Avengers: Doomsday TV spot's "Right, Cap?" joke draws mixed fan reaction

Centre · 1Marvel Studios released a new look at Avengers: Doomsday as a TV spot during Game 1 of the MLB World Series, and a joke in it about Captain America became the main talking point. 1 Centre · 2In the scene, Paul Rudd's Scott Lang says "Right, Cap?" to Chris Evans' Steve Rogers, then notices Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, the current Captain America, and backtracks; Wyatt Russell's John Walker adds that he was also Cap for a minute. 1 2 Centre · 1Gulf News reported that the Walker line was not in the original trailer cut and that an extended seven-second version of the gag was posted on 25 October. 2

Centre · 1/Film reported that many fans disliked the joke, seeing it as undercutting Sam Wilson's legitimacy; it quoted X users and critic Griffin Schiller, one of whom said it was racially motivated. 1 Centre · 1Other fans defended it, saying it reflects Scott Lang's fanboy attitude to Steve Rogers or that both men can be called Cap; /Film noted the scene shows signs of trailer editing, so the full joke in the film may differ. 1 Centre · 1/Film gave context: Mackie has faced racist backlash over Sam succeeding Steve, and fans had already read the return of Steve Rogers for Doomsday as Marvel backing away from Sam as Captain America; it also noted Steve has not worn the costume or wielded the shield in the marketing. 1

Centre · 1Gulf News treated the gag as "the best joke of the campaign so far", and explained that Rogers gave the shield to Sam at the end of Endgame while Walker briefly held it in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. 2 Centre · 1Gulf News said the new footage centres on Thor and Steve Rogers, who can both lift Mjolnir, with Thor appearing to lead the Avengers against Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. 2 Centre · 1Gulf News also covered rumours: fans suspect Doom is a Tony Stark variant; David Harbour, after an earlier "You… are Tony Stark" remark to Variety, now says his real line is a countdown from five to one; and a British Stunt Register entry unofficially suggests Sandra Hüller may play a Latverian witch, which Marvel has not confirmed. 2

Centre · 2The confirmed cast listed by Gulf News includes the Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts, Shuri, M'Baku, Shang-Chi, Namor, Loki, several Fox X-Men actors and Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter; the film opens in theatres on 18 December 2026. 2 1