Alan Cumming has described his recent experience reprising the role of Nightcrawler in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday as “really healing.” This follows what he termed a “miserable” filming experience on X2: X-Men United, released in 2003. In an interview with People, Cumming shared his reflections on returning to the character, indicating that the filming of the new Marvel Studios project has been a positive and fulfilling experience.
Cumming, who originally portrayed the blue-skinned mutant Kurt Wagner, completed shooting for the much-anticipated film earlier this month. “I just came back. It was amazing,” he remarked. “It was actually really— in a sort of ooey, gooey way, it was really healing and really nice to go back to something that it was a terrible experience when I did it the first time.”
Reflecting on Past Challenges
The actor expressed that his time on the set of X2 was fraught with difficulties, describing it as “awful for a variety of reasons.” Cumming has previously been vocal about the “dangerous” and “abusive” conditions he faced under the direction of Bryan Singer, who has since faced significant backlash and been largely removed from the industry due to numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.
In contrast, Cumming highlighted the positive atmosphere during the filming of Doomsday. “It was actually really great to go back. And especially, I’m 60 years old. I did not think I would be doing stunts, playing a superhero in my 60s,” he noted. The actor managed to complete his scenes quickly due to scheduling conflicts with his role in the reality series The Traitors. He remarked on the efficiency of the process, stating, “I squashed them all together, and got a green screen and various things and little scenes of people here and there.”
Anticipation for the New Marvel Film
Cumming confirmed his casting in this significant addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in late March. While specific plot details remain under wraps, it is known that Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as the supervillain Dr. Doom. The star-studded cast also includes familiar faces such as James Marsden, Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, and Letitia Wright, among others.
Scheduled for release on December 18, 2026, Avengers: Doomsday promises to bring together a diverse ensemble of characters from across the Marvel franchise. The excitement surrounding the project continues to build as fans eagerly await the return of their favorite heroes and villains to the big screen.
