Marvel's Mightiest Mutants are back. Yep, after nearly two decades off our screens for some of them (and a decade for others), the majority of the original cast members of the legendary Fox X-Men movies are reuniting in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Part of the concluding chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Multiverse Saga, the film will see a multitude of superhero teams attempt to stop the nefarious Victor von Doom, who is looking to destroy the multiverse itself. You can rest assured that the X-Men will take issue with that.
We officially know the larger-than-life powerhouses on Doctor Doom's team and we know that the heroes will be split across two teams of Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. With that in mind, let's get to know the line-up a little bit better.
Professor Charles Xavier
The final performance from the late, great Sir Patrick Stewart sees him portray one of his greatest ever roles one more time. The legendary actor first played Charles Xavier all the way back in 2000's X-Men and continued to play the role right through to 2017's Logan. He then made his official MCU debut as an alternate version of Professor X in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And now, another alternate iteration of Charles will lead the X-Men into battle one more time.
Stewart has delivered countless incredible performances throughout his career and it really says a lot that his portrayal of Charles still stands out among the packed, powerful catalog of roles. We look forward to seeing him deliver as the character one final time, and seeing a legend doing what he did best: Move us with his performances.
Magneto
Sir Ian McKellen is back as the X-Men's greatest enemy-turned-most powerful ally. Yes, Magneto will make his MCU debut as the legendary actor brings an alternate version of the Master of Magnetism to screens - marking his return to the role for the first time in 12 years. And considering that this is the first time that he will be sporting the character's iconic red suit and helmet, fans are incredibly excited to see it happen.
Magneto has made multiple appearances in the Avengers: Doomsday marketing campaign thus far, appearing in a moving scene with Charles in one of those earlier character teasers and then twice in the more recent "A Special Look" teaser - in which we got to see him looking traumatized at a bright event before him. It's safe to say that he will be involved in some major scenes throughout the movie.
Cyclops
James Marsden reprises his role as Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops, and with a bit of luck the character will have more to do than he did in those original movies. Although Cyclops is the leader of the X-Men and Marsden delivered a great performance as the character across the first three X-Men movies, fans heavily criticized the portrayal of the character and how underutilized he was in those scripts - with his treatment in X-Men: The Last Stand being the last straw for many.
Now, we get to see Cyclops as he was meant to be seen: In his comic-accurate suit and serving as the leader of the X-Men. The teasers have shown him ripping off his iconic yellow visor to unleash a massive optic blast on the area around him. He also seemingly leads the Mighty Mutants into battle against the Avengers when they show up at the X-Mansion.
Mystique
The one member of the X-Men even less trustworthy than Magneto, Mystique is a force to be reckoned with wherever she goes, and the Avengers: Doomsday trailer has made it clear that the MCU is no different. Rebecca Romijn reprises her role from the films and fans are hoping that we'll really get to see Mystique stand on her own two feet and shine as a result of that - as she was rendered little more than a henchwoman to Magneto in the X-Men movies.
We know heading into Avengers: Doomsday that one of the movie's biggest set pieces will involve a battle between the X-Men and the Avengers. We'll see Mystique herself go toe-to-toe with Black Widow herself, Yelena Belova, even taking on her form for a moment to knock her off her game - something that Mystique does extremely well.
Nightcrawler
Alan Cumming returns to the role of Nightcrawler for the first time in decades when Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters. Very little is known about what kind of role the blue mutant otherwise known as Kurt Wagner but Cumming did - at one point in time - accidentally confirm that he would be taking on Pedro Pascal's Mister Fantastic / Reed Richards, so it sounds like he too will be involved in the X-Men vs. Avengers battle.
Cumming is a natonal treasue and his performance as Nightcrawlr remains one of his most fascinating and heartwarming. We can't wait to see him back on our screens in the upcoming MCU movie.
Gambit
Channing Tatum made a heck of an impression as Gambit in Deadpool and Wolverine. With his strong Cajun accent, he became the subject of countless memes across the internet while Marvel fans lost their minds at the prospect of seeing Gambit and his comic-accurate suit in the MCU. Finally, after years of almost playing the character in the X-Men franchise, Tatum got the chance to bring him to life.
He'll get the chance to do it all over again in Avengers: Doomsday when he joins this new-but-familiar line-up of the X-Men to do battle with the Avengers. The very first teaser trailer showcased him and his purple, charged playing cards taking on Shang-Chi and his legendary Ten Rings. You can rest assured that this will be a moment where we all pay attention from the off.
Beast
Avengers: Doomsday won't mark Kelsey Grammer's first appearace as Beast in the MCU, as the beloved X-Men character made a surprise cameo appearance in 2023's The Marvels, showing up in a post-credits scene that shocked everyone. He'll now get the chance to play Hank McCoy for an extended period of time in the upcoming juggernaut.
Although Grammer did portray Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: Days of Future Past, it has always felt like the character was never fully explored in these movies Perhaps we'll get the chance to see that before the slate is wiped clean for the new actors to take over ahead of 2028's X-Men reboot.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.
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