No one expected Nightcrawler to return in Avengers: Doomsday. It will be a real treat to see Alan Cumming reprise this iconic role, which he previously played in X-Men 2. But if the actor does return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it should be a little different from his previous appearance.
Nightcrawler: The Return of Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming gave a memorable performance as Nightcrawler in X-Men 2. A cult character, he offered a restrained, quite deep and touching interpretation of a complex and deeply religious character. Diablo has become, over time, one of the cult characters of the original X-Men trilogy, despite only one appearance. A character much loved by comic book fans, Diablo then returned in X-Men: Apocalypse in the guise of the young Kodi Smit-McPhee. In the MCU, he has already made a notable appearance in the series X-Men ’97.
Diablo will therefore make his return to the MCU for Avengers: Doomsday. The cherry on the cake is that Alan Cumming will be reprising this iconic role. 60-year-old Alan Cumming is an iconic British actor, but one who has lacked truly memorable roles. He has nevertheless been seen in cult films such as GoldenEye (1995), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Spy Kids (2001) and Son of the Mask (2005). We are also very happy to see him back as Diablo.
What will change compared to X-Men 2?
For a while, we were afraid that Diablo would be brought back in CGI. Indeed, it was rumored that the famous X-Men would be entirely recreated in computer graphics, and thus, that Alan Cumming would only be used for his voice. After all, this was the case for The Sandman and the Lizard in Spider-Man: No Way Home. A way for Marvel Studios to not need to bring back actors Thomas Haden Church and Rhys Ifans in the flesh. A way, therefore, to save money while bringing back cult characters. Obviously, we were a bit disappointed when we discovered that Thomas Haden Church and Rhys Ifans weren't actually there.
Fortunately, Alan Cumming will be present in Avengers: Doomsday. Nightcrawler will be brought back in his iconic form, with a design similar to that of X-Men 2. That's what the actor revealed to Collider when he discussed his makeup routine:
I'm excited and amazed. It's been 23 years since I gave up being a superhero. I've already had a few makeup tests for my return. But there's a big difference compared to the X-Men 2 days. Back then, I spent 4.5 hours in makeup getting ready, this time it only takes me 30 minutes. Before, all the tattoos were done by hand. Now, they stick them on my face and skin. It's a radical change. I'm becoming a superhero again at 60, what a joy!
So, a radical change in Alan Cumming's preparation. What's reassuring is that the Russo brothers decided to keep a realistic approach by opting for makeup rather than CGI. It remains to be seen whether the result will be as impressive as in X-Men 2. On his website, Alan Cumming also communicated about this makeup change:
The character is really interesting, the film's message of tolerance was very timely and quite unusual for a Hollywood blockbuster. But the real drag was spending 4 hours a day in makeup. I had harnesses for my tail and to teleport, I had contact lenses, false teeth, etc.
An attention to detail that explains the iconic design of Devil in X-Men 2. Unfortunately, the trend in current blockbusters is more towards CGI. We're pretty sure that Diablo's tail will be recreated in CGI in Avengers: Doomsday, and that there probably won't be the same attention to detail between the Bryan Singer and Russo Brothers films. See you on April 26, 2026 to witness Diablo's return!
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