Avengers: Doomsday Brings Back Iconic X-Men Villains Magneto & Mystique—With Their Original Stars
Marvel fans, it’s official: Avengers: Doomsday will deliver a game-changing moment in MCU history by bringing back two legendary villains from Fox’s X-Men universe. Sir Ian McKellen’s Magneto and Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique are returning—and this time, they’re stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse.
Announced during Marvel’s March 26 livestream, Avengers: Doomsday (hitting theaters on May 1, 2026) is shaping up to be more than just the final battle of Phase 6—it’s a full-blown multiversal reunion.
The Return of the X-Men’s Most Iconic Villains
Long before the MCU began dominating the box office, Fox’s X-Men trilogy redefined superhero cinema. Hugh Jackman became a global star as Wolverine, and McKellen’s Magneto and Romijn’s Mystique became fan-favorite antagonists. Now, after more than a decade away from their roles, both stars are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday.
- Ian McKellen last portrayed Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).
- Rebecca Romijn hasn’t played Mystique since X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
Unlike Deadpool & Wolverine, which revived Hugh Jackman but left the original X-Men villains behind, Avengers: Doomsday marks the first time these iconic actors are reprising their villain roles in a Marvel Studios film.
What Role Will Magneto Play in Avengers: Doomsday?
Magneto, also known as Erik Lehnsherr, is one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel history. With the ability to control magnetic fields and manipulate metal, he has clashed with both humans and fellow mutants in pursuit of his radical ideology.
His complex relationship with Charles Xavier made him a layered antagonist throughout the X-Men trilogy, especially in The Last Stand, where he led a full-scale assault powered by the Phoenix Force.
In Avengers: Doomsday, Magneto’s role remains under wraps—but rumors point toward a Multiversal conflict that may drag Erik into the chaos alongside the Avengers. McKellen was even spotted near the set in April with a beard, teasing a potentially new look (or timeline) for his character.
Mystique’s MCU Comeback: How Will She Get Her Powers Back?
Mystique, aka Raven Darkholme, is a mutant shapeshifter who can impersonate anyone down to their voice and mannerisms. As Magneto’s most loyal ally in the original trilogy, her stealth and deception were key to many of his missions.
Her storyline in The Last Stand ended with a tragic twist—after being hit by the Mutant cure, Mystique lost her powers and became fully human.
So, how is she back in Doomsday, seemingly restored to her old self? The MCU’s multiverse mechanic offers a likely answer. This version of Mystique could hail from an alternate universe where she was never cured—or where events played out very differently.
Why This Return Is So Historic for Marvel Fans
For years, fans speculated whether Marvel Studios would bring legacy X-Men characters into the MCU. While younger versions of Magneto and Mystique appeared in the First Class films, McKellen and Romijn’s versions were the originals who defined the roles for a generation.
Their return is more than nostalgia—it’s a pivotal moment in Marvel’s evolving multiverse narrative, uniting the past and present in one climactic event.
Looking Ahead to Avengers: Doomsday
With Avengers: Doomsday poised to be the crown jewel of Phase 6, expectations are sky-high. Between Kang’s chaos, multiverse incursions, and now the return of iconic X-Men villains, the MCU is setting the stage for one of its most epic crossovers ever.
And for longtime Marvel fans, seeing Ian McKellen and Rebecca Romijn back in their legendary roles is not just exciting—it’s historic.
