In brief
Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Patrick Stewart are set to reprise their iconic roles in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, with a star-studded cast including Robert Downey Jr. and others.
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are making a thrilling comeback to the Marvel universe as they join the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, slated for release in May 2026. Both actors, renowned for their roles as Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise, have not participated in Marvel films for years. McKellen last appeared as Magneto in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, while Stewart reprised his role as Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022.Marvel Studios unveiled the exciting cast lineup through a video featuring a lineup of chairs, each labeled with the names of the actors. In addition to McKellen and Stewart, the film features an impressive cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Mackie, and Florence Pugh, who plays Yelena Belova. Simu Liu, known for his role as Shang-Chi, and other prominent names like Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, and David Harbour, among others, were also highlighted in the announcement.Notably, Channing Tatum is set to reprise his role as Gambit, adding to the film's excitement. Last summer, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr., who won an Oscar for his performance in Oppenheimer, would be returning to the franchise as the complex villain Doctor Doom, rather than his iconic Iron Man character. This announcement generated a buzz at Comic Con in San Diego, where Downey Jr. revealed his role while donning Doctor Doom’s signature mask and cloak.The Avengers: Doomsday promises to be a significant addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with returns from beloved actors and engaging storylines that continue to captivate fans around the world.
