He was one of the emblematic characters of X-Men, but Marvel doesn’t want him in “Avengers 5”

The next movie Avengers: Doomsday caused great expectation among the followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (UCM), not only for the promised deployment of heroes, but also for the return of emblematic characters from the X-Men franchise. Among all these names, Famke Janssen stands out, the actress who gave life to Jean Gray in the original trilogy of X-Menwho did not receive an invitation to return to his iconic role in the 5th installment of the Avengers.

Despite her relevance as one of the most important mutants in cinema, the interpreter confirmed that Marvel did not show interest in having her. “Never. Never”Janssen declared when asked if she had had conversations about taking up Grey, thus settling any speculation about her possible return.

The news of his absence surprised many fans.especially since a good part of the classic cast of X-Men Yes, he is among those confirmed for the next great superhero meeting. The studio’s decision not only marks a distancing from one of the most recognized faces of the mutant saga, but also reopens the debate about the difficulty of balancing tributes to the classics with the need to innovate within the MCU.

Janssen, who has been repeatedly associated with Jean Gray in every interview and media project in which she participates, expressed a certain resignation to the situation. In statements given to Entertainment Weekly during the promotion of his series Amsterdam Empireacknowledged the public’s persistent interest in her version of the character, although her time as Jean Gray appears to be behind Marvel Studios.

The character of Jean Grey, played by Famke Janssen, became a fundamental piece of the success of the original trilogy of X-Menreleased by 20th Century Fox at the beginning of the 21st century. Janssen played Gray in the films X-Men (2000), X-Men 2 (2003) y X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), giving the character a notable emotional depth and being key in the development of one of the most remembered story arcs of the saga: the transformation into Phoenix.

Through his actions, Famke Janssen managed to consolidate Jean Gray as a reference in the mutant universe and as a complex heroine, capable of transmitting both vulnerability and overwhelming power. The internal duality between his humanity and the extraordinary psychic abilities he boasts became one of the most powerful elements of the franchise’s general discourse. For this reason, Janssen’s presence continues to be an object of analysis, memory and nostalgia among fans.

This relevance is reflected both in the critical assessment of his work and in the way in which the character continued to influence subsequent X-Men stories. Janssen has expressed that she is flattered by the roots of Jean Gray in the collective memory, pointing out that “It’s nice that people keep talking about her.” every time the topic of

Although Famke Janssen marked the beginning of the character of Jean Gray in the cinema, she has not been the only one to represent it on the big screen. The British Sophie Turner took on the role in the Fox-produced X-Men prequel saga that began with X-Men: First Class in 2011, although Turner debuted as Jean Gray in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and then star X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), in which his arc encompasses the character’s iconic transformation to his darkest and most powerful version.

Turner sought to give a different nuance than Janssen, adapting the character to new times and a different generation of viewers. Each stage of Jean Grey, with different actresses and narrative approaches, has provided complementary visions about a mutant who stands out both for her tragic sense and for her central role in mutant mythology.

The fact that there are several interpretations of the same character highlights the validity and versatility of Jean Gray as a symbol of the X-Men universe, while allowing Marvel and the scriptwriters to propose new alternatives with each reboot or adaptation of the franchise.

Despite the absence of Famke Janssen, the list of actors confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday is full of iconic names for X-Men fans. Patrick Stewart will reprise the role of Professor Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen will return as Magneto, and James Marsden will reprise as Scott Summers/Cyclops, who will be joined by Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romjin (Raven Darkholme/Mystique) and Kelsey Grammer (Henry Phillip McCoy/Beast).

This selection of performers from the Fox era demonstrates Marvel Studios’ interest in recovering and paying tribute to the actors who defined the tone and personality of the X-Men in the popular imagination. Although, as is usual in Marvel projects, the possibility of more familiar faces joining has not yet been ruled out thanks to the strict secrecy regarding the details of the plot and possible cameos.

The expectation around Avengers: Doomsday is expanded with the return of iconic figures from the MCU. One of the most talked about returns is that of Robert Downey Jr., who returns to the saga after a decade of experience as Tony Stark/Iron Man. On this occasion, Downey Jr. takes on a new challenge, now playing the villain Doctor Doom, thus marking a break and a new beginning for his legacy at Marvel.

The film will be directed again by Joe and Anthony Russo, former directors of the MCU’s greatest hits, and will be released in US theaters on December 18. The project already has an announced sequel, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, with the same director duo and a release date scheduled for December 17, 2027 in North America. This film is planned not only as a cycle ending, but also as the formal reboot of the current cinematic universe that Marvel has built for more than a decade.