Avengers: Doomsday Has the Perfect Opportunity to Redeem 1 X-Men Hero Fox Neglected For Years

Marvel Studios has set up the perfect opportunity, and the last chance, for one neglected character from 20th Century Fox’s X-Men franchise to finally get redemption in Avengers: Doomsday. Several X-Men actors have been confirmed to be appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper to reprise their mutant roles in Doomsday, joining the fight against new Multiverse Saga villain Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.). While the likes of Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds), and more have already joined the MCU with successful adventures, one X-Men member is still waiting for redemption.

When they were introduced to live-action back in 2000’s X-Men, the titular team of mutants was led by Professor X and included Wolverine, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Storm (Halle Berry), and Cyclops (James Marsden). Out of this foursome, only Marsden has been confirmed to be returning as Scott Summers in Avengers: Doomsday, though he’ll be joined by Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, and Channing Tatum. More are expected to return, but we hope Doomsday still makes time to offer Marsden’s Cyclops some much-needed redemption after Fox’s X-Men franchise completely failed him.

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Fox’s X-Men Franchise Completely Wasted Cyclops (Twice)

Cyclops is a founding member of the X-Men team in Marvel Comics and one of the most notable, powerful, and important mutant characters in the Marvel Universe, but Fox did not translate this influence and legacy to the screen. In the live-action X-Men franchise, Cyclops was originally the field leader of the X-Men, but was pushed aside when Wolverine joined the team in 2000. Wolverine absorbed all the attention, and his romance with Jean Grey took prominence over Cyclops’, which meant that the laser beam-shooting mutant was completely sidelined prior to his untimely death in X-Men: The Last Stand.

The reboot prequel movies tried to give more attention to Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), but even he took a back-seat to Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Professor X (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). Cyclops was completely wasted and neglected in Fox’s X-Men franchise, so he deserves redemption more than any other X-Men hero in Avengers: Doomsday. The Russo brothers’ upcoming crossover may not feature a reunion of Fox’s original X-Men team, but Cyclops’ return gives us hope for the character’s future in the MCU.

James Marsden’s Return in Avengers: Doomsday is the Last Chance to Redeem His Cyclops

James Marsden was announced to be reprising his role of Cyclops during Marvel Studios’ chair-laying cast announcement in March 2025. He is one of seven confirmed X-Men actors returning, which suggests either the X-Men team of Earth 10005 or the mutant team of another alternate reality will be explored in Doomsday. There has been speculation about an epic battle between the X-Men and Doctor Doom in Doomsday, which could give Marsden plenty of opportunity to demonstrate some of Cyclops’ real power, finally being done justice in the MCU.

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The Russo brothers may not have had a great deal of success outside of Marvel Studios, but their work on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame has proven they really understand Marvel’s heroes. This surely includes X-Men characters, who contribute to some of Marvel’s most iconic, powerful, beloved, and notable heroes. This makes us hopeful that the Russos will finally handle Cyclops properly, giving him a new lease of life before the character is recast for a new actor ahead of Jake Schreier’s official X-Men reboot for the MCU.

Marvel Studios Has Already Revealed It Will Handle Cyclops Better in the Future

Even before James Marsden reprises his wasted Fox X-Men franchise role in Avengers: Doomsday, we already have proof that Marvel Studios knows what to do with Cyclops far more than 20th Century Fox ever did. The animated X-Men ’97 revival in 2024 marked the return of the Cyclops from X-Men: The Animated Series, and instantly gave him chances to show off his remarkable power. Voiced by Ray Chase, replacing original voice actor Norm Spencer, Cyclops in X-Men ’97 used his energy beams to aid flight and landing, was strong enough to battle Bastion (Theo James), and was a firm and steadfast leader to the X-Men while also being a family man.

X-Men ’97 got Cyclops right for the first time since the original X-Men: The Animated Series, and, since the revival was developed by Marvel Studios Animation, the live-action Cyclops will presumably have the same impact. Avengers: Doomsday is the last chance for James Marsden’s Cyclops, but the future is looking bright for the X-Men leader in the MCU. We don’t yet know who will take over as Cyclops in the MCU’s X-Men reboot and beyond, but with the likes of Patrick Schwarzenegger, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi, and more being fan-cast as Scott Summers, we’re excited for the hero’s future.

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