Alan Cumming Says the New Makeup Process of Becoming Nightcrawler for AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Is "A Game Changer"

Alan Cumming famously played Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler, in the 2003 film X2: X-Men United, but despite being asked back for the next film in the franchise, Cumming declined due to the arduous task of four hours in the makeup chair each morning.

So some were surprised when it was announced that the actor would be returning with some of his X-Men co-stars for the upcoming Marvel event film, Avengers: Doomsday.

Cumming told Collider about his return: "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."

Cumming spoke about his role in X-Men 2 and his frustration with the makeup process shortly before it was announced that he'd be back for the next Avengers movie.

“The character is really interesting, the message of the film (tolerance of others who are different from us) was very timely and unusual for a Hollywood blockbuster, but the real drag was having to spend over four hours a day having two men poke my face,” Cumming posted to his website .

“Then there were the harnesses for the tail and for flying, the feet, the hands — which made going to the loo a group effort, the teeth, the lenses, oh God don’t get me started.”

Other X-Men veterans joining Cumming in the cast are Ian McKellen (Magneto), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique).

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026.

via: CBM