Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) found themselves both excited and confused after the recent announcement that several actors from the early 2000s X-Men franchise would be reprising their roles in the upcoming film, Avengers: Doomsday. Featuring renowned actors such as Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, and James Marsden as Cyclops, the casting choices are surprising and have led to a flurry of fan theories regarding their roles and the nature of the storyline.

The film is set to be released in May 2026 and will also include familiar faces like Chris Hemsworth, who will return as Thor, and Anthony Mackie, who takes up the mantle of Captain America. However, the inclusion of the classic X-Men cast seemed almost too bizarre to be true, prompting fans to question the direction of the plot. How will these legendary characters align with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, who is now Victor von Doom?

Following an alleged leak from the set, some fans have begun to speculate about a potential narrative arc. The leak included drone footage that was uploaded to YouTube, showcasing what appears to be the exterior of the illustrious Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, also known as the X-Mansion. The set was depicted as being in turmoil, with explosions and craters littering the landscape. Surrounding the chaos were stacks of shipping containers, likely intended to be transformed through CGI into an epic combat scene, reminiscent of a strategic setup in a tabletop game like Warhammer.

This has led to various theories among fans. Several suggest that this explosive showdown could serve as the film's opening sequence, mirroring the way Avengers: Infinity War begins with a dramatic confrontation involving Thanos and the Hulk. One Reddit user, known as BigPaleontologist520, expressed this idea, stating, Itd be badass if the intro of this movie was Dr. Doom beating the X-Mens ass just like the first ultimate alliance game.

Other fans echoed this excitement, with InnocentTailor agreeing that this would be an impactful way to establish Dr. Doom's formidable presence, while SpiffySpacemanSpiff noted that eliminating the older cast early on could soften the shock of their age difference as the film progresses. This approach has led to mixed feelings among the community, with some viewing it as a bold strategy to inject urgency into the narrative, while others worry it might come off as a mere cash grab in a landscape where superhero fatigue is becoming prevalent.

There remains skepticism about whether the scene will indeed unfold as some fans anticipate. Just because the X-Men are shown fighting does not automatically imply that this battle will occur at the movie's start, nor does it guarantee that they will battle Dr. Doom and his mechanical minions. Given the multiverse theme that appears to be a cornerstone of Avengers: Doomsday, the writers have significant narrative freedom to explore various scenarios. One user humorously reminded others that, I wouldnt read too much into it; the school blows up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

As anticipation builds for this sequel, fans are left wondering how Marvel will weave together the threads of nostalgia with a fresh storyline, especially as the franchise grapples with evolving audience sentiments towards superhero films.