After 37 films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needed an antidote to "superhero fatigue".
In the past few years, the franchise has experienced a run of lukewarm reviews and sporadic success, and a messy split with an actor who'd held a key role.
After testing potential cures, bosses scoured the MCU's vast source material and summoned villain Doctor Victor von Doom as the focus of its future.
Avengers: Doomsday, where he'll make his full debut, will show whether the superhero universe can still attract more casual cinemagoers alongside devout fans.
But who has enough star power to lift a series that has accumulated a box office total of more than $30 billion (£26bn) worldwide?
