Nightcrawler Actor Alan Cumming On "Game Changing" Makeup Process For AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Return

Nightcrawler Actor Alan Cumming On "Game Changing" Makeup Process For AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Return

Nobody ever expected to see Alan Cumming reprise his X-Men 2 role as Nightcrawler, but the mutant hero will return for Avengers: Doomsday, and the actor has already done some makeup tests...

By MarkCassidy - Apr 05, 2025 07:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Avengers: Doomsday

Of all the actors announced as being part of last week's massive Avengers: Doomsday's cast reveal live-stream, Alan Cumming might have been the most surprising.

Cumming made his one and only appearance in 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise as Kurt Wagner, aka Nightcrawler, in X2, but declined the studio's offer to reprise the role for the third film because he had no interest in sitting through the arduous makeup process again.

Wagner didn't show up in again until Kodi Smit-McPhee took over as a younger take on the character in X-Men: Apocalypse.

There's been some speculation that Cumming may only be lending his voice to a fully CG take on Nightcrawler, but the actor has now confirmed that this will not be the case, as he's already done a makeup test.

"Isn't it nuts? I'm excited and amazed," Cumming tells Collider when asked about his return for Doomsday. "It's been 23 years since I was a superhero. I've had some makeup tests already for the role, but what's great about it was that before it was about 4 and a half hours to apply it, but now it's only 90 minutes. Before, all of the tattoos were done by hand. They hadn't decided on them before we started filming. Now, they just stick onto my face. It's a game changer. I'm going back to being a 60-year-old superhero, and everyone seems really lovely."

Cumming spoke about his role in X-Men 2 and his frustration with the makeup process shortly before it was announced that he'd be back for the next Avengers movie.

“The character is really interesting, the message of the film (tolerance of others who are different from us) was very timely and unusual for a Hollywood blockbuster, but the real drag was having to spend over four hours a day having two men poke my face,” Cumming posted to his website . “Then there were the harnesses for the tail and for flying, the feet, the hands — which made going to the loo a group effort, the teeth, the lenses, oh God don’t get me started.”

Cumming recently took to Instagram to share a fun response to the casting news, captioning his brief video, "Never Say Never."

Cumming will be joined by fellow OG X-Men Ian McKellen (Magneto), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), James Marsden (Cyclops), Kelsey Grammer (Beast), and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique). You can check out the full (for now) cast list below.

• Paul Rudd as Ant-Man

• Simu Liu as Shang-Chi

• Tom Hiddleston as Loki

• Lewis Pullman as Sentry

• Florence Pugh as Yelena

• Danny Ramirez as Falcon

• Ian McKellen as Magneto

• Sebastian Stan as Bucky

• Winston Duke as M’Baku

• Chris Hemsworth as Thor

• Kelsey Grammer as Beast

• James Marsden as Cyclops

• Channing Tatum as Gambit

• Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent

• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm

• Rebecca Romijn as Mystique

• Patrick Stewart as Professor X

• Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler

• Letitia Wright as Black Panther

• Tenoch Huerta Mejia as Namor

• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards

• Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost

• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm

• David Harbour as Red Guardian

• Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom

• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing

• Anthony Mackie as Captain America

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TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/5/2025, 7:34 PM
How about this time, we don't put a bunch of stupid markings all over his body. I loved him as Nightcrawler, he was phenomenal, but he looked ridiculous. His face looked like a bridge underpass. Looked like a gang decided to take up graffiti by way of soldering irons.
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/5/2025, 7:39 PM
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McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/5/2025, 8:17 PM
@TheStranger - I dug it. Dug the story purpose for why he gave himself tattoos too.
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 4/5/2025, 8:27 PM
@TheStranger - Why would they suddenly not be there?
OrgasmicPotatoe
OrgasmicPotatoe - 4/5/2025, 8:54 PM
@TheStranger - Have you read the article ? Sounds like the scars are coming back, deal with it
KurtCrawler
KurtCrawler - 4/5/2025, 9:13 PM
@TheStranger - what a stupud comment
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/6/2025, 12:14 AM
@KurtCrawler - The irony that you misspelled "stupid". 😂 I'll take the "W". ✌
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/6/2025, 12:15 AM
@OrgasmicPotatoe - To be totally honest I doubt I even watch the movie. It's your trainwreck, you deal with it. ✌
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/6/2025, 12:22 AM
@McMurdo - Yeah I mean, I understood the reason for it, it was...kinda unique I guess. I totally get why someone would like them, I just think they looked hideous and didn't add much to the character beyond one piece of dialog. If it's easier on him to not deal with it, I don't see a good reason to leave them in. That's just me.
TheStranger
TheStranger - 4/6/2025, 12:24 AM
@EskimoJ - It's the multi-verse and it's comics. They only need to think of a reason, but yeah I read the article I'm just making a light hearted comment and joke. I never expected anyone to actually take it as seriously as a few below have. 🙃
Biggums
Biggums - 4/6/2025, 5:28 AM
@McMurdo - yep. The tatts were awesome.
Biggums
Biggums - 4/6/2025, 5:28 AM
@TheStranger - I fart in your general direction.
SolarSoldier
SolarSoldier - 4/6/2025, 12:54 PM
@TheStranger - Agreed. I didn't like them at all and they added nothing to the character.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/5/2025, 7:41 PM
out of the 3, Alan Cum was the best nightcrawer

