Marvel Studios has officially announced the cast for Avengers: Doomsday, and fans were thrilled to see some unexpected yet familiar names. In the star-studded ensemble, one of the most exciting surprises is the return of Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. The legendary duo, renowned for their roles in the X-Men franchise, will be reprising their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
McKellen and Stewart originally portrayed Magneto and Professor X, respectively, in the 2000’s X-Men and its sequels. The fact that they’re returning for Avengers: Doomsday indicates a tighter link between the MCU and the X-Men universe, with many wondering how precisely the two franchises will be integrated. With other X-Men alumni also joining the cast, the film is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious Marvel projects yet.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart lead the ‘X-Men’ crossover
The inclusion of McKellen and Stewart in Avengers: Doomsday marks a major turning point for Marvel’s ongoing Multiverse Saga. Now that the MCU has started to expand into other dimensions and timelines, their return signifies that the X-Men may well be integrated completely into the Avengers’ story now. This is after Stewart appeared as a variant Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Other X-Men franchise veterans joining the film are Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and James Marsden as Cyclops. Crossover potential is enormous, with legendary MCU icons returning, such as Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi. With Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, the stakes in Avengers: Doomsday have never been higher.
The future of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
The film was going to be called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty at first; however, it has seen its share of transformations, from the new villain to the altered storyline. With the return of McKellen and Stewart, Marvel is set for an action-filled fight that could redefine the superhero genre.
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The fans will not be waiting long to see these legendary actors star in Avengers: Doomsday. It is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, and promises a time that will be imprinted in the memories of fans.