As the release of "Avengers: Doomsday" draws closer, more character return announcements are surfacing. Among them, the news of "X-Men" franchise actor James Marsden reprising his role as Cyclops (Scott Summers) has been officially confirmed.
Marsden recently admitted on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that his previous denials of involvement were at the behest of Marvel Studios, directly telling the audience, "I did lie."
Recalling his demeanor during earlier interviews, Marsden stated, "Yeah, I lied. I was intentionally vague." He revealed that Marvel Studios has strict non-disclosure agreements for actors. "Marvel told me I couldn't reveal anything. I asked them if it was okay to just say I wasn't involved, and they said yes." Ultimately, to avoid breaching the NDA, he chose to deny his participation in the film.
Marsden also quipped that contractual and legal issues were involved, so he didn't want to risk leaking information. "I didn't want to get in trouble, so I lied, sorry." He then officially confirmed, "I will be in 'Avengers: Doomsday,' returning as Cyclops."
Marsden's return also brings a significant costume change. Unlike the more realistic black leather suits from previous "X-Men" films, Cyclops in "Avengers: Doomsday" will sport a blue and yellow battle suit, much closer to his comic book design.
Regarding the new look, Marsden commented, "That yellow and blue suit is really cool, it's straight out of the comics." However, he admitted the visor wasn't easy to work with. "It's almost like wearing sunglasses indoors all the time; visibility isn't great, but it looks fantastic."
Marsden also reflected on past Cyclops costume designs, noting that earlier versions restricted movement. He said, "The old costumes made it hard to do almost anything. Jumping over walls or performing actions was limited. The new suit is clearly much better."
It is understood that the X-Men characters' roles in "Avengers: Doomsday" may not be extensive. It is widely believed that this film could serve as a transitional farewell for the original "X-Men" cast, paving the way for Marvel Studios to reboot the mutant universe in the future.