James Marsden returns as Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday, joining a reunited X-Men cast as Marvel merges mutants into the MCU after two decades.
James Marsden is officially back as Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops, in Avengers: Doomsday. The film will release in December next year. It marks his first time wearing the visor since 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, and more than 20 years since he debuted in the 2000s X-Men.
The 51-year-old actor called the casting “a nice little homecoming to a role that put me on the map.” Speaking to Vanity Fair, he said it was special to step back into a role loved by fans.
Marsden played Cyclops in X-Men, X2: X-Men United (2003), and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). His character was seemingly killed off in the third film. However, alternate timelines and multiverse arcs revived him in Days of Future Past. Laughing about the character’s strange fate, Marsden said, “I’m dead. Well, maybe not.”
For him, returning was about more than just putting on the suit. “I’ve spent 20 years listening to people say, ‘When are you coming back? Are you coming back?” he said. Even though he joked about being “a little long in the tooth” for superhero costumes, the excitement was clear.
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Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox gave Marvel the rights to the X-Men. Now, Avengers: Doomsday will merge the mutants into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This integration is a major moment for fans, signalling crossovers that were impossible before.
Marsden will reunite with Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique). The ensemble was confirmed during a Marvel livestream teasing the film’s massive cast.
Marsden’s return is not just nostalgia. It is part of Marvel’s wider push to revitalise the MCU with legacy characters. The studio is exposing classic heroes to new audiences while capitalizing on fan attachment to them. Marvel guarantees both high stakes and box office appeal by integrating the X-Men into an Avengers plot.
Additionally, the multiverse arc is deepened by the strategy. It creates continuity and spectacle by tying 20 years of X-Men history to Marvel's ongoing narrative.
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With Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, fans are eager to see how Cyclops will fit into the Avengers’ battle. Marsden’s presence adds emotional weight, especially for those who grew up with the original X-Men trilogy. Additionally, his comeback might open the door for additional mutant plots, stand-alone endeavours, or even a complete X-Men revival under the banner of Marvel Studios.
Marvel is currently withholding story details. Fans eagerly await the movie, as Marsden joins forces with his mutant comrades and Avengers legends, making it one of 2026’s most anticipated releases. It marks the beginning of a new era for the X-Men in the MCU, not merely a reunion.
