Yelena Belova Emerges as Doomsday Trailer’s Standout After Just 3 MCU Appearances
Updated
Updated · TheWrap · Jul 22
Yelena Belova Emerges as Doomsday Trailer’s Standout After Just 3 MCU Appearances
3 articles · Updated · TheWrap · Jul 22
Summary
Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is framed as the only character in the new “Avengers: Doomsday” trailer generating clear excitement, despite joining the MCU only three times so far.
“Thunderbolts*” is cited as the reason: it gave Marvel a recent, emotionally grounded anchor figure at a time when many post-“Endgame” successors still feel underdeveloped or absent.
The trailer’s reliance on returning veterans such as Chris Evans, plus multiverse players like Shang-Chi, the X-Men and Fantastic Four, underscores criticism that “Doomsday” looks more like a crossover assemblage than a character-led saga.
Yelena stands out because she bridges old and new Marvel eras—Natasha Romanoff’s sister, but not an “Endgame” holdover—and because Pugh’s performance gives the character weight, humor and a clearer long-term arc.
With “Avengers: Doomsday” set for Dec. 18, the report argues Marvel’s next phase may depend less on legacy cameos than on building around Yelena as a durable franchise lead.