Robert Downey Jr and Timothée Chalamet are both supporting what they refer to as 'Dunesday'. As enthusiasts prepare for the monumental showdown of 2026's
two blockbuster films: Dune: Part 3 and Avengers: Doomsday on December 16, the leading stars appear to be embracing the competition with good humor. In fact, they have jumped on the bandwagon, dubbing Dune: Part 3 versus Avengers: Doomsday as this year's 'Barbenheimer'. RDJ made a playful remark about the rivalry between the two films while sharing the stage with Timothée in Los Angeles during a special screening of the latter's A24 film Marty Supreme on January 14.
RDJ comments on Avengers: Doomsday vs Dune: Part 3
During a Q&A session, the two stars were questioned about the highly anticipated Dune: Part 3 versus Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr acknowledged the upcoming clash while speaking to the crowd. He stated, "We both have films premiering on December 18, and we thought it would be fun to create a name for it. We’re considering 'Dunesday'." He added, "We’ll find out if we’re still buddies by then," causing laughter throughout the auditorium.
'Barbenheimer' and its impact
Hollywood has already witnessed the collision of Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023, collectively earning nearly $2.5 billion globally, thus giving rise to the 'Barbenheimer' trend. This was succeeded by Wicked and Gladiator II, collectively referred to as 'Glicked' in 2024.
When Marvel revealed the release date for Avengers: Doomsday on the same day as Dune: Part 3, with neither party willing to alter their plans, fans anticipated another significant box office weekend for Hollywood in 2026.
Avengers: Doomsday to reintroduce Marvel's iconic heroes
Avengers: Doomsday has already begun to generate excitement with the timely release of its teasers, which have confirmed the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor, in addition to Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom and other franchises like Black Panther, The Fantastic Four, and the reboot of X-Men.
About Dune: Part 3
Meanwhile, Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 3 serves as the concluding chapter in the grand sci-fi trilogy. It will feature Timothée Chalamet reprising the role of Paul Atreides, alongside Zendaya as Chani, Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, and others.
