Ian McKellen’s Recent Comment Sparks Theories About Avengers: Doomsday Spoilers

Sir Ian McKellen on Dec. 18, 2025; Ian McKellen in Avengers: Doomsday.
Credit:

Dave Benett/Getty; Marvel Entertainment

NEED TO KNOW

• Sir Ian McKellen may have inadvertently revealed a plot point from Avengers: Doomsday during a recent interview.
• McKellen is set to reprise his role as X-Men antagonist Magneto in the upcoming Avengers film, alongside co-stars Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, and Rebecca Romijn.
• Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on December 18.

Sir Ian McKellen may have let slip a plot detail about Avengers: Doomsday in a recent interview. The 86-year-old actor referenced a significant moment from the anticipated fifth installment of the Avengers series during a discussion with entertainment journalist Jake Hamilton, which was published on Hamilton’s YouTube page on January 31.

“The first film, I remember the camera behind me, my hands raised up and as they did that, two motorcars, police cars in front of me were raised up by cranes,” McKellen recounted while reflecting on his portrayal of Magneto in the X-Men franchise. “And when I signaled by dropping my hands, the cars dropped. These were not special effects.”

He added, “Nowadays, I think these will become a little bit easier — though I did destroy New Jersey the other day,” before realizing, “Oooh, I perhaps shouldn’t have said that.”

Ian McKellen in Avengers: Doomsday.

Marvel Entertainment

McKellen’s portrayal of Magneto spans six films, starting with the original X-Men adaptation in 2000. He is set to return to this iconic role in Avengers: Doomsday, marking his first appearance as the character since 2014. A teaser trailer released in January features McKellen alongside co-star Patrick Stewart, who reprises his role as Professor X, and James Marsden, returning as Cyclops.

Details regarding the storyline of Doomsday remain largely under wraps, though Robert Downey Jr. will make a noteworthy return as the villain Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, seven years after his last appearance as Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame. Recent teasers have hinted at the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, alongside Chris Hemsworth as Thor. The teasers also tease intriguing interactions between characters from various Marvel franchises.

Both Doomsday and its scheduled 2027 sequel, Avengers: Secret Wars, are expected to feature members from the MCU’s Thunderbolts. The returning cast for Doomsday includes Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Simu Liu, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and Kelsey Grammer.

Reflecting on the character of Magneto, McKellen expressed surprise at the character’s popularity, stating, “I thought he was the villain, but no, I think people rather like his attitude.” He shared that working with younger actors brought a refreshing energy to the project, noting their enthusiasm and confidence, while he and Stewart embraced their roles as veteran performers.

Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters on December 18.