JonAwesome
JonAwesome - 4/5/2025, 8:17 PM
@harryba11zack - who am I forgetting? I know Alan and Kodi.
harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 4/5/2025, 8:21 PM
@JonAwesome -
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JonAwesome
JonAwesome - 4/5/2025, 10:17 PM
@harryba11zack - got me! Lol
dracula
dracula - 4/5/2025, 7:58 PM
Those were tattoos?

I thought they were scars
McMurdo
McMurdo - 4/5/2025, 8:17 PM
@dracula - technically they were brands, yes.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 4/5/2025, 8:48 PM
@dracula - I don't recall the specifics but they were discussed in the film as being summut like religious text he drew on himself, form of self flagellation with tattoos to amend for his perceived sins (as I say dont recall the specifics but along those lines).

I'll try and find a quote
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 4/5/2025, 8:50 PM
@dracula - [While Kurt was praying, Ororo stumbles to him and look at Kurt's markings in his face]

Storm:
So... what... are they?

Nightcrawler:
They are angelic symbols passed on to mankind by the Archangel Gabriel.

Storm:
They're beautiful. How many do you have?

Nightcrawler:
One for every sin. So quite a few.

[Storm smiles]
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 4/5/2025, 7:59 PM
Awesome actor, glad he's back.
dracula
dracula - 4/5/2025, 7:59 PM
Nice to know they arent switching to CGI

Guessing Kelsey in the Marvels was just a time thing
RolandD
RolandD - 4/5/2025, 8:05 PM
The opening scene in X-Men 2was incredible. I also like the way he waved at the president at the end of the movie.

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Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/5/2025, 8:11 PM
@RolandD - Definitely in my top 5 opening scenes for any movie. It still holds up
RolandD
RolandD - 4/5/2025, 8:23 PM
@Wahhvacado - I’ll mention another one in the see if it made your list- The Dark Knight.
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 4/5/2025, 8:47 PM
@RolandD - Yep! Also Baby Driver
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 4/5/2025, 10:22 PM
@RolandD - iconic scene.

?si=XjiAw_RBP9rzabRR
RolandD
RolandD - 4/5/2025, 10:30 PM
@TheVisionary25 - Yes. The effects stand-up well today.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 4/5/2025, 11:21 PM
@Wahhvacado -

Superman

Christmas Vacation

300

Watchmen

The Goonies

Dracula

Top Gun

Halloween
CaptainAwkward
CaptainAwkward - 4/6/2025, 5:10 AM
@RolandD - One of the best opening sequences to a film ever. Pure cinema. The score, the cinematography, the set design, Cumming as Nightcrawler is majestic. I can’t get enough of this sequence it’s like an adrenaline rush.
MartianManHuntr
MartianManHuntr - 4/6/2025, 6:11 AM
@CaptainAwkward - Well, get ready then. I'm pretty sure he would be there for a cameo and die.

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gambgel
gambgel - 4/6/2025, 8:23 AM
@MartianManHuntr - studios dont announce a cast member just for a quick cameo. Seems like you dont know how this works.

If the X-Men actors were announced now, its because they have a decent role. Alan himself has confirmed he goes to London today to start filming, so doesnt sound like a cameo at all.
CaptainAwkward
CaptainAwkward - 4/6/2025, 9:30 AM
@MartianManHuntr - doesn’t bother me just happy the Xmen are in the same movie as avengers, dream come true.
RolandD
RolandD - 4/6/2025, 2:51 PM
@CaptainAwkward - User Comment Image
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 4/5/2025, 8:26 PM
Fingers crossed he'll have his two swords! 😁
MartianManHuntr
MartianManHuntr - 4/6/2025, 6:17 AM
@TheRationalNerd - 3

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User Comment Image

Thebronxknight
Thebronxknight - 4/5/2025, 8:27 PM
I'm surprised they didnt cgi him.
Vigor
Vigor - 4/5/2025, 11:29 PM
@Thebronxknight - saving their money for the hulks
Astroman
Astroman - 4/5/2025, 8:28 PM
Would have liked to see them ditch the scaring but awesome he’s back.
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