Marvel recently released the cast list for their new movie, Avengers Doomsday, in their biggest franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe! And it seems to include some old favorites from the X-Men movies as well, giving these characters and their actors a second chance to end their stories the right way. The movie comes out May 1st of 2026, and some of the cast might surprise you! Those of you who have followed Marvel’s announcements of this movie already knew that Robert Downey Junior would be returning, but here are three actors of the many actors and actresses we were not expecting to see!
#1: Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen, known for playing Erik Lehnsherr, better known as Magneto, in Marvel’s X-Men, was a shock to all to see in the cast list for Avengers Doomsday. Especially with his health in a precarious position. In 2023, McKellen fell off the stage during a performance of “Player Kings” in London, England, winding up with a fractured wrist and chipped vertebra, as well as his cancer diagnosis six or seven years before he revealed that to the public back in 2012. Only time will tell if he’s made the right decision. What do you think? Should Ian McKellen have reprised his role as Magneto? Or should he have said no?
#2: Alan Cumming
I bet you thought you saw the last of Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner, otherwise known as Nightcrawler, with his first and last appearance being in X2: X-Men United, which was released way back in 2003. When Fox was bought out by Disney back between 2017 and 2019, many fans felt the X-Men movies were rushed, and therefore are excited to see their beloved characters come back for a second shot in Avengers Doomsday. Maybe this time, the fans will like the storytelling Disney will bring to this short-lived character. Fans are curious to see where this character will go after a 22-year gap in his story.
#3: Rebecca Romijn
Another actor from the X-Men movies, Rebecca Romijn, will be coming back to play Raven Darkhölme, otherwise known as Mystique. Romijn’s character was first introduced in the first X-Men movie released in 2000 and was last seen in X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006 before being played by Jennifer Lawrence in Fox’s younger timeline in the following four movies from 2011 to 2019. But it is only fitting that Rebecca Romijn returns to act alongside Ian McKellan’s Magneto in Avengers Doomsday, as Romijn’s Mystique had been his most loyal soldier, and many fans believe there was or could have been, something romantic between the two.
Conclusion
The cast list for Avengers Doomsday was a shock to all, these are the three that stood out to fans, especially when these actors were last seen in their roles around 20 years ago! Many theories are going around about different versions from other Earths or wondering if Mystique got her powers back after X-Men: The Last Stand, as the movie never confirmed this. X-Men and MCU fans alike are waiting anxiously for Marvel’s latest addition to their ever-growing universe. It’s hard to tell who is more excited for this film, the MCU fans or the X-Men fans, but one thing is for sure: this movie will go down in history as one of the greatest crossovers.
