Rumors surrounding Marvel's "Avengers: Doomsday" continue to swirl, with veteran "X-Men" screenwriter Chris Claremont recently making a surprising claim on a podcast. Claremont stated that Famke Janssen, who famously portrayed Jean Grey, will return in the upcoming film, a revelation that directly contradicts the actress's past public denials and has immediately ignited fervent discussion among fans.
Claremont dropped the bombshell during an appearance on the "Power of X-Men" podcast, where he was discussing the recently unveiled "Avengers: Doomsday" trailer.
That trailer has already confirmed the return of several Fox-era "X-Men" actors, including Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, and James Marsden as Cyclops.
Claremont described the casting as "the most surprising thing is bringing back the original cast," and explicitly named Famke Janssen as part of that ensemble.
This isn't the first time Claremont has preemptively leaked information about upcoming Marvel films. Last year, at a public event, he mentioned multiple characters returning for "Doomsday" and its sequel, "Avengers: Secret Wars," a list that included the later officially confirmed return of Chris Evans.
Additionally, Claremont previously stated that Elizabeth Olsen would reprise her role as Scarlet Witch, suggesting his leaks are not baseless. This has led some fans to speculate that he may have access to production information in a consulting capacity.
Famke Janssen herself, however, has explicitly stated in past interviews that Marvel "never, absolutely never" extended an invitation for her to return. She originated the role of Jean Grey in 2000's "X-Men," met her demise in "X-Men: The Last Stand," and made only a brief cameo in "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Sophie Turner later took over the role of Jean Grey in subsequent iterations.
Beyond Stewart, McKellen, and Marsden, other familiar faces from Fox's "X-Men" universe, including Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn, are also rumored to appear in "Avengers: Doomsday."
As the list of returning characters continues to expand, speculation is rampant among moviegoers that the film could be setting the stage for an epic "Avengers vs. X-Men" showdown.
via： IGN