Rebecca Romijn is officially suiting up again as her legendary X-Men character Mystique in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Avengers: Doomsday. The actress, who first brought the shapeshifting mutant to life in the early 2000s films, said the opportunity to step back into the role has been both “unexpected” and “surreal.”
Speaking with PTI, Romijn explained, “Very surreal. It was a call that was very unexpected for me and very thrilling. We’re currently shooting and filming now and it’s been wonderful so far.”
Romijn originally played Mystique in the first X-Men movie in 2000, later reprising the role in X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). She also had a brief cameo in X-Men: First Class (2011), before Jennifer Lawrence took over the character in the prequel series.
A Reunion of X-Men Legends
Avengers: Doomsday won’t just feature Romijn’s return. Several other iconic stars from the original X-Men franchise—Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, and James Marsden—are all confirmed to appear. The crossover promises to bring together Marvel’s multiverse storylines in a way fans have long hoped to see.
Balancing Career and Motherhood
Beyond her excitement about Mystique, Romijn also opened up about how she chooses her projects these days. As a mother, she explained that she wants to take on roles that reflect strength and provide inspiration for her daughters.
“I am a mother of girls and so it’s very important to choose roles that are positive role models for my daughters and for other young ladies around the world. I don’t take it lightly, especially when I’m leaving my daughters to go away on location and have to be away from them for long periods of time,” Romijn shared.
She added that she wants to be proud of the work she comes home with, particularly in sci-fi and comic book genres. “I really enjoy playing female characters that are multifaceted and often just as strong as the male characters. It’s important to me.”
What’s Next in Avengers: Doomsday
The highly anticipated film will also mark the return of Robert Downey Jr., this time not as Tony Stark, but as Marvel’s new big bad—Dr. Victor von Doom. With Romijn back as Mystique, legacy X-Men actors joining the lineup, and Downey stepping into a villain role, Avengers: Doomsday is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s biggest ensemble films yet.
The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in December 2026.
