Why did Alan Cumming become Nightcrawler again in Avengers?

Forgetting the ‘terrible’ experience of X2, Alan Cumming found solace in becoming Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday.

The feeling of coming back

Alan Cumming just wrapped filming for Avengers: Doomsday, and his reaction will make any Nightcrawler fan skip a beat.

“Going back was actually very healing,” he tells PEOPLE.

His first experience in 2003’s X2 was so bad that it led him to “terrible.”

Now, two decades later, he’s reinventing the character with renewed vigor.

Old memories, new perspective

Cumming spent five hours a day in the makeup chair while making X2.

Stories of on-set tensions with Bryan Singer evoke that pain in his memoirs.

But Doomsday was the other way around—no long lines, no long arguments. “Everyone was really nice,” he says.

How much makeup has changed?

Whereas tattoos used to be hand-drawn, they’re now applied in minutes with stickers.

90 minutes vs. the five-hour difference proved to be a game-changer for Cumming.

Frankly, it’s the wonder of technology that makes us forget the struggles of being a superhero before.

Stunts at 60?

“I never thought I’d be doing stunts at 60,” Alan says. But he put his fitness to the test—a little practice, a little adrenaline.

His enthusiasm remained intact even behind the confines of the green screen in between shoots.

Family reunion

Nightcrawler isn’t the only one returning for Doomsday—Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer and James Marsden also return.

Robert Downey Jr. is back as Doctor Doom, and Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan and Paul Rudd are bringing the fun back.

The big Marvel family has been reunited.

Marsden’s homecoming

James Marsden also told Vanity Fair that returning to the Cyclops uniform was “special.”

“The fact that it was an event project the first time around is what connects me to this role,” he said.

Well, a special role is being relived—what a treat!

Ready for release

Now we just have to wait for May 1, 2026 when Avengers: Doomsday will rock the big screen.

A healed Nightcrawler, a reunited X-Men cast and a great storyline—are you ready for this superhero journey?

The story of Avengers: Doomsday is not just a film, but also the redemption arc of Alan Cumming’s own story.

Before the start of next year, remember this—some experiences seem bad at the time, but if given the opportunity, those same moments can change completely.