The reveal that old X-Men stars will be joining new Avengers in the MCU’s Avengers: Doomsday

has led to plenty of fake images of some former stars of the X-Men movies “on-set” spreading across the internet. While some of these are old photos from 20 years ago, and others have been cobbled together AI creations, a new image has brought together two classic X-Men stars ahead of their on-screen reunion – and this one isn’t fake.

Alan Cumming

and Ian McKellen

appeared together for a snap as they prepare to return to their roles as Nightcrawler and Magneto, respectively. While they are still in civvies in the candid photo, it seems that things are certainly moving forward with the next big MCU ensemble movie, and fans have started gravitating back towards the Marvel machine. Given the nostalgic pull of these characters, coming back for what is clearly going to be one final adventure before the cataclysmic events of Avengers: Secret Wars change the MCU forever.

How will the old X-Men characters play a big part in a movie that also involves the Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four, and other heroes such as Thor, Shang-Chi, Black Panther, and more? For now, we have no idea, but with production ramping up, it will seem like no time at all before fans are once again watching an Avengers movie on the big screen and forgetting that Marvel fatigue was supposedly once a thing.
Returning X-Men Stars Are Just Part ‘Doomsday’s Story

20th Century Fox

Alan Cumming previously spoke about his return to the franchise after more than two decades, and during an appearance on the Today show, he explained how so much about being an on-screen blue superhero has changed.

“Isn’t it nuts? I’m excited and amazed. It’s been 23 years since I was a superhero. I’ve had some makeup tests already for the role, but what’s great about it was that before it was about 4 and a half hours to apply it, but now it’s only 90 minutes. Before, all of the tattoos were done by hand. They hadn’t decided on them before we started filming. Now, they just stick onto my face. It’s a game changer. I’m going back to being a 60-year-old superhero, and everyone seems really lovely.”

Meanwhile, McKellen’s return will bring him back to the Marvel fold with another old-timer, Patrick Stewart, who has previously reprised his role as Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – where he met an end at the hands of Scarlet Witch – and was name-checked in the post-credits scene of The Marvels. It is this last version of the character, and indeed the X-Men universe, that is expected to appear as part of Avengers: Doomsday.
Of course, as well as X-Men, Thunderbolts, and classic Avengers, the film will also see the return of Robert Downey Jr, who will bring Doctor Doom to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and provide a catalyst for everything that comes next. Is the MCU about to make another $2 billion heist on the box office? Would you bet against it?
Source: Instagram