AVENGERS Doomsday (2026) With Robert Downey Jr & Tom Holland

It looks like Avengers Doomsday is already shaping up to be one of the most complicated productions Marvel has ever taken on, and part of that comes straight from one of the actors themselves. Alan Cumming, who is stepping back into the role of Nightcrawler for the upcoming Phase 6 crossover, recently shed some light on what filming has been like for him, and his comments made it sound both exhausting and fascinating. Because Marvel Studios is juggling so many heroes, villains, and multiversal storylines at once, it isn't surprising that some actors are being filmed under unusual circumstances, but hearing it come from someone as experienced as Cumming gives fans a better idea of the challenges behind the camera. To give some context, Avengers Doomsday is the first Avengers movie since Endgame in 2019, so the stakes couldn't be higher. It's the crown jewel of Phase 6, meant to pull together everything Marvel has been laying down during the multiverse saga. With only a handful of movies and shows left before the saga reaches its finale, fans have been itching for updates. The buzz around this movie is massive, partly because it finally merges the MCU with characters from Fox's old X-Men universe, bringing actors like Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, and now Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler back into the fold gives the film a nostalgic pull that Endgame had with earlier Marvel heroes. Cumming himself, however, has made headlines by admitting that his time on set hasn't exactly been traditional. He told Gold Derby that he filmed all of his scenes in isolation, with plenty of green screen, digital face replacements, and even fake names on the script pages so no one could tell who was supposed to be in which scene. He joked about not even knowing who he was acting with half the time. At one point, he accidentally mentioned something online that caused a stir, but he admitted he might have been wrong about it. That sort of secrecy makes sense for Marvel, because leaks have spoiled big surprises in the past, so it's easier for the studio to keep actors in the dark. But it also shows how fragmented production has become on a project this massive. It's worth remembering that filming alone isn't unusual for blockbusters packed with CGI. Actors who play heavily digital characters often work against green screens, filling in their performances later with effects. But what makes Cumming's comments stand out is that Nightcrawler isn't always a full CGI creation. In the Fox films, he wore prosthetics and makeup and performed alongside his co-stars in key scenes. So the fact that he did so much of Doomsday without interacting with other actors raises questions about the way his character fits into the story. It could mean he's part of bigger action sequences that were stitched together digitally. Or maybe Marvel just doesn't want to risk him leaking something by knowing too much about who else is in the scene. Of course, Marvel hasn't fully revealed the cast list yet. Kevin Feige hinted that while fans know some of the big names, there are still surprises waiting. That means Cumming could actually have filmed moments with characters who haven't even been announced. So although it sounds lonely on set, there's a good chance the finished product will make it look like he's right in the middle of the action with the rest of the Avengers. Based on his comments, it seems possible that he's already wrapped his scenes, though nothing is certain. Big tentpole films like this often keep scripts evolving even after filming starts. Because of that, reshoots or additional pickup scenes later in the year wouldn't be surprising. Still, the idea that Cumming might have filmed his entire role without knowing the full context makes his experience sound unique compared to many of his co-stars. One of the most interesting tidbits Cumming let slip was that he was supposedly punching Pedro Pascal, who's set to play Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic. He later tried to downplay that detail, almost as if he regretted saying it. But it's hard not to believe there's some truth to it, especially because Marvel has a history of pitting heroes against each other before uniting them against a common enemy. It's a formula that worked perfectly in Captain America Civil War, and even smaller films like Age of Ultron leaned into hero-on-hero fights like the Hulkbuster vs. Hulk sequence. So if Nightcrawler really does square off against Mr. Fantastic, that could be one of several crowd-pleasing details sprinkled throughout Doomsday. And those potential matchups are where the movie really starts to sound exciting. With such a huge cast, Marvel has the opportunity to throw a bunch of creative one-on-one battles onto the screen. Fans have already started speculating about dreamfights, and some of them make too much sense to pass up. Take Thor vs. Sentry for example. Sentry was introduced in Thunderbolts, and immediately changed the power scale of the MCU because of how dangerous he is, especially when the Void persona comes into play. Doctor Doom may be the overarching villain of Doomsday, but someone as unstable and powerful as Sentry could just as easily threaten everyone. The only Avenger who might stand a chance of holding his own against him is Thor, whose godlike strength and combat experience make for the kind of showdown fans would love to see. Then there's the idea of Black Panther, Shuri's version, clashing with Reed Richards. Both characters are genius-level intellects in their respective universes, and both are used to making tough, morally grey decisions. A battle of brains, as well as brawn between them, would be something we haven't really seen in the MCU before, and it would nod to their history in the Illuminati from the comics. Another emotional matchup could come from Sam Wilson's Captain America facing off against Bucky Barnes. Their friendship has been one of the MCU's most heartfelt dynamics, especially through the Falcon and the Winter Soldier. But with the New Avengers and Thunderbolts shifting allegiances, it's possible they could find themselves on opposite sides. Watching two best friends clash, not because they want to but because they feel like they have to, would be heartbreaking, but dramatically powerful. Other potential fights sound like they'd be visually stunning. Ghost, who was underused in Thunderbolts, could finally get her moment against Nightcrawler. Her phasing abilities paired with his teleportation would make for an acrobatic, blink-and-you'll-miss-it style fight unlike anything Marvel has done before. Cyclops taking on the Human Torch could create dazzling visuals too, optic blasts colliding with fireballs in a way that practically writes itself. Then there's Ant-Man, who might not seem like a natural brawler, but his giant man form could make him a worthy opponent for the thing. Watching Ben Grimm go toe-to-toe with a skyscraper-sized Scott Lang would be both funny and jaw-dropping. Yelena Belova clashing with Mystique would also feel earned, since both characters are skilled fighters who don't rely on flashy powers. Mystique's shape-shifting, though, could hit Yelena where it hurts emotionally, especially if she disguised herself as Natasha Romanoff during a fight. Beast vs. Red Guardian could be another brains vs. brawn battle, with Hank McCoy's intelligence contrasting against Alexi's brute force. Even Namor could find himself fighting the Invisible Woman, and their rivalry has roots in the comics. Their interaction could mix romance, rivalry, and politics, especially since Namor has always been portrayed as willing to fight for his people no matter the cost. Finally, Gambit vs. Shang-Chi would be one of the most stylish duels Marvel could put on screen. Gambit's kinetic-charged cards and staff fighting paired with Shang-Chi's mastery of the Ten Rings would create a sequence packed with flair, agility, and spectacle. Both are newcomers to the MCU, so giving them a high-profile fight would cement them as fan favorites. The point is, Avengers Doomsday has more opportunities for creative battles than any Marvel movie before it, simply because the roster is so big. And even though Alan Cumming might have spent most of his shoot in front of a green screen by himself, the end result could place Nightcrawler in the middle of one of these unforgettable match-ups. Looking at the bigger picture, the secrecy around filming makes sense. Marvel doesn't want to spoil which heroes are fighting, teaming up, or switching sides. Although Cumming's comments make the process sound frustrating, they also suggest that the studio is carefully protecting the surprises it has in store. That's why even vague remarks from him spark such intense speculation. So, while fans might not get a clear idea of Nightcrawler's exact role until the film finally arrives in December 2026, Cumming's experience shows how massive and secretive Avengers Doomsday really is. It may feel odd for him to have filmed so much in isolation, but when the finished product hits theaters, it's almost guaranteed that all those puzzle pieces will come together into a spectacular whole. And that's that for today's video. Thanks for watching and we'll see you in the next one.