Marvel Studios has set the internet ablaze with its latest Avengers: Doomsday casting announcements, and the biggest shocker of them all? The return of Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto.
As Marvel Studios continues to reveal the actors who will lead the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, two huge names have jumped out from the crowd in the form of Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen.
Fans have long speculated about the X-Men’s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with these legendary actors reprising their iconic roles, the crossover event is shaping up to be a true multiversal spectacle.
This casting news follows the earlier reveal of Kelsey Grammer’s return as Beast, further cementing the presence of the mutants in the upcoming film. The excitement doesn’t stop there—Marvel has also confirmed the return of Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and even Channing Tatum’s long-rumored Gambit. The pieces are falling into place for an epic clash between Earth-616’s Avengers and a classic lineup of X-Men, possibly setting up the long-awaited Avengers vs. X-Men storyline.
For Stewart, this marks his second MCU appearance after playing a Charles Xavier variant in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while McKellen’s return is a thrilling surprise. The duo’s legendary chemistry has defined the X-Men franchise for decades, and their reunion on screen is sure to be one of the most anticipated moments in Avengers: Doomsday.
Rumors suggest that the film will explore an Incursion event, where universes collide, allowing Marvel Studios to merge the X-Men’s Fox-era characters with the main MCU timeline before an eventual reboot. With the Russo Brothers at the helm, expectations are sky-high for what promises to be one of the most ambitious films in Marvel history.
Adding to the excitement, McKellen—who is also returning as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum—has made it clear he has no plans of slowing down at 85, stating, “I’ll carry on until the knees give way or the memory gives way or the mind goes.” As for Stewart, he previously hinted at plans with McKellen, and now, it’s clear those plans have come to fruition.
With each new casting reveal, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be the most massive MCU crossover yet, bringing together the best of both Marvel universes. Could this be the film that officially merges the X-Men with the Avengers? One thing is certain—Marvel fans are in for an unforgettable ride.