Marvel is bringing back an actor from the Fox X-Men era for Avengers: Doomsday who I never thought we’d see again, but I’m excited to see them back. Marvel decided to share a gift with its viewers today, sharing a live stream that slowly announces the cast for 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. The internet is growing frustrated over the extensive length between each announcement, but some notable names are returning for this seemingly epic MCU film.

The stream started, unsurprisingly, with names like Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, and Sebastian Stan. Marvel also confirmed that most of the Thunderbolts* members and The Fantastic Four will also appear in Doomsday. However, one announced name really did take me by surprise – an X-Men character making his return after 22 years.

Nightcrawler Is Officially In Avengers: Doomsday

During the live stream, the studio announced that Cumming would make his MCU debut as Nightcrawler, a character he previously played 22 years ago in the sequel to X2. Kurt Wagner, a.k.a. Nightcrawler, is a German mutant who can teleport, has super agility, and adhesive hands and legs. His physical mutations give him a pointed tail, blue fur, yellow eyes, and sharp teeth.

Cumming only played the teleporting mutant in one film, but it was a memorable performance, especially the opening scene where he took out Secret Service agents in the White House. The actor disliked the amount of time spent in makeup, and his role was essentially cut by Brett Ratner in X-Men: The Last Stand; it didn’t stop him playing the voice of Nightcrawler in a game based on the movie, which ended with his Nightcrawler leaving the X-Men because he disliked the violence.

Nightcrawler returned in X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix. However, this was a younger version of the character, portrayed by Kodi Smit-McPhee. The character recently returned in X-Men ’97 and Avengers: Doomsday will be his first appearance in the MCU.

The Original Live-Action Kurt Wagner Is Reuniting With Professor X & Magneto

Cumming is one of several X-Men cast members returning as their respective characters. Many were surprised to see Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen reprising their roles as Charles Xavier and Magneto. Stewart recently portrayed the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but this could be the same version from the Fox universe. McKellen hasn’t played Magneto since X-Men: Days of Future Past, marking 11 years since his last Marvel appearance.

Other returning X-Men cast members include Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, who made his MCU debut in a post-credit scene in The Marvels. Channing Tatum is also returning as Gambit after recently debuting as the character in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine. It’s unclear how prominent their roles are, but it looks like the Fox universe and MCU will collide in Avengers: Doomsday.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  MCU Spider-Man 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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