Patrick Stewart AND Ian McKellen Are Returning For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Leading up to the release of Deadpool & Wolverine last year, Marvel fans were certain that Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier would appear in the film.

With Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine setting out on a multiversal adventure, it seemed natural that he would run into many of his X-Men teammates. An appearance by Professor X seemed like a given.

As the Marvel universe speculated about which characters would appear in Deadpool & Wolverine, even Stewart himself seemed confident that Charles Xavier would return.

Photo: Marvel

However, when the film finally hit theaters, the professor was nowhere to be found.

One year later, we have confirmation that the beloved Professor X will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after all.

Charles Xavier Will Return in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

With filming on Avengers: Doomsday officially underway in London, Marvel has slowly been revealing the film’s cast throughout the day.

While some of the names, such as Anthony Mackie, Vanessa Kirby, Florence Pugh, and Sebastian Stan, had long been expected, other names were more surprising (Kelsey Grammer, Tom Hiddleston, Alan Cumming). You can read our full rundown of the cast here.

Photo: Marvel

Of all the characters revealed to be returning for Avengers: Doomsday, however, Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier is probably the most exciting.

For many fans, Stewart has given life to the definitive version of Professor Charles Xavier. The legendary actor first played the iconic Marvel character in 2000’s X-Men, before eventually reprising his role in X2: X-Men United, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Wolverine, X-Men Days of Future Past, and Logan.

Photo: Marvel

While the version of Professor X that fans had come to know and love died during the events of Logan, Stewart returned as a variant of the character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Now, Professor Xavier will return for Avengers: Doomsday.

Ian McKellen Will Reprise His Iconic Role As Magneto

Joining Patrick Stewart in the upcoming Marvel film will be his longtime friend Ian McKellen.

Photo: Marvel

McKellen, of course, portrayed Magneto through the Fox X-Men films, giving fans what many consider to be the definitive adaptation of the iconic Marvel villain.

Photo; Marvel

Unlike Stewart, McKellen has not reprised his role as Erik Lehnsherr since Days of Future Past. Doomsday, then, will mark his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Will Hit Theaters Next Year

As the inclusion of Stewart and McKellen shows, Avengers: Doomsday will be an unprecedented Marvel cinematic event.

The film will hit theaters on  May 1, 2026.

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