The upcoming MCU action film Avengers: Doomsday had a nice presentation at SDCC 2026. While the movie is bringing multiple superhero teams across the MCU, one of its biggest attractions is the return of several original X-Men stars.
Marvel is keeping Avengers: Doomsday’s story under wraps, but Robert Downey Jr.’s latest comments have ignited fans’ excitement. The former Iron Man lead, who is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, praised the movie and spoke about what it was like working alongside the original X-Men cast.
During Entertainment Weekly‘s post-Hall H interview at San Diego Comic-Con, Downey Jr. reflected on seeing Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer return as Mystique and Beast. “It was a big moment, you and Kelsey being back,” Downey Jr. told Romijn. He added that the cast couldn’t hide their excitement. “I have to say, we nerded out.”
What other X-Men characters are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday?
Romijn and Grammer aren’t the only ones coming to Doomsday. Patrick Stewart is back as Professor X, Ian McKellen returns as Magneto, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and James Marsden is reprising as Cyclops. All are reprising their roles from the original 2000s X-Men trilogy except for Channing Tatum returning as Gambit following his appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.
Nicholas Hoult and Jennifer Lawrence, who played the younger versions of Beast and Mystique in the 2010s prequel film, are not confirmed for Doomsday yet.
Speaking on his return as Beast, Grammer said he has always admired the character. “I love the character. I have this sense of this kind of nobility about him… a deep respect for all life,” he said.
The movie also expands the MCU’s storyline by bringing in Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Thunderbolts, the Wakandan Warriors, and many more. With this much star power in one single film, it’s not hard to explain why Robert sounded confident.
Robert’s comments also suggest that Marvel is planning to make Avengers: Doomsday much more than just a superhero team-up, giving fans reasons to look forward to its release.
Avengers: Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18, 2026.
