James Marsden Reacts to X-Men's Return in 'Avengers: Doomsday'

During an interview with Empire, magazine, James Marsden spoke about Avengers: Doomsday and his expectation that it will mark the return of his X-Men team for another adventure.

“It’s an absolute collision of three gigantic universes, coming together in the face of a very serious existential threat. You’re seeing time on screen. You’re seeing characters from 27 years ago, with new costumes, new intentions, and new intensities”, the actor said. 

Marsden also previously commented on the character’s look and how this “new version” of Cyclops is the one fans have wanted to see for a long time. 

Everything you need to know about Avengers: Doomsday

The villain of the story in the fifth Avengers movie will be Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, the actor who played the legendary Iron Man in the MCU’s Infinity Saga and now takes on the role of antagonist. Avengers: Doomsday will be directed by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo (Endgame), with a screenplay by Michael Waldron (Loki) and Stephen McFreely (Endgame).

Marvel has already confirmed the main cast members for the new movie, in one of the biggest MCU star gatherings ever assembled. Returning from previous Avengers films are: Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Anthony Mackie as Captain America, Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther.

Among characters introduced after Avengers: Endgame — in Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU — we have Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Danny Ramirez as Falcon, the entire new Fantastic Four (Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Thing), nearly the entire cast of Thunderbolts* (Florence Pugh as Yelena, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hanah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Lewis Pullman as Bob, the Sentry), and Tenoch Huerta as Namor.

In a livestream announcing the cast, there was also the movie’s biggest surprise so far: the return of the classic X-Men from the old Fox films, including Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and, introduced in Deadpool & Wolverine, Channing Tatum as Gambit.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters December 18, 2026.