Warning: Potential spoilers for Avengers: Doomsday ahead.
After the resounding success of Deadpool & Wolverine, both at the box office and with critics and fans alike, it comes as little surprise that the upcoming Avengers: Doosmday is expected to feature numerous appearances from legacy 20th Century Fox characters. Much of Deadpool & Wolverine’s appeal stemmed from its many cameo appearances and clever Easter Eggs, setting audience expectations for similar nostalgic elements in Doomsday.
Among the most notable rumored returns are X-Men mainstays such as Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique, James Marsden’s Cyclops, and even Channing Tatum’s Gambit.
While it is a safe bet that Doomsday won’t do the character of Cyclops as dirty as the original 20th Century Fox X-Men films often did, it remains unclear how much impact these returning mutants will have on the story. That question looms especially large for the X-Men’s field leader, as his longtime love interest and core team member Jean Grey has yet to be officially confirmed.
Fueling the uncertainty are recent comments made by Jean Grey actress Famke Janssen, which suggest she will not be reprising her role. When asked by EW whether Marvel had approached her about returning, Janssen was unequivocal. “Never. Never ever.”
However, longtime X-Men writer Chris Claremont, who wrote Uncanny X-Men from 1975 to 1991 and defined the franchise with landmark storylines such as The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, has offered a conflicting perspective. According to Claremont, Janssen will reprise her role as Jean Grey in Avengers: Doomsday.
Speaking on a recent episode of the Powers of X-Men podcast, Claremont reacted to the latest Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailer.
The footage shows Professor X and Magneto playing chess, Cyclops unleashing a powerful optic blast amid the burning ruins of what appears to be the X-Mansion, and the looming legs of a massive robot marching in the distance, strongly suggesting the presence of a mutant-hunting Sentinel.
“The thing I find most wonderful about it is they’re bringing back the original cast, including Famke,” Claremont said.
Claremont has made several spoiler-heavy claims about Doomsday in recent months. Some of those claims, such as Chris Evans returning as Captain America, have already been confirmed, while others remain unverified. Rumors that Claremont is serving as an X-Men consultant on the film could lend additional credibility to his comments.
Janssen herself has not confirmed any involvement. In her EW interview, she acknowledged the enduring affection for the character. “I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people,” she said. “It’s been so long, but it’s nice that people are still talking about her.” She added that whenever a new Marvel project is announced, including Doomsday, speculation about Jean Grey’s return inevitably resurfaces.
Do you think Famke Janssen will reprise her role as Jean Grey in Avengers: Doomsday? Do you think she should return as the powerful X-Men mainstay, and what impact or role would the returning Jean Grey have on the film’s storyline? Let us know in the comments.
