One of the most captivating theories surrounding Avengers: Doomsday could potentially elevate it to one of the best X-Men films in history. Following Marvel’s recent casting livestream for the highly anticipated Avengers installment, it’s confirmed that several actors from Fox’s X-Men films will be making their appearance in this MCU crossover event. However, my hope is that this won’t be the end of it, as it’s important to fully bid farewell to the Earth-10005 timeline and the associated Fox franchise.
So far, the roster includes seven actors who originally portrayed X-Men characters, all hailing from the series’ inaugural cast—before Fox restructured their cinematic universe in 2011. Nonetheless, my theory suggests that both previous and newer casts from the X-Men franchise may join forces in the film, especially within the context of the MCU’s expanding Multiverse Saga and the high stakes involved.
OG X-Men Actors in Avengers: Doomsday: A Brilliant Yet Incomplete Approach
The Possibility of a Second X-Men Cast
While fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are thrilled about the prospect of familiar X-Men characters joining the Avengers for a multiverse battle against Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, the choice to feature only the original cast in Doomsday feels somewhat limited. There is an opportunity for Marvel to incorporate members of the newer cast, adding depth to the storyline, particularly since the X-Men franchise has previously experienced timelines and character shifts that could be leveraged narratively.
Hypothesis: The Role of Days of Future Past in Avengers: Doomsday
Exploring the Multiversal Implications of the X-Men’s Alternate Timeline
In X-Men: Days of Future Past, released in 2014, Wolverine’s consciousness was sent back to his physically younger self in the 1970s to prevent a catastrophic future where mutant-slaying Sentinels had nearly eradicated all mutants. This narrative culminated in Wolverine meeting his younger contemporaries from the franchise, first introduced in X-Men: First Class (2011). While Wolverine collaborates with younger versions of iconic characters like Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to alter their shared fate, the original cast remains in the present, fighting to safeguard Wolverine’s original timeline.
This critically acclaimed film stands out for several reasons: it not only merges the two casts effectively but also facilitates a soft reboot of the franchise, allowing new characters to thrive in an alternative timeline, which subsequent films like X-Men: Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix capitalized on. Notably, the film’s denouement presented Wolverine awakening to a timeline where significant characters, including Cyclops and Jean Grey, had lived, counteracting their deaths from X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
However, it’s worth noting that the timeline alterations instigated by Wolverine and others were substantial. Referencing the MCU’s handling of time travel and multiverse mechanics, one could easily envision Doomsday revealing unforeseen consequences stemming from the altered timeline of the Fox universe, such as an incursion event. The Avengers themselves played with their timeline in Avengers: Endgame, suggesting that both universes could face imminent destruction in Doomsday, providing a coherent reason for these heroic teams to converge ahead of the anticipated Secret Wars.
The Multiverse Saga: A Gateway to Reintroducing Old and New X-Men
Elevating What Made Days of Future Past Exceptional
With Avengers: Doomsday, Marvel has a unique chance to definitively conclude the era of the Fox universe, setting the stage for a fresh chapter in the upcoming Mutant Saga along with a brand-new team of X-Men. To fully realize this transition, the inclusion or at least reference to characters from the younger X-Men cast is crucial. While they may not require prominent roles, it would be poignant if the critical timeline shifts explored in Days of Future Past were the catalyst for an eventual multiverse collision.
The Multiverse Saga presents an excellent framework for reintroducing beloved characters such as James McAvoy’s Professor X or Michael Fassbender’s Magneto alongside their predecessors, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. It would be thrilling to witness brief cameos from the younger cast members, who could potentially share the screen with the original team, much in the spirit of how Days of Future Past poignantly showcased both iterations of Xavier communicating through a shared mental space. My ultimate hope is to see both X-Men casts unite in combat against formidable foes like Doctor Doom.
Mark your calendars: Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for theatrical release on May 1, 2026.