James Marsden Talks About Returning as Cyclops in AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY
Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be an epic multiverse crossover, and one of the most exciting elements for fans is the return of some familiar X-Men faces.
While a few heavy hitters like Wolverine, Storm, and Jean Grey are noticeably absent, the return of James Marsden as Cyclops has definitely sparked some major hype. This time around, it looks like Scott Summers might finally get the respect he deserves.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Marsden opened up about what it’s been like to return to the character he last played over a decade ago in X-Men: Days of Future Past.
"I’m getting a little long in the tooth to put on the superhero costume," he said with a laugh. "I was excited because you're a part of something gigantic, and I've spent 20 years listening to people say, 'When are you coming back? When are you coming back? Are you coming back?' I'm dead. Well, maybe not."
That last line is a pretty fun wink to Cyclops’ confusing cinematic timeline.
"I'm going to have a tough time struggling to get into costume if they waited a couple more years. So it's been a blast. It really has. It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map," Marsden added.
"It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character, this icon from the comics. And so to step back into that role was pretty special."
While Marvel Studios is keeping tight-lipped about the plot, Avengers: Doomsday there are rumors that the Avengers of Earth-616 will square off against the X-Men of Earth-10005, with Doctor Doom pulling strings behind the scenes. That setup is sparking theories that Doom will pit both teams against each other before a massive alliance forms to take him down.
As for Cyclops, fans are hoping he steps into the spotlight, possibly even leading the mutant team in the conflict. To add to the excitement, it's been reported that Marsden’s Cyclops will finally get a comic-accurate costume inspired by Jim Lee’s iconic design. The same era that inspired X-Men '97.
A Marvel Legends figure of Cyclops in that classic suit is also on the way, giving us a glimpse at what to expect. For longtime fans, it’s a long-overdue moment to see Cyclops rocking his most iconic look on screen.
The cast lineup already includes some heavy hitters from the original X-Men films: Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and even Channing Tatum as Gambit — finally.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters in 2026. Let’s just hope this time Cyclops gets the big moment he’s always deserved.