Avengers: Doomsdayhas commenced filming in the UK, and new images emerging from the production offer the first looks at some ofthe film’s star-studded cast. In addition to several MCU mainstays, like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, and Paul Rudd, the upcomingAvengersinstallment shockingly revealed that manyX-Menactors would be joining the MCU proper, 25 years after their franchise began.
Among these are James Marsden as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Ian McKellen as Erik Lensherr/Magneto, Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier/Professor X, Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy/Beast, Rebecca Romijn as Raven Darkholme/Mystique, and Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler. Channing Tatum will also appear as Gambit, though he did not originate this role in the originalX-Mentrilogy like the other actors did.
Avengers: Doomsday’s official start date for production was June 02, 2025. Since then,Cumming revealed he would arrive on set to film last week. Between his comments and newly emerging set photos, it appears theX-Mencast are all assembling to complete their scenes.
User@BuiltFromSmashshared an image of Marsden alongsideDoctor Strangestar Benedict Wong. In the image, Marsden is dressed casually instead of in a superhero costume, and he is not wearing Cyclops' signature red lens sunglasses (or his visor) to contain his powers. The poster captioned the image: “James Marsden and Benedict Wong spotted together on what appears to be the set of Avengers: Doomsday!! Is Wong trying to recruit Cyclops into the Avengers to fight Doom?”
Click here to see the allegedAvengers: Doomsdayset photo of James Marsden and Benedict Wong.
On another thread, the user shared an additional photo that reunited Marsden withhis onscreen foe, McKellen’s Magneto. He is wearing the same casual clothes as in the other image; however, he does appear to be wearing sunglasses similar to the Oakleys he wore in the originalX-Menfilms when not in a battle setting. McKellen is dressed in an outfit more similar to his older Magneto costumes, with a black two-piece outfit and a purple cape. Notably, he is not wearing the villain’s iconic helmet.
Alongside this second photo, @BuiltFrom Smash wrote: “First Look of James Marsden and Ian McKellen in suit has leaked, on what appears to be the set of [Avengers: Doomsday]!! Will [Cyclops] and [Magneto] team up?The latest rumors say that the [Brotherhood Of Mutants] and the [X-Men] will unite to face the [Avengers]!
Click here to see the set photo of James Marsden’s Cyclops and Ian McKellen’s Magneto.
What The Avengers: Doomsday Set Photos Reveal About The X-Men’s Role In The Film
Though theAvengers: Doomsdayset images don’t reveal much regarding the film, they do set up a few key elements regarding the integration of theX-Mencharacters into the MCU. For starters, the first photo indicates that Scott will potentially be sharing a scene with Wong, who is likely still the current Sorcerer Supreme of Earth-616. Interestingly, Wong’s actor was not on the originalAvengers: Doomsdaycast list, hinting there may be more surprise casting news to come. As noted in the photo’s caption, Wong could be attempting to recruit the X-Men as part of their team against Doctor Doom.
Alternatively, this could set up an altercation between the Avengers and the X-Men. The second photo shows that Magneto will also be present for this sequence, and given that Marsden is in the same clothing, this could all be part of a scene where the two teams either side together or become adversaries. Previously,Magneto and the X-Men forged a temporary alliance inX2, so the possibility has precedence in the franchise.
My Wildest Avengers: Doomsday Theory Suggests One Of The Best X-Men Movies Will Be Required Viewing
One of my biggest and craziest Avengers: Doomsday movies involves one of the best X-Men movies and even more mutants than we already know about.
Aside from potential plot details based on who is interacting, the costuming may hint at how Scott enters the story. He is in his civilian clothes and glasses, so it’s likely he and perhaps some of the other X-Men were pulled into conflict unexpectedly. Magneto, on the other hand, is dressed in his usual more flamboyant style, though the absence of his helmet is unusual. As it is used to deflect Charles' psychic abilities, this may be a further hint that Magneto is allied with the X-Men and has no current need for the helmet.
Our Take On The Avengers: Doomsday Set Photos
Few explicit details regarding the plot of Avengers: Doomsday and how the X-Men factor in are known.However, the film kicks off the two-part conclusion of the Multiverse Saga, which will be concluded withAvengers: Secret Wars. Both films will share the same villain, Doctor Doom, as he threatens the fabric of reality across multiple universes. It is also likely that they will see Doctor Doom create the MCU’s iteration of Battleworld, stitched together from destroyed universes, where characters are locked in a constant state of war. Many speculate this may be the fate of the originalX-Menfilm universe.
Regardless of how they enter the story, bringing back the originalX-Mencast forAvengers: Doomsdayis a fun way to utilize the film’s multiversal storyline. Featuring the older franchise as an alternate timeline allows for stars like Marsden and McKellen to reprise their roles in a way that serves the plot, similar to how Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire were utilized inSpider-Man: No Way Home.
