James Marsden Says Sir Ian McKellen Inspired Him During AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Return

James Marsden is stepping back into a role that helped define early 2000s superhero cinema, as he returns as Cyclops in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday. More than two decades after first donning the visor, the actor says the experience has been both surprising and rewarding.

“I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to do any of this physical stuff, but it all worked out great,” he told The Post. “I still fit the costume!”

Marsden first portrayed Scott Summers in X-Men, launching a franchise that would go on to become a cornerstone of modern comic book films. He reprised the role in its early sequels, sharing the screen with fellow cast members Famke Janssen, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn, Sir Ian McKellen, and Sir Patrick Stewart.

“[It was] great to see my old friends again, and to reunite with Patrick and Ian and Rebecca,” he said.

Now, with Avengers: Doomsday, some of those earlier Marvel characters are finally being folded into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. For Marsden, one of the highlights of returning wasn’t just revisiting the character, it was reconnecting with familiar faces.

For years, Marsden assumed his time as Cyclops had come to an end, particularly as Hollywood tends to skew younger when it comes to superhero roles.

“For the longest time, I didn’t think it was going to happen,” he continued. “I just thought, ‘okay, well, that’s kind of done…they don’t want the fifty year-old version of me.’”

His concerns about his age were alleviated during filming, when he saw that McKellen, 86, was “pushing his stunt double aside going, ‘let me try!’” Seeing veteran co-star McKellen’s enthusiasm on set made a strong impression on him.

While Marsden stayed quiet on specific plot details, he hinted at the eXcitement fans can expect from the crossover event. “It’s going to be a lot of fun seeing all these worlds come together.”

Unlike Jackman’s Wolverine, and Stewart’s Professor X, many of the original X-Men characters have yet to interact with the MCU. That’s set to change, as multiple returning mutants will join forces with established Marvel heroes.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, marking a major milestone for both longtime fans of the X-Men franchise and the ever-expanding Marvel universe

Source: The Post

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