Next Barbenheimer? Robert Downey Jr. Hints at ‘Dunesday’ Battle

Robert Downey Jr. and Timothée Chalamet are working to create a new cinematic event called "Dunesday" in 2026, following the incredible success of the 2023 phenomenon known as Barbenheimer.

Downey Jr. will take on the role of the villainous Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, while Chalamet returns as Paul Atreides in the third film of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune series. Both films are scheduled for release on December 18, setting up what could be either a major box office competition or an unusual dual-release occurrence.

The two actors appeared together at a special screening of Chalamet’s film Marty Supreme in Los Angeles, where Downey Jr. hinted at the possibility of a similar box office moment arising from their shared release date.

“We both have films opening on December 18, and we decided to coin it…We’re thinking ‘Dunesday,’” Downey Jr. said. “We’ll see if we’re still friends by then.”

Barbenheimer was a cultural phenomenon that emerged from the simultaneous release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in July 2023. Audiences turned what could have been a box office clash into a memorable event, with many watching both films as a double feature. The films exceeded expectations globally, with Barbie earning over $1.4 billion and Oppenheimer grossing nearly $1 billion worldwide.

Since then, other films have attempted to recreate the magic of Barbenheimer, but none have matched its scale or impact. Last year, the internet tried to replicate the experience with "Glicked," which involved the simultaneous release of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel. While these films performed well at the box office, they did not come close to the record-breaking $244 million opening of Barbenheimer.

In July this year, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Iron Man, will play the antagonist Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. This marks his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seven years after his final appearance in Avengers: Endgame. The film will also feature several returning stars, including Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, and Letitia Wright.

Avengers: Doomsday will also bring back several X-Men stars, such as Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, and Rebecca Romijn. Meanwhile, Dune: Part Three will see Zendaya reprise her role as Chani, with Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, and Anya Taylor-Joy also returning. Jason Momoa, who appeared in the first Dune but not the second, has confirmed his return as Duncan Idaho in Part Three.

Filming for Dune: Part Three has reportedly begun in Budapest, where Zendaya recently arrived for what is described as an "extensive, multi-location, multi-month shoot." According to World of Reel, the production will involve multiple locations and an extended filming period.

Both Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three are set to debut in theaters on December 18, 2026. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking news brand, providing global news, commentary, and analysis for the independently-minded. We have grown a huge, global readership of independently minded individuals, who value our trusted voice and commitment to positive change. Our mission, making change happen, has never been as important as it is today.