Nightcrawler’s 90-Minute Makeover Is a Game Changer

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is famous for keeping fans guessing, with surprises popping up in both cinemas and on Disney+. One of the most eagerly awaited upcoming Marvel films is Avengers: Doomsday, which promises a large ensemble of characters. During Marvel’s live-streamed cast announcement, it was disclosed that several actors from the X-Men movie series will reprise their roles, including Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. Moreover, the actor and Emmy-winning TV host shared an exciting detail about his upcoming comeback in the superhero world.

Information about the upcoming movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday” has been scarce, but bits of news are gradually emerging. Fans are excited as various actors from the X-Men franchise are involved, including Cumming, who last portrayed Nightcrawler in 2003’s “X-2“. During his recent appearance on “Today with Jenna & Friends“, he hinted at a significant aspect of this eagerly anticipated comeback, saying:

Isn’t it astonishing? I’m thrilled and in awe. It’s been 23 years since I last donned the superhero cape. I’ve had initial makeup trials for the role, and what’s fantastic is that the application time has significantly decreased – from about four and a half hours to just 90 minutes now.

It appears that this innovation might revolutionize the industry. Traditional makeup and prosthetics have been instrumental in making comic book characters appear lifelike on screen, but the preparation process before filming can be quite challenging. For instance, Dave Bautista described his Drax makeup as a “nightmare”, while Jennifer Lawrence endured this process to portray Mystique in the X-Men films. However, it seems that technology has made significant strides, particularly in the case of Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler.

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In just one movie of the X-Men series, Alan Cumming left a strong impression playing Nightcrawler. Thus, his return for Avengers: Doomsday came as a pleasant surprise twice over. Considering his current prominence as host of The Traitors, currently streaming on Peacock, it appears to be an opportune moment to involve him in the excitement of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In contrast to Cumming who featured in only X-Men 2, Nightcrawler received more screen time due to the First Class trilogy (including Dark Phoenix). Portrayed by Kodi Smit-McPhee, a younger iteration of Kurt Wagner was introduced, carrying the same vulnerability that Alan Cumming had embodied. However, it’s the original cast members who are making a comeback for Avengers: Doomsday, including Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden. Kevin Feige has hinted that this is “some, not all” of the casting for that upcoming blockbuster.

It seems the actor from Goldeneye might need significantly reduced time for makeup and hair styling in the upcoming project. We’re curious to observe if this change affects his portrayal of Nightcrawler in any manner. Regardless, fans are definitely looking forward to it!

It’s anticipated that “Avengers: Doomsday” will hit theaters on May 1st, 2026, but before that, you can catch “Thunderbolts” on May 2nd, which is one of the films scheduled for release in 2025.

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2025-04-15 21:08