The Marvel Cinematic Universe fandom is preparing for the upcoming release of Avengers: Doomsday. The biggest franchise in the world always ensures that its releases feel larger-than-life but, whenever an Avengers movie is on the horizon, they feel so much bigger. And when that one arrives in theaters this December, you can rest assured that it will be feeling as big as possible.
Naturally, the film features a star-studded cast from across the Marvel multiverse, with regulars such as Chris Evans, Florence Pugh, Chris Hemsworth, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, and Robert Downey Jr. (albeit in a new role) all returning. They will also cross paths with the stars from the original X-Men movies, as the likes of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, Kelsey Grammer, and Rebecca Romijn all reprise their roles too. And that's just some of the stars we know will appear, as there will certainly be more surprises along the way.
One up and coming Marvel star, however, has confirmed that he won't be appearing in the crossover movie, and it's honestly not too surprising.
Christopher Abbott says that he's not in Avengers: Doomsday
Christopher Abbott is among the most recent additions to the MCU, but don't be expecting him to make his debut in Avengers: Doomsday. The star, who will play the X-Men's Professor Charles Xavier in the franchise's next saga (which is being tentatively referred to as "the Mutants Era") was recently asked about the potential of appearing in that movie during an interview with Rolling Stone. He ruled that out, confirming that it will all star with the X-Men movie, saying:
"I don't even know… What's happening? What do you mean? I'm not in that. I gotta do the X-Men movie first before any of that stuff."
Abbott was recently announced as part of the super talented ensemble cast of Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men reboot. Set for a May 2028 release, the film will be directed by Jake Schreier (who helmed the critically-acclaimed Thunderbolts* in 2025) and features Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm, Asa Germann as Angel, Adam Driver as Mister Sinister. Abbott will portray Professor X while the role of Magneto is still expected to be cast soon. Reports also say that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star Peter Claffey is in talks to play Beast.
It's not too surprising to hear that Abbott has ruled out a Doomsday appearance simply because that would have been unfeasible. The actor's casting was announced during D23 this summer - well after the Avengers movie had completed production. It's also worth noting that Avengers: Doomsday is only Part 1 of the Multiverse Saga's culmination, so an appearance in 2027's sequel Avengers: Secret Wars is still potentially on the table.
The reason that this is even a conversation is down to the fact that Sadie Sink is expected to return to the MCU in Avengers: Secret Wars (after her debut as Jean Grey in this year's Spider-Man: Brand New Day), potentially setting the stage for the introduction of the new X-Men. While Marvel's Mightiest Mutants will take center stage in their own movie, it wouldn't be too surprising if the studio used the launching pad of an Avengers movie to set that stage for their introduction.
The original X-Men stars' returns in Avengers: Doomsday is acting very much as a send-off to what many consider the definitive version of the legendary Marvel mutants. As Marvel Studios is now starting its own X-Men franchise (20th Century Fox produced the original films before Disney bought it), it's fitting that they get to headline at least one more movie before bowing out altogether. The question is: Does this return in Doomsday allow the MCU's X-Men to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars?
Anything is possible in the MCU franchise!
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026. Avengers: Secret Wars arrives one year later on December 17, 2027. X-Men then arrives on May 1, 2028.
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