Original X-Men Star Speaks Out About Being Passed Over for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Original X-Men star Famke Janssen has opened up about not appearing in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film.

Speaking with Screen Rant, she admitted she isn’t fully aware of the story for the new movie.

“Yeah, to be honest with you, I don’t really know the storyline, so I’m not sure. It’s not my world, it’s never been my world, really, that whole comic book world. I should know by now, I’ve been in it long enough. But 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 said.

Despite her absence, Janssen has expressed interest in reprising her role as Jean Grey in the past.

A return could also help address past controversies from the time of X-Men: Apocalypse, when Janssen felt she was overlooked due to Hollywood’s discriminatory practices against female actors.

She had hoped to portray an older version of Jean Grey, similar to how Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen returned to play their characters in later X-Men films. If Marvel invited her back for Doomsday, it could give fans one final chance to see Janssen in the role before passing the torch to a new actress.

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

The movie features a massive ensemble cast including Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Letitia Wright, Paul Rudd, Wyatt Russell, Simu Liu, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, and Robert Downey Jr.

The plot reportedly follows the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the original X-Men teaming up to face Doctor Doom, played by Downey. Filming began in April at Pinewood Studios in England, with location shoots in Bahrain, and wrapped in September.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to hit theaters in the United States on December 18, 2026. It will be part of Phase Six of the MCU. Its sequel, Secret Wars, is planned for release on December 17, 2027.

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