Marvel Studios made history last week with the third teaser trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. The preview confirms what fans have waited years to see; the X-Men are officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After decades of separation between 20th Century Fox and Marvel Studios, the long-standing wall is finally gone.
The latest Doomsday trailer focuses heavily on the X-Men, marking the first time any Avengers film has done so. The new footage highlights Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and James Marsden as Cyclops. Each appears separately in a series of tense scenes showing what looks like a siege at the X-Mansion. Stewart’s Professor X prepares for an attack, McKellen’s Magneto plays a quiet game of chess, and Marsden’s Cyclops delivers a powerful optic blast unlike any before. Analysts say the return of these actors signals a major shift for Marvel’s next phase.
Avengers: Doomsday | Only in Theaters December 18, 2026
The trailer is the third of four planned teasers. The first two focused on Captain America and Thor, while the final one — still playing only in theaters — is said to feature Black Panther, the Sub-Mariner, and the Fantastic Four. The full theatrical release of Avengers: Doomsday is set for December 18, 2026, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The film will bring together multiple superhero teams against Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. in his return to the Marvel universe.
Patrick Stewart’s version of Professor X has been a central figure in mutant storytelling for over 25 years. He last appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, portraying a Variant of the character leading the Illuminati. Now his Professor X will cross paths with the Avengers, facing a threat that could destroy his reality. Stewart’s performance has long anchored the moral heart of the X-Men franchise — a legacy that continues with this crossover.
Opposite him is Ian McKellen’s Magneto, whose history stretches back to World War II. McKellen’s performance has defined Magneto as both villain and visionary, often in direct conflict with Xavier over the future of mutantkind. His return suggests Marvel plans to revisit one of cinema’s most complex rivalries. “Mutants survive by strength,” Magneto tells Xavier in one brief exchange, underscoring the ideological battle that has long driven their story.
James Marsden’s Cyclops rounds out the trio. His character has had a turbulent on-screen journey, from romantic rivalries in the first X-Men film to tragedy in X-Men: The Last Stand, where he was killed by Jean Grey as the Phoenix. Marsden last appeared briefly in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. His return in Doomsday marks a full-circle moment for a key figure in the X-Men team.
The crossover between the Avengers and X-Men signals a historic convergence of Marvel’s biggest properties. Fans and analysts alike see this as a major test for Disney’s strategy, both creatively and financially. Whether it restores momentum to the Marvel brand or risks overloading the MCU remains to be seen. What is clear is that Avengers: Doomsday just changed the game — and the world is watching.
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