Even after Marvel’s recent cast announcement, there are still several other X-Men members we want to see return to the MCU in Phase 6’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. At the end of March, Marvel Studios revealed the first 27 actors confirmed to be returning in Doomsday, including members of the Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men. These heroes will come together to battle Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, but we don’t think Marvel has revealed the complete roster of Avengers: Doomsday’s impressive returning cast.

Perhaps the biggest surprises and most exciting revelations in Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal were delivered when several classic X-Men actors were confirmed to be reprising their roles. This includes Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Rebecca Romijn and Alan Cumming, while they’ll also be joined by ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine’s Channing Tatum. We want even more classic X-Men stars to return, however, as this announcement includes just a few of the incredible stars of 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise.

10

Hugh Jackman as James “Logan” Howlett’s Wolverine

Hugh Jackman Last Appeared As Wolverine In 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

It was surprising that Hugh Jackman’s name didn’t appear in Marvel Studios’ cast announcement for Avengers: Doomsday, as we have already seen him return to the MCU as Wolverine years after his retirement from the role in 2017’s Logan. 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine saw Jackman portray a variant of his original X-Men franchise hero, and since he survived the events of the Phase 5 movie, it would make sense for him to reappear in Doomsday. This is especially true if the universe revisited in Doomsday is in fact Earth-10005, which is where this Wolverine variant ended up.

Hugh Jackman put himself on the map as the iconic clawed mutant in Fox’s X-Men franchise, and he helped Wolverine to become a main character and the focus of a spinoff trilogy, whereas other X-Men members were neglected. Marvel Studios will surely try and avoid these mistakes, but there’s no escaping the fact that Jackman’s Wolverine is one of the most popular and profitable comic book movie characters ever, so it would be a shame to omit him from Avengers: Doomsday. It seems very likely that Hugh Jackman will be confirmed to return in Phase 6 at a later date.

9

Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool

Ryan Reynolds Last Appeared As ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool In 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

Similarly, Ryan Reynolds’ omission from Avengers: Doomsday’s cast announcement was also surprising. Reynolds’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool duology became perhaps the most successful chapter of Fox’s X-Men franchise, which allowed him to become the first character from this franchise to officially crossover into the MCU proper. ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine might have ended with Wade Wilson back on Earth-10005, but there seems to be no doubt that Avengers: Doomsday will bring the Merc with a Mouth back to the MCU, where he’ll interact with other, pre-established heroes.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool was always kept separate from the mainstream stories of the X-Men in Fox’s franchise, so it might be the case that Marvel Studios does the same for ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool in the MCU proper. However, if Avengers: Doomsday is set to mark the destruction of Earth-10005, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool must be featured to be brought officially to the MCU’s Earth-616. This could see Ryan Reynolds’ wise-cracking antihero come face-to-face with some of the MCU’s most iconic heroes, including members of the X-Men who routinely ignored him, opening doors for some very entertaining moments.

8

Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe’s Storm

Halle Berry Last Appeared As Storm In 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past

It was a shame to see only one returning female actor confirmed to be coming back from Fox’s X-Men franchise, especially since some of the most powerful and fan-favorite heroes were omitted. It will be fantastic to see Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique back in action, but we still hope others are confirmed, including Halle Berry, who appeared as Storm in four feature films before being replaced by Alexandra Shipp. Berry’s Storm never quite captured what makes the Marvel Comics hero so formidable, so it would be great to see Marvel Studios rectify these mistakes.

Most notably, Storm is depicted as a goddess-like character in Marvel Comics, but Halle Berry’s Ororo Munroe was seldom more than an obedient soldier to Professor X. Berry deserves the chance to finally depict Storm as one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes. It would be fantastic for her to team up with the likes of Thor and the Sentry in Avengers: Doomsday, raising the power status of the MCU significantly, and perfectly setting the stage for a new version of Storm to debut in the MCU’s upcoming X-Men reboot or beyond.

7

Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake’s Iceman

Shawn Ashmore Last Appeared As Iceman In 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Bobby Drake’s Iceman was a key part of the original X-Men trilogy, but 20th Century Fox only scratched the surface of his true potential. In Marvel Comics, Iceman was a founding member of the X-Men and one of the Marvel Universe’s most notable and powerful mutant characters, which also made him incredible representation for the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a shame that Fox didn’t really explore Bobby Drake beyond being Rogue’s love interest, but Shawn Ashmore’s return in Avengers: Doomsday can give him the justice he deserves.

Shawn Ashmore has continued to appear in superhero media following his last appearance as Iceman in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Most recently, he popped up in The Boys season 1 as Lamplighter, and he could bring some of this seasoned and hardened energy to Iceman in Avengers: Doomsday if he is confirmed to return. Iceman was a core member of the X-Men the last time we saw them on-screen, so it would make sense for him to return alongside his teammates, and it would be confusing if he didn’t.

6

Anna Paquin as Marie D’Ancanto’s Rogue

Anna Paquin Last Appeared As Rogue In 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand

Rogue’s return to the MCU might be one of the most important, as 20th Century Fox introduced a version of the legendary villain-turned-hero that was not at all comic-accurate. Many want to see a more faithful version of Rogue appear in the MCU, and while this might be better left until a new actor ᴀssumes the role in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men storylines, Anna Paquin could also be brought back to get this opportunity. Paquin returned in an alternate cut of X-Men: Days of Future Past as an older and wiser Rogue, but her sequences were ultimately cut.

