James Marsden Calls His Cameo in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ a Homecoming

After nearly two decades away from the visor, James Marsden is officially returning as Scott Summers—aka Cyclops—in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday, and he’s calling the experience “a nice little homecoming” to the role that first put him on the map.

In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, Marsden reflected on the long journey back to the X-Men leader, joking, “I’m getting a little long in the tooth to put on the superhero costume.” He added, “I’ve spent 20 years listening to people say, ‘When are you coming back?’ I’m dead. Well, maybe not”. Cyclops was famously killed off in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), but Marvel’s multiverse antics—especially after Deadpool & Wolverine and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness—have paved the way for legacy characters to return.

Marsden’s Cyclops is expected to play a key role in the battle against Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., in the Russo Brothers-directed crossover epic. Marsden won’t be alone. Avengers: Doomsday is stacking its cast with X-Men veterans, including: Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Channing Tatum (Gambit). Marsden first donned the ruby-quartz visor in X-Men (2000), followed by X2 (2003) and The Last Stand (2006). He briefly returned in Days of Future Past (2014), but Doomsday marks his first full-fledged return to the role in over a decade. “It was the first real event project I was ever a part of,” Marsden said. “And a very beloved character, this icon from the comics. So to step back into that role was pretty special”. 

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, as part of Marvel’s Phase Six.

via Deadline