Marvel Studios is officially blurring timelines, honoring legacies, and redefining what a crossover can be. Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious chapters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as the film brings the Fox-era X-Men fully into the MCU spotlight. This time as key players in an all-out war against Doctor Doom.
As 2026 unfolds, anticipation continues to build for the long-awaited return of the Avengers to center stage. Newly revealed footage from Avengers: Doomsday delivers a powerful dose of nostalgia and evolution, beginning with the first official look at Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart returning to their legendary roles as Magneto and Professor X. Their return not only bridges generations of Marvel storytelling but validates years of fan anticipation surrounding the MCU’s mutant integration.
The teaser also confirms the return of James Marsden as Cyclops. Wearing a costume far more faithful to his comic book roots, signaling Marvel’s commitment to honoring the source material while reintroducing these characters to a modern cinematic landscape. Joining him are fan-favorite mutants Mystique and Nightcrawler, with Rebecca Romijn and Alan Cumming once again stepping into their iconic roles from the original X-Men films.
Further expanding the mutant roster is Channing Tatum, who will reprise Gambit after making his long-awaited MCU debut in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). His return further highlights Marvel’s larger strategy of weaving previously standalone franchises into a cohesive, high-stakes narrative as the multiverse saga reaches its most critical phase.
Earlier Avengers: Doomsday footage placed the spotlight on Chris Evans’ confirmed return as Steve Rogers. In doing so, it revealed a deeply personal twist — Steve’s life with Peggy Carter includes a son, and his reentry into the MCU marks a generational passing of the shield rather than a simple comeback. The emotional tone continued in a second teaser centered on Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, portraying the God of Thunder in a moment of rare vulnerability as he’s seen praying to Odin with a singular wish to return safely to his daughter, Love.
With the X-Men footage now released, Marvel is preparing to unveil a fourth Avengers: Doomsday trailer later this week, set to debut in theaters ahead of Avatar: Fire and Ash. The timing signals the studio’s confidence in positioning Doomsday as the next true cinematic event.
Although principal photography wrapped in September 2025, additional photography is scheduled for this spring, reflecting the scale and precision required to execute Marvel’s most complex crossover to date. Production momentum won’t slow down for long, as filming for Avengers: Secret Wars is slated to begin this summer, with the Phase 6 epic currently scheduled for a December 17th, 2027 release.
Nonetheless, by uniting Avengers, mutants, and multiversal legacies under one narrative banner, Marvel Studios is crafting a moment that honors the past while reshaping the future of its cinematic universe. For longtime fans and new audiences alike, the countdown has officially begun so get ready!