Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Alan Cumming seemingly spoiled a scene in Avengers: Doomsday a year before the film is released

‘I’m sort of learning these fights and I’m like, ‘What? Who am I fighting with?’ admitted the X-Men actor

Greg Evans
Thursday 08 May 2025 10:51 EDT
Comments
Marvel announces major cast members for Avengers: Doomsday in a dramatic unveiling

Alan Cumming has seemingly spoiled a scene from Avengers: Doomsday a full year before the Marvel blockbuster is due to be released.

The Scottish actor, 60, is returning to the world of superhero films to reprise his role as Nightcrawler, a German mutant with teleporting abilities, who he first played in 2003’s X2.

Cumming’s surprise return to Marvel was announced in March this year, with fellow X-Men stars James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Romijn, Ian McKellen, Channing Tatum and Kelsey Grammer joining the bumper cast. They join other Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) stars including Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh and Tom Hiddleston.

Speaking to Buzzfeed UK, Cumming, who hosts the US version of The Traitors, divulged a detail about one of the scenes that he is set to film, which started filming in London last month.

While talking about playing Nightcrawler after more than two decades, Cumming said: “I was learning stunts yesterday for some fight scene and I just think, I’m 60 – 23 years ago, I played that superhero. I was kind of old for a superhero even then, and now I’m back doing it. And that, to me, is hilarious.”

He added: “I’m sort of learning these fights and I’m like, ‘What? Who am I fighting with?’ And they said, ‘You’re hitting Pedro Pascal against the head,’ or something.”

Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming (Alamy/PA)

Last of Us star Pascal is poised to make his MCU debut as Reed Richards, also known as Mr Fantastic, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps which is due for release in July 2025.

It is now known if Cumming’s revelation is true or just a hypothetical comment.

In a previous interview on Today With Jenna and Friends in April, Cumming said that the major thing that had changed between playing Nightcrawler in 2003 and today is the make-up.

“I’ve had some makeup tests already for the role, but what’s great about it was that before it was about four and a half hours to apply it, but now it’s only 90 minutes,” said the star.

Nightcrawler has a distinctive appearance with his blue tattooed skin. The outfit that Cumming had to wear had several hidden harnesses for components like his tail. He also had to put on fake teeth and contact lenses to achieve the character’s otherworldly look.

Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in ‘X2’
Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler in ‘X2’ (20 Century Fox/Disney)

Avengers: Doomsday is set for release on 1 May 2026.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in