Avengers: Doomsday Will Officially Fix the MCU’s Biggest Problem

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The upcoming Marvel film, Doomsday, could be a fresh start for the cinematic universe. Scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, it will feature the return of popular actors like Robert Downey Jr. and the directing team of Joe and Anthony Russo. Early signs suggest this movie will help the MCU regain its former strength after a period of challenges.

Marvel Studios usually keeps details about its upcoming movies secret, but some information about Avengers: Doomsday has leaked. A key member of the film’s creative team recently shared his experiences working on set, and his comments suggest a significant change in direction for the movie – a change that could be positive for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Avengers: Doomsday Is Shooting on Real Sets Instead of Blue Screens

Gavin Bouquet, the production designer for the new Avengers movie, recently shared that the film was primarily shot using actual, full-scale sets instead of relying heavily on blue screens. He discussed this and other details about his work on the movie during an appearance on the “Young Indy Chronicles Podcast.”

According to Bouquet, filming for Doomsday started with scenes shot on a full-scale replica of the Watchtower, the New Avengers’ headquarters. He amusingly points out that the actors were amazed by the realistic set, with some saying it was the first time they’d been on a Marvel set where everything was built practically. Even actors like Sebastian Stan, who have been working with Marvel for over ten years, were surprised by this approach to filming.

The post-credits scene for Thunderbolts wasn’t created specifically for that film. It was actually filmed during production of Avengers: Doomsday by directors Joe and Anthony Russo. This suggests how Doomsday will generally be filmed. Production designer Peter Bouquet explains that the team prioritized using practical sets over digital backgrounds, marking a significant change in how Marvel movies are made for Doomsday.

Before us, the typical approach seemed to be relying heavily on green screens. However, whenever we could, we preferred to use practical sets – either ones we built ourselves or painted backdrops – and film everything directly in camera. The Russos believe filmmaking is about creating illusions, and they always prefer to achieve effects physically whenever possible.

Film critic Bouquet notes that Avengers: Doomsday largely relies on practical sets and backings – either real locations displayed on monitors for the actors or traditionally painted backgrounds. This is a significant departure from Marvel’s recent filmmaking approach. Many modern MCU films are shot almost entirely using blue screens, a technique that has faced criticism from viewers. Bouquet suggests this movie represents an unexpected return to more traditional methods for superhero films.

The MCU Overuses Digital Backgrounds

Recent statements from Bouquet are likely to thrill fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as movie lovers in general. While filming with blue screens – common for films set in fantastical worlds – is convenient, it often comes with drawbacks. Actors perform in front of a blue screen, and visual effects artists later add the background digitally. The quality varies; some films create believable environments, while others appear artificial and confined.

I’ve noticed a real problem with how movies are looking lately, and the newest Ant-Man film really highlighted it for me. Almost the entire movie takes place in a digital world – the Quantum Realm – and it feels…off. Everything looks so fake and weightless, like it doesn’t really exist. It’s hard to connect with the actors when the world around them clearly isn’t real. Honestly, by the end, I just felt numb, and all I could remember was a confusing jumble of special effects. It really pulled me out of the story.

Over time, Marvel movies and shows have increasingly depended on using blue screens for backgrounds. Recent behind-the-scenes looks show just how much of these productions are filmed primarily against blue or green screens. For example, some scenes in one of Marvel’s recent popular films clearly show the digital effects haven’t quite blended in, leading to criticism online. The problem is that many of these scenes could have been filmed more practically, using real, full-sized sets instead of relying so heavily on digital backgrounds.

I think this technology is great when used thoughtfully, but it’s easy for filmmakers to rely on it too much. Honestly, I always feel like a real set and real backgrounds are better. They just feel more authentic, help actors get into character quicker, and give the camera crew more freedom when they’re framing shots. To me, blue screens should really only be for adding to existing sets or creating things that couldn’t be done any other way with visual effects.

Doomsday Can Revive a Lost Moviemaking Art Form

This is a positive development for the entertainment industry. Despite some recent challenges, Marvel remains a major force in Hollywood, and often leads the way for other film and TV franchises. If Marvel chooses to use more practical sets and fewer digital effects, it could encourage others to do the same, potentially bringing back the craft of traditional set design and construction.

We rarely consider the effort behind creating movie and TV sets, but a whole industry is devoted to bringing a director’s vision to life. These skilled artists actually succeed when their work goes unnoticed, seamlessly blending into the scene. While digital effects are useful, they can’t replicate the warmth and character of a physical set built by hand.

High-quality sets significantly improve a film or show. As director Bouquet explains, building sets at full scale gives filmmakers more freedom with camera angles. Unlike shooting with a green screen, which limits how the camera can move, a real set lets directors position the camera anywhere to best capture a scene’s feeling. This also helps actors feel more immersed in their roles, as they can interact with a physical environment instead of having to imagine one.

I’ve always appreciated the artistry of special effects, and blue screens definitely have a role to play in modern filmmaking. But honestly, I get so much more invested in a movie when it feels real. It’s incredibly exciting to see a creative team choose practical effects and build actual sets instead of relying too heavily on CGI. It just feels more… genuine. I really hope this signals a shift for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and maybe even for Hollywood as a whole – a move toward prioritizing artistry and that tangible, lived-in feel over just rushing things out.

Avengers: Doomsday might mark a shift in how Marvel makes movies. Instead of relying heavily on visual effects, the upcoming film will feature impressive, practical sets, grounding the fantastical story in a more realistic world when it’s released next year.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.

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2025-12-06 20:15