The wait is finally over. For years, Marvel fans have speculated about how the mutants of the former 20th Century Fox universe would eventually integrate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While we have seen breadcrumbs in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Marvels, the latest marketing blitz for Avengers: Doomsday has officially confirmed that the legends are back for one final, high-stakes stand.
Following a series of character-focused “mini-teasers” that spotlighted Steve Rogers and Thor, Marvel Studios has dropped the third installment in their weekly rollout—and it is the one fans have been dreaming of since 2000. This isn’t just a cameo; this is a full-throttle return to form for the original X-Men cast, complete with the iconic visual style that defined a generation of comic book readers.
The Legends Return: Xavier, Magneto, and the End of an Era
The trailer opens not with an explosion, but with a hauntingly familiar melody that immediately stirs nostalgia. We are taken inside a dilapidated version of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. The atmosphere is somber, signaling that this isn’t the thriving sanctuary we once knew. The most poignant moment of the teaser features Sir Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and Sir Ian McKellen’s Magneto sitting across from a chessboard.
In a beautiful nod to the original trilogy, the two longtime frenemies are shown engaging in a telekinetically controlled game. However, the tone has shifted from competition to a profound, shared acceptance of their fate. The voice-over from McKellen is chilling, grounding the existential threat of Doctor Doom in a way few other characters could:
“Death comes for us all. It’s all I know for sure. The question isn’t, ‘Are you prepared to die?’ The question is, ‘Who would you be when you close your eyes?’”
Seeing these two titans clasp hands amidst the ruins of their school suggests that the coming conflict in Doomsday is so massive that even the greatest ideological rivals have found common ground.
Cyclops Redeemed: The Jim Lee Suit and Full Power
For many fans, the highlight of this reveal is James Marsden’s Cyclops. Despite being the tactical leader of the team, Scott Summers was often sidelined in the original Fox movies. In Avengers: Doomsday, it appears Marvel is finally giving him his due. Marsden returns in a suit that looks like it stepped straight out of Jim Lee’s iconic 1991 X-Men #1.
The blue and yellow aesthetic—a look Marsden’s character famously mocked in the 2000 original—is now fully realized with tactical pouches and vibrant colors. The teaser culminates in a “money shot” that shows Cyclops ripping off his visor and unleashing a devastating optic blast into the sky. The sheer intensity of the scene, paired with the comic-accurate costume, marks a redemption arc for a character that fans have waited over two decades to see treated with this level of reverence.
Sentinels and the Shadow of Doom
Perhaps the most terrifying reveal in the trailer is the presence of the Sentinels. While we have seen versions of these mutant-hunting robots before, the Doomsday teaser presents them with a scale and comic-accurate design that feels fresh. As Cyclops unleashes his power, the camera pans back to reveal massive metallic legs stepping through the flames behind him.
The inclusion of the Sentinels raises fascinating questions about the plot. Are these Sentinels being controlled by Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom? Or are they a lingering threat from a universe currently undergoing an Incursion? Regardless of their origin, their presence confirms that the X-Men are facing a total “Mutant Massacre” level of threat that will force them to seek out the Avengers.
A Darker Path for the Multiverse Saga
Marvel’s strategy of releasing weekly character-focused teasers is building a unique sense of momentum. While the Captain America footage focused on hope and Thor’s on family, the X-Men teaser is purely about survival and legacy. It highlights a darker, more desperate corner of the Multiverse that is already falling apart.
By focusing on the “old guard” of the X-Men, Marvel is ensuring that the final chapter of the Multiverse Saga serves as a definitive farewell to the actors who pioneered the superhero genre. If the school is in ruins and Magneto is speaking of death, the stakes for Avengers: Doomsday couldn’t be higher.
