As the countdown to Avengers: Doomsday continues, there are a few notable X-Men missing from the grand MCU epic!
The trailers for the biggest MCU movie yet, Avengers: Doomsday, are being released. The tale is set to bring together not just the MCU heroes but those of other properties, notably the 2000s X-Men movies. That indicates the film will utilize the classic multiverse formula.
Confirmed for the Doomsday crossover are Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), James Marsden (Cyclops), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast).
While the X-Men First Class actors who played the younger versions of these roles are absent (so far), it does make sense not to have them with the original cast members. Yet there are a few notable names among the X-Men characters missing. These are the top 5 who we hope can still be in Avengers: Doomsday, as it wouldn’t be X-Men without them.
Storm (Halle Berry)
As one of the biggest names in the original X-Men cast, Halle Berry’s absence as Storm is felt in Doomsday. While the accent was touch-and-go, Berry was still excellent, bringing the weather-controlling mutant leader to life. Only Berry could make the terrible “toad struck by lightning” line work, and looked spectacular with the wind whipping around her. Her appearance as an older Storm in Days of Future Past proved how great she was.
No Storm makes little sense given how key she is to the X-Men mythos. The fact that Berry barely appears to have aged in 25 years means saving a lot on de-aging CGI and can still pull off the part well. Adding in Storm is a needed move for the X-Men to be taken seriously in the MCU.
Jean Grey (Famke Janssen)
Yes, the X-Men movies failed at making the Dark Phoenix Saga work (twice), yet Famke Janssen was great as Jean Grey. It makes little sense to have Cyclops in Doomsday and not his love, as Jean could fit well for this storyline. If anything, having her gain the Phoenix powers would be a huge boost to the heroes fighting Doom and other threats and be a highlight of the film.
Jean is a key figure in all the X-Men lore, and it would be good to see the return of the love triangle between her, Cyclops and Wolverine, so as much as Janssen seems to have gotten over the role, fans would gladly see Phoenix rise from the ashes.
Rogue (Anna Paquin)
The casting of Anna Paquin as Rogue was unusual at the time. The Oscar winner didn’t quite match the brash Rogue of the comics. As time went on, Paquin grew into the part and became a more outgoing actress who could imbue the role better. There’s also how Rogue was the emotional core of the entire trilogy, from a wide-eyed innocent to coping with her terrible powers keeping her from touching others.
Paquin could show a different Rogue, one who’s tougher, more confident and flaunting herself a bit more. It’s again confusing that with so many original X-Men actors coming on board Doomsday, one of the first ones we met on screen won’t be a part of the reunion.
Iceman (Shawn Ashmore)
After a brief appearance in the first X-Men film, Bobby Drake became a critical part of the sequels. Iceman’s powers nicely evolved from just ice blasts to the classics of an ice slide and a full icy body, used to great effect in fight scenes. There was also his relationships with Rogue and Kitty Pryde that offered more emotion to the films.
Shawn Ashmore was quite good in the part and can fit as an older Bobby with better control of his powers. A wonderful touch would be Bobby a full-on experienced X-Man, mentoring others as a full circle arc for the character. Iceman in Doomsday is too cool to ignore.
William Stryker (Brian Cox)
While played by multiple actors in different films and time periods, Brian Cox made William Stryker one of the best villains of the saga. Blaming Xavier for his own mutant son's monstrous actions, the renegade colonel was also the one behind Wolverine's adamantium skeleton as he led an attempt to wipe out mutants.
Stryker's ultimate fate was ambiguous and could potentially have him return, still on his anti-mutant crusade. Cox has become more famous since while still showing a wicked side that could be a good reminder how human hate is the X-Men's ultimate enemy, a force even Doom would be hard-pressed to match.
Avengers: Doomsday premieres December 18, 2026.