Alan Cumming has revealed that he and his colleague X-Men co-stars have remained “trauma bound” after their difficult experiences on the set of the 2003 sequel, X2.
Speaking at the TriBeCa Ball in New York on April 20, the Emmy-winning actor explained that the cast has stayed in close contact over the past twenty years precisely because the original filming process was so grueling.
Cumming is set to reprise his fan-favorite role as the teleporting mutant Nightcrawler in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Avengers: Doomsdaywhich is scheduled for release in December 2026.
Reflecting on his relationship with the original cast, Cumming noted that he has been very happy with Sir Ian McKellen and has seen a lot of Patrick Stewart, James Marsden and Rebecca Romijn over the decades.
He suggested that when a group of people go through a particularly unsettling professional experience together, it creates a lasting connection.
While he wasn’t reunited with everyone for the new Avengers project due to the fragmented nature of modern movies, the bonds formed during the early superhero days clearly haven’t faded.
The actor has been famously candid about his misery during the production of X2who have previously described the experience as “terrible” for several reasons.
He spent up to five hours a day in a makeup chair to achieve Nightcrawler’s signature blue look and has often spoken about the challenges of working with the film’s director, Bryan Singer.
However, Cumming described returning to the character for Avengers: Doomsday as a surprisingly healing experience.
He praised the directors of the new film, referring to them as “the brothers”, for creating a supportive environment where every person on set feels valued, which was a world away from his first outing in the role.
Fans will see Cumming return to the big screen alongside a massive ensemble cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd and Tom Hiddleston, as well as others X-Men veterans Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer.
For Cumming, going back to a character he never expected to play again has been a “really nice” moment.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, marking more than twenty years since Nightcrawler first appeared in the mutant franchise.
