Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday to release in India on December 17, a day before the US

Indian fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe have received an early Diwali gift this year. Robert Downey Jr and Chris Evans announced that "Avengers: Doomsday" will release in India on December 17. The film's scheduled opening in the US is December 18, which means it will reach India a day earlier.

The announcement was made in a festive video shared by Marvel India. In the same video, the two actors also extended Diwali greetings to viewers.

The film is being presented as one of Marvel's biggest releases. It is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. Heroes from three different universes come together in it and face what the studio describes as an existential threat. The makers have kept the main story under wraps, but going by the size of the cast, it appears set to be a big crossover.

The most talked-about aspect is Downey Jr's return to the Marvel franchise. As Tony Stark, he has been among the most recognisable faces of the series. He will now play Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom. Chris Evans is also returning as Steve Rogers, a role he has played in many Marvel films. Given the two actors' roles in earlier instalments of the franchise, longtime viewers will be watching them closely.

The cast also includes Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Vanessa Kirby, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston and Simu Liu. Several well-known X-Men actors, including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and James Marsden, are also part of the film. The large ensemble also brings in the Fantastic Four.

In India, the film will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. For audiences, it is a rare chance to watch a major Hollywood film before it arrives in the US. It is not merely a change of date. It also shows how important the Indian market is to a franchise whose worldwide appeal rests on characters from several generations and interconnected stories.