Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe film yet. While it had to be famously shifted from The Kang Dynasty, it’s meant to bring together a score of characters from past MCU films to face off against new threat Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.).
While it’s obvious that so many past MCU actors will be appearing, there’s also the surprise appearance of many of the actors from Fox’s X-Men films to look forward to. That hints there’s going to be a multiversal angle in the storyline to link the two universes together and probably as well as the Fantastic Four.
Notably absent from the previously-announced cast list is Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. The actor returned to the iconic role of the X-Man in Deadpool & Wolverine to wow fans once again with how well he fit the legendary character. Meanwhile, his co-star, Ryan Reynolds, is now expected to appear as Deadpool in the upcoming Avengers movie, leading to talk about Jackman making an appearance as well.
But there’s a certain other X-Men character connected to Wolverine who may be in the film and she’s speaking about the chances!
Dafne Keen responds to Avengers: Doomsday return rumors
Dafne Keen debuted in the role of Laura, a.k.a. X-23, in 2017’s acclaimed Logan. While a bit different from her comic book origins as Wolverine’s clone, Keen fit the part of the young girl who also possesses a healing factor and sharp claws.
Keen also returned in the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, taking part in the huge fight scene with Blade (Wesley Snipes), Elektra (Jennifer Garner) and Gambit (Channing Tatum). Like Wolverine, it was the character's MCU debut. But the question is: Could she be among the returnees in Avengers: Doomsday? Speaking to Screen Rant, Keen had this to say about her involvement in Doomsday.
“I actually have no idea, like, legitimately, I swear to you... I literally, right now, I have no idea. I've not heard.”
There are a few ways to take her statement. The obvious idea is that Keen is telling the truth and X-23 isn’t in the film. With so many characters already taking part, adding her in might be too much and simply not enough room for even a cameo appearance.
On the other hand, Keen has admitted to having lied about being in Deadpool & Wolverine, as Marvel movies are notorious for secrecy and surprises. So maybe Laura is in Doomsday and keeping it quiet. The more fanciful idea is that Keen may have filmed an appearance in the movie with no idea if it’s in Doomsday or another MCU project. That comes after Alan Cumming talked of filming his turn as Nightcrawler in practically “a bubble” with no idea of the overarching plot.
It seems natural to take Keen’s words with a grain of salt, as just maybe she is slicing it up again as X-23 in the near-future, which makes Doomsday an even bigger deal.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.