Original X-Men Star Reacts to Being Snubbed from ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Original X-Men star Famke Janssen has opened up about being left out of the cast for Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Speaking to Screen Rant, Janssen admitted she isn’t familiar with the storyline for the new film. “Yeah, to be honest with you, I don’t really know the storyline, so I’m not sure,” she said.

“It’s not my world, it’s never been my world, really, that whole comic book world… I’m really excited to see when it comes out. Just like everyone else, I’ll find out what those storylines are and how it all ended up.”

Janssen, who famously played Jean Grey in the original X-Men films, has expressed in the past that she would be open to returning if Marvel reached out. Bringing her back could also address past controversies from X-Men: Apocalypse, when she felt Hollywood sexism prevented her from portraying an older Jean Grey, a role she believed she deserved similar to how Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen were able to reprise their characters in later X-Men movies.

With Avengers: Doomsday expected to be the last time the Fox-era actors appear, Janssen’s inclusion would give her one final moment in the spotlight before passing the torch.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be the fifth Avengers film and the 39th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The ensemble cast features Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh, Simu Liu, and Robert Downey Jr., among many others. The story will bring together the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the original X-Men to face off against Doctor Doom, played by Downey.

The film has faced delays since its initial announcement. Originally scheduled for May 2, the release was pushed to May 1, 2026, partly due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

Later, the release was moved again to December 18, 2026, to allow more time for production. Filming began in April at Pinewood Studios in England and wrapped in September, with additional location shoots in Bahrain. The movie will be part of Phase Six of the MCU, followed by a sequel, Secret Wars, in December 2027.

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