A cryptic message from the directors of Avengers: Doomsday has launched Marvel fans into an online detective mission. Following the release of four separate character teasers, directors Joe and Anthony Russo posted a surprising hint on social media. They stated the videos were “not teasers” or “trailers,” but “stories” and “clues” for the upcoming film, telling fans to “pay attention”. This directive has sparked a compelling new theory that hidden codes in the trailers point to specific moments in Avengers: Endgame, suggesting a direct story link between the two major team-up films.
The Hidden Code Theory Explained
The theory centers on a brief visual glitch that appears in each of the four Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailers. Just before the final release date countdown, a string of numbers and letters flashes on screen. Fans analyzing these frames found similar codes in each trailer:
- The Steve Rogers teaser shows: 1e 24ber 02020
- The Thor teaser shows: 1e 17ber 02020
- The X-Men teaser shows: 1e 11ber 02020
- The Wakanda & Fantastic Four teaser shows: 1e 04ber 02020
According to a popular theory shared by fans on platforms like Reddit, these are not random. The “1e” is interpreted as 1 hour, the middle number (24, 17, etc.) represents the minute, and “02020” stands for 20 seconds. When these time codes are applied to Avengers: Endgame, they lead to four distinct and potentially significant scenes.
Connecting the Clues to Endgame’s Story
Applying the decoded times creates a clear link between the new trailers and pivotal Endgame moments.
The code from the Steve Rogers trailer (1:24:20) points to the scene where The Ancient One warns Bruce Banner about the dangers of tampering with time. She states that removing an Infinity Stone from its timeline creates a “branch reality” where “millions will suffer”. This directly ties into the multiversal “incursion” threat expected in Doomsday, where entire universes are collapsing.
The Thor trailer code (1:17:20) leads to a moment during the Avengers’ “Time Heist” in 2012 New York. Loki, disguised as Captain America, says he is “on my way down to coordinate search and rescue” after grabbing the Tesseract. This moment is crucial as it led to Loki’s escape and his own Disney+ series. For Doomsday, this could hint at Loki returning to help “coordinate” a new team to save the multiverse, or it could tease Steve Rogers’ own return to a hero role.
The X-Men teaser code (1:11:20) takes viewers to a quieter scene where Rocket asks Thor, “Are you crying?”. This seemingly minor moment gains new weight. It could foreshadow the emotional toll of the coming battle for Thor. It also connects to a recent Marvel movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, where Deadpool himself asks, “Why is Thor crying?”.
Finally, the Wakanda/Fantastic Four trailer code (1:04:20) aligns with the scene where the Avengers are first planning their time-travel mission. Rocket tells a hesitant Ant-Man, “You want to go to space, puppy? I’ll take you to space”. This could be a general hint about the cosmic scale of Doomsday or suggest that characters like the Wakandans or Fantastic Four will travel off-world.
Why Endgame is the Key
The choice of Avengers: Endgame as the source material for these supposed clues is logical. Avengers: Doomsday is being positioned as a direct sequel to Endgame, with the same directors returning. The plot is expected to deal with the severe consequences of the time travel and reality-altering events that concluded the Infinity Saga.
Marvel Studios is also planning to re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters in September 2026, just months before Doomsday premieres, to build excitement and refresh the story connection for audiences.
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Official Trailer Details and Confirmed Returns
The four teasers that sparked this theory were released weekly in theaters starting in late December 2025. Each one focused on a different group of characters confirmed for the massive cast.
The first, released December 23, confirmed the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, showing him in a domestic setting with Peggy Carter and their child. The second, on December 30, featured Chris Hemsworth’s Thor praying for the strength to protect his daughter, Love. The third, released January 6, brought back the X-Men, including Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto. The fourth and final teaser debuted January 13, highlighting the meeting between Letitia Wright’s Shuri (Black Panther) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm (The Thing) of the Fantastic Four.
The film’s main villain will be Victor von Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., marking his major return to the MCU in a new role. The enormous cast also includes names like Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), and Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards).
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release in theaters on December 18, 2026.
A Fun Theory or a Real Puzzle?
While the time code theory is compelling and has gained traction online, it remains unofficial fan speculation. Some have pointed out potential flaws, such as why all the codes would end at the same second mark (20 seconds) if intentionally placed. The true answer will only be revealed when the film opens.
“What you’ve been watching for the last four weeksโฆ are not teasers. Or trailers. They are stories. They are cluesโฆ Pay attention.” – Directors Joe and Anthony Russo on Instagram.
The Russos’ direct instruction to “pay attention” has validated the fan community’s deep-dive investigation, even if this specific theory isn’t confirmed. It has successfully fueled discussion and built anticipation for Avengers: Doomsday, highlighting the deep narrative connections fans expect to see in the next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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