Boom. There it is. Just when you thought Marvel had exhausted every possible way to resurrect dead characters (cough Patrick Stewart's Professor X cough), they've gone full Days of Future Past and hauled back the OG X-Men crew for Avengers: Doomsday. It's a casting coup so shamelessly nostalgic, it feels like Kevin Feige raided Fox's old storage unit and dusted off some action figures.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: This isn't a triumph—it's a Hail Mary.
The Good, the Bad, and the Overexposed
Let's break down the mutant roster:
- Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier): Killed off twice (Logan, Multiverse of Madness). Now back for a third funeral?
- Ian McKellen (Magneto): 85 years old, fresh off a stage injury, and somehow juggling Lord of the Rings and mutant wars. Respect.
- Kelsey Grammer (Beast): Still the only actor who made blue fur look dignified.
- Channing Tatum (Gambit): Finally getting his shot after years of false starts. Better late than never?
The rest—Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler, James Marsden's Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique—are fan-service grenades. Fun? Absolutely. Necessary? Debatable.
The Real Problem: Marvel's Identity Crisis
Marvel Studios didn't just inherit the X-Men from Fox—they inherited its baggage. For every Logan or Days of Future Past, there's a Dark Phoenix or X-Men Origins: Wolverine lurking in the shadows. The franchise has been a rollercoaster of brilliance and bafflement, and Feige knows it.
That's why the reboot is coming. But before that? One last cash grab with the old guard.
It's a classic Hollywood move: If you can't innovate, replicate. Like a Netflix algorithm feeding you the same show with a different title, Marvel is banking on nostalgia to buy time.
The Bigger Question: Who Is This For?
- Die-hard X-Men fans? They've been burned before.
- MCU stans? They're already drowning in multiverse fatigue.
- General audiences? Do they even remember X2?
This isn't No Way Home, where the legacy returns felt earned. This is quantum cameo roulette—throw enough familiar faces at the screen, and maybe no one will notice the script's thin.
The Verdict: Proceed with Caution
Look, I'll be there opening night. Stewart and McKellen sharing the screen again? Magic. But let's not pretend this is anything more than a victory lap before the inevitable reboot.
Marvel's real test isn't Doomsday—it's the X-Men movie they've been teasing for years. Until then? Enjoy the fireworks. Just don't be shocked if they fizzle.
Final Thought: If Hugh Jackman doesn't show up, we riot.
