sneak peek at the upcoming blockbuster—and his reaction is exactly what Marvel fans want to hear.
Speaking exclusively to Collider at the Gotham Television Awards, Harbour revealed that he had been shooting the film at Pinewood Studios in London just hours earlier. But it was during an ADR session that he saw roughly six minutes of finished footage, and the experience left him stunned.
“I was silenced in any of my critique,” Harbour admitted. “I thought, ‘Wow, these Russo brothers really understand the secret sauce of these films.’” He described the movie as a “broad emotional mythology” that is “vivid and vast,” adding, “It is as good as anything I’ve seen, so I’m very impressed with it.”
Harbour’s praise aligns with what directors Joe and Anthony Russo have been teasing. Joe Russo recently called Doomsday a “complete reinvention” for Marvel, promising audiences won’t see what’s coming. That’s a bold claim for a studio looking to win back fans after a few rocky years at the box office.
The Russos are no strangers to high-stakes Marvel storytelling. They previously helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame—the latter two becoming cultural phenomena. With Doomsday, they’re assembling a cast that reads like a who’s who of superhero cinema: Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans in an undisclosed role, plus Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, and Channing Tatum, among many others.
For fans eager to revisit the saga, Avengers: Endgame is returning to theaters in September 2026 as a lead-in to Doomsday. And with Channing Tatum’s Gambit making his MCU debut, it’s no surprise that his film White House Down is surging on Hulu as fans gear up for the crossover event.
Written by Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron, Avengers: Doomsday is keeping plot details under wraps, but Harbour’s early reaction suggests the wait will be worth it. The film hits theaters on December 18, 2026.
