Marvel's Old Man Avengers? - Price Prediction

The recent reveal about the cast of “Avengers: Doomsday” unveiled many surprises. One aspect that deserves attention from the livestream is how it made a witty joke between Deadpool and Wolverine from last summer’s hit movie even more pertinent. In that blockbuster, Ryan Reynolds’ character humorously predicted that Hugh Jackman would continue playing Wolverine “until he’s ninety years old.” Given this prediction, some of the actors appearing in the upcoming “Avengers 5,” directed by the Russo brothers, might indeed carry on their roles until they reach a similar age.

It’s been announced that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen will make appearances in the upcoming film “Avengers: Doomsday,” with Stewart set to reprise his role as Professor Charles Xavier and McKellen as Magneto. Stewart is currently 84 years old and will be 85 by the time the movie premieres, while McKellen, famous for his role in The Hobbit series, will almost reach 86 when Doctor Doom (played by Robert Downey Jr.) enters the Sacred Timeline. Some might wonder if Marvel Studios is aiming to keep several actors in their roles permanently, hoping to attract viewers with a sense of nostalgia.

The Return of Two Legends

Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen played pivotal roles in shaping the early X-Men films produced by 20th Century Fox. Their portrayals of Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto, respectively, provided the ethical tension that underscored the franchise. As head of the X-Men, Xavier sought to instill a philosophy emphasizing understanding and compassion towards humans and mutants among his pupils. Conversely, Magneto, the primary antagonist, aimed to retaliate against humans for their mistreatment of mutantkind. Once friends in their youth, their ideological divide eventually grew to impact countless lives worldwide.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been capitalizing on fan nostalgia for quite some time now, having invested a decade in crafting emotional storylines. The culmination of these efforts was seen with the release of Avengers: Endgame, marking a significant high point. However, with the advent of Phase Four, Marvel shifted strategy from setting the groundwork for a new narrative to wrapping up old stories using their existing movies as a foundation. In this phase, Tobey Maguire’s character, Spider-Man, accepted his role as New York City’s guardian, and a variant of Charles Xavier joined the Marvel Illuminati. However, unlike before, Marvel Studios didn’t gradually build up to these events; instead, actors returned for brief appearances intended to pique viewer interest and create trending topics.

As a die-hard movie buff diving into the intricacies of the Marvel universe, it seems like the X-Men characters in “Avengers: Doomsday” might stumble upon familiar pitfalls. A seemingly lighthearted quip from Deadpool could hint at the franchise’s creative exhaustion. Professor X and Magneto, played by Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen respectively, have already wrapped up their character arcs – the first conclusion came during “X-Men: The Last Stand,” while the second was portrayed in “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” With their storylines seemingly concluded, one might wonder what fresh ground the next Avengers film could break for these characters beyond a quick reappearance for nostalgic purposes. While the fate of the multiverse hangs in the balance, it’s important to remember that there were alternative paths the story could have taken.

RELATED: Avengers: Doomsday Production Start Confirmed With Mysterious Casting Announcement

A Younger X-Men Cast Was Right There

In the role of a devoted fan, I’d say: I was thrilled when X-Men: First Class emerged as the backstory for the characters and establishments that captivated us in the initial X-Men film. James McAvoy breathed life into Charles Xavier, while Michael Fassbender brilliantly portrayed Erik Lehnsherr. The movie, under the guidance of director Matthew Vaughn, unveiled the roots of the divide between Professor Xavier and Magneto. And following their successful prevention of another World War in their debut, these versions of the characters continued to lead three more chapters of the series over a span of ten years, allowing us to grow fond of these modern interpretations of Marvel’s timeless heroes.

If Marvel Studios had wished to incorporate past iterations of Professor X and Magneto into their upcoming Avengers crossovers, they might have invited back the two actors who are still at the peak of their talents. The phase of the franchise that starred James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender concluded prematurely due to Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Reuniting McAvoy and Fassbender for such a significant crossover after what seemed like an unsatisfactory conclusion to their story arc would have been a more fitting tribute to the history that precedes the forthcoming X-Men reboot within the MCU.

It’s clear that the original cast members of X-Men will find themselves embroiled in a battle against Doctor Doom next year. Not only will we see Professor X and Magneto back in action, but we can expect to see Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, and James Marsden as Cyclops make their comeback on the big screen. A lighthearted jest made by Deadpool in his latest film might just become a grim truth for these characters. The question remains whether Marvel actors will be compelled to reprise their roles well into their nineties, merely for a few nostalgic applauses. Even the Time Variance Authority can’t provide a definitive answer on that one.

Avengers: Doomsday has a release date of May 2, 2026.

2025-03-28 01:43

Marvel’s Old Man Avengers?

The Return of Two Legends

A Younger X-Men Cast Was Right There

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