X-Men Star Alan Cumming Calls X2 'Terrible,' Praises Doomsday Healing

From X-Men Woes to Avengers Redemption

Alan Cumming opens up about reprising his role as Nightcrawler in Marvel's upcoming Avengers: Doomsday - a stark contrast to what he calls the "hellish" experience shooting X2 two decades ago. The acclaimed actor joins an impressive roster of returning X-Men veterans including Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, and Ian McKellen.

"It was unexpectedly therapeutic to revisit a character from what had been such a difficult chapter," Cumming reveals.

A Behind-the-Scenes Nightmare

In his revealing 2021 memoir, Cumming detailed the chaos of X2's production under director Bryan Singer, alleging substance abuse issues and unprofessional behavior that created a toxic set environment. The situation became so volatile it reportedly led to explosive arguments between cast and crew.

Healing Through Heroics

"At 60 years old, I never imagined I'd be doing superhero stunts again," Cumming confessed with visible excitement about his Avengers experience. Despite a tight shooting schedule due to commitments to The Traitors, the actor found the production surprisingly joyous - a complete reversal from his previous Marvel experience.

What's Next for Avengers: Doomsday?

While Cumming has wrapped filming, production continues with major additions still to come. Industry insiders anticipate:

• Deadpool's Ryan Reynolds beginning filming soon
• The potential return of Xochitl Gomez's America Chavez
• More surprise cameos from legacy Marvel actors

This multiversal event film promises to unite Marvel's most iconic characters in what could be the studio's most ambitious crossover yet. For Cumming, it represents both a triumphant return and personal redemption story.