Avengers: Doomsday’s Anthony Mackie has revealed his dream X-Men team-up and why the upcoming Marvel epic feels like a return to form. While promoting his latest projects, Mackie confirmed he begins filming this week. He also shared his excitement about working with the Russo brothers again. In new interviews, he named Nightcrawler and Cyclops as the X-Men he most wants Captain America to team up with.
Anthony Mackie says he wants to team up with Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday
In an interview with ScreenRant while promoting his animated film Sneaks, Anthony Mackie discussed his excitement for the MCU’s integration of legacy X-Men characters into the upcoming Avengers sequel.
When asked which X-Men character he would like to team up with, Mackie said, “My favorite is Nightcrawler. If I can hang out with one character? Me and Nightcrawler in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras for two weeks, that’s what I do.” He also mentioned a longstanding admiration for Cyclops, adding, “I have a Cyclops action figure on my key chain that I’ve had since high school.”
Marvel Studios previously confirmed that Avengers: Doomsday will feature several returning X-Men actors. The cast includes Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), and Channing Tatum (Gambit). These roles bring back fan-favorite characters from the 2000s X-Men films.
In a separate interview with IGN while promoting Twisted Metal Season 2, Mackie discussed filming timelines and creative leadership for the movie. “We’re supposed to go out this week and we’ll be out there doing it. Everybody’s excited,” he said. “I feel with the script and having the Russo brothers back, it’s going to be great.” Mackie emphasized the tone of the film, stating, “It’s going to give the audience that old Marvel feeling that they always had.”
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for theatrical release on May 1, 2026, and will launch Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film will feature a crossover of MCU heroes and characters from Earth-10005’s X-Men timeline.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.
