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Avengers: Doomsday Is Already Off to a Bad Start With the X-Men
The trailer for Marvel's upcoming crossover film Avengers: Doomsday has reignited fan frustration that a standalone X-Men film still has not materialised in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite the mutant team's growing presence in ensemble projects. Writing for Collider, Carolyn Jenkins argues that while the film brings together an impressive array of characters, the returning X-Men actors merely underscore what audiences are still being denied: a proper feature dedicated to the team.
The Avengers: Doomsday trailer features Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, alongside the Black Panther team, Fantastic Four, New Avengers and Shang-Chi, with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen reprising Professor X and Magneto, and Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden and Channing Tatum returning as Mystique, Cyclops and Gambit respectively. The article notes that these are the same actors and storylines fans have already seen during the Fox era, with recent projects such as Deadpool & Wolverine and The Marvels similarly teasing the X-Men without delivering the full ensemble film that has been promised for years.
In short
- Avengers: Doomsday trailer reignites calls for a standalone X-Men film
- Returning X-Men cast include Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Channing Tatum
- Fans say Marvel keeps teasing X-Men without a dedicated movie
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates for a standalone X-Men film contend that these characters, as one of Marvel's most iconic franchises with decades of rich storylines, deserve a dedicated feature that properly develops them and explores the team's thematic depth around prejudice and belonging. The repeated appearances in ensemble projects without a solo outing understandably frustrate audiences, particularly when Marvel has prioritised individual films for other acquired properties like the Fantastic Four.
The case against
Marvel Studios might reasonably argue that integrating the X-Men into ensemble projects first allows the studio to establish these characters within the MCU ecosystem before committing to a costly standalone film. Having recently regained the rights, a measured approach that builds audience investment through strategic appearances whilst developing the larger narrative framework represents prudent creative and financial planning that sets up a stronger eventual solo project.
Explained simply
The X-Men are a superhero team from Marvel comics. For decades, the characters were owned by 20th Century Fox, but Disney's acquisition of the company in 2019 gave Marvel Studios the rights to use them in films for the first time. This allowed X-Men characters to finally appear alongside other franchises like the Avengers and Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Since regaining the film rights, Marvel has introduced X-Men characters such as Wolverine, Professor X and Magneto into ensemble films and crossovers within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite these growing appearances, the studio has not yet released a standalone X-Men film that centres on the full team.
Many fans and critics have expressed ongoing frustration that whilst X-Men characters are appearing in Marvel projects, the studio has not delivered a dedicated X-Men feature that audiences have long anticipated. These appearances, whilst welcome, only underscore what remains missing: a film devoted entirely to the mutant team.
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