Fans of the X-Men cinematic universe may be wondering if Famke Janssen will reprise her iconic role as Jean Grey in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The Dutch actress, who brought the beloved mutant to life in the early X-Men films, recently addressed the speculation—and her comments make it clear that she was not invited back.
Here’s everything we know about Janssen, her thoughts on returning to Marvel, and what she’s been up to since her time as Jean Grey.
Famke Janssen Confirms She Was Not Asked to Return
In an interview with Variety in November 2025, Janssen candidly explained that Marvel Studios has not contacted her regarding reprising Jean Grey for Avengers: Doomsday or any other upcoming Avengers projects.