While Anna Paquin’s version of Rogue wasn’t always a fan-favorite character in Fox’s X-Men franchise, it’s only right that she gets a chance to bid farewell and gets paid homage to in the MCU. Avengers: Doomsday presents the perfect way for this to happen, especially since many members of the classic X-Men team have already been confirmed. Rogue’s return, perhaps alongside Iceman, could also provide some much-needed closure for their relationship, either confirming that they lived happily ever after, or bringing an end to it once and for all.

5

Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff’s Quicksilver

Evan Peters Last Appeared As Quicksilver In 2019’s Dark Phoenix

Evan Peters’ return in WandaVision spurred theories that the MCU and Fox’s X-Men franchise were being combined, but he turned out to be portraying Westview resident Ralph Bohner instead. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is still the official Quicksilver of the MCU, despite his death in Avengers: Age of Ultron, but revisiting Earth-10005 presents the opportunity for Peters’ Quicksilver, Peter Maximoff, to return, too. Evan Peters’ Quicksilver contributed to some of the X-Men franchise’s most memorable moments, so it would be great to see one of these repeated in Avengers: Doomsday.

Following recent speculation, Avengers: Doomsday could even feature the meeting of Evan Peters and Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver variants. This would be an incredible turn of events that could also establish the presence of the Scarlet Witch on Earth-10005. Quicksilver’s death in Avengers: Age of Ultron is still one of the MCU’s most controversial moments, so Marvel may be inclined to somehow reverse it, and bringing one or two versions of Pietro Maximoff back to the MCU is the perfect way to make this happen.

4

Famke Janssen as Jean Grey

Famke Janssen Last Appeared As Jean Grey In 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Recent speculation has suggested that Stranger Things star Sadie Sink could be playing a new version of Jean Grey in the MCU, making her debut in 2026’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. While this could come to fruition, and would be an inspired casting choice for the iconic founding X-Men member, it would also be great for Famke Janssen to reprise her role. Janssen’s version of Jean Grey didn’t really get the chance to show off her full range of abilities, and when she did in X-Men: The Last Stand, it was disappointing, so she deserves redemption.

Famke Janssen’s Jean Grey was killed by Wolverine at the end of 2006’s The Last Stand, but the time-twisting events of X-Men: Days of Future Past allowed her to come back to life. If Avengers: Doomsday picks up after Days of Future Past’s ending, it would make sense for Janssen to return alongside Patrick Stewart and James Marsden. It would be even better if this return completely ignored the boring love-triangle storyline between Jean, Cyclops and Wolverine, and just had all three showing off their incredible gifts and becoming more substantive characters.

3

Aaron Stanford as John Allerdyce’s Pyro

Aaron Stanford Last Appeared As Pyro In 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine

At first glance, Pyro might seem like an unusual choice for Marvel Studios to bring back in Avengers: Doomsday, as he ended his original trilogy career as a villainous member of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants. However, after Aaron Stanford reprised the role in 2024’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine and went toe-to-toe with ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool, Wolverine, Cᴀssandra Nova and even Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm, it would be great to see him come back. Marvel Studios showed Pyro some love in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, and proved just how capable and powerful he can truly be.

Given his recent stint in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine, it’s likely that Aaron Stanford would jump at the chance to suit up as Pyro again, and Avengers: Doomsday is his next best opportunity. Whether this is as a hero or villain is uncertain, though it’s possible all the mutants of Earth-10005 could band together to try and stop an incursion event if Avengers: Doomsday follows the storyline of Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars and its lead-up from 2015. With Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm set to appear in Doomsday, this could also present the opportunity for another Human Torch and Pyro showdown.

2

James McAvoy as Charles Xavier’s Professor X

James McAvoy Last Appeared As Professor X In 2019’s Dark Phoenix

Patrick Stewart’s version of Charles Xavier has already been confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, but that doesn’t mean that James McAvoy’s iteration of Professor X can’t also join his variant in the MCU. When McAvoy took over from Stewart as Professor X in 2011’s X-Men: First Class, there was trepidation about Stewart being replaced. However, McAvoy more than proved his salt, delivering dramatic, emotional, intense, funny and poignant performances as Xavier in four feature films, as well as a funny cameo in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool 2​​​​​​​.

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart previously simultaneously played Charles Xavier’s Professor X in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, so it’s possible this could be repeated in Avengers: Doomsday. With the Russo brothers’ upcoming crossover movie expected to explore many different realities and possible timelines, it would be unusual if more than one variant of any particular character didn’t appear. Since Marvel already has two stellar Professor X actors at its disposal, it would be great to see both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy appear in Doomsday​​​​​​​.

1

Michael Fᴀssbender as Erik Lensherr’s Magneto

Michael Fᴀssbender Last Appeared As Magneto In 2019’s Dark Phoenix

If James McAvoy reprises his role of Professor X, then Michael Fᴀssbender should also be brought back as the revised iteration of Erik Lehnsherr’s Magneto. Ian McKellen has been announced to be returning in Avengers: Doomsday, but it could be argued that Fᴀssbender delivered an even stronger performance as Lehnsherr in his four feature film appearances. Fᴀssbender gave Magneto real emotion and very human traits that stopped him from being a generic antagonist and transformed him into a much more comic-accurate version of the Master of Magnetism.

While James McAvoy seems to have suggested that he may not be open to reprising the role of Professor X, Michael Fᴀssbender has recently revealed that he would be open to returning as Magneto. Some have even voiced the desire for Fᴀssbender to play the MCU’s official version of Magneto, though there have been calls for the Master of Magnetism to finally be played by a Jewish actor, which Fᴀssbender is not. Even so, it would be fantastic to see Fᴀssbender return to this iconic role alongside Ian McKellen in Avengers: Doomsday​​​​​​​, making the Phase 6 movie even more exciting.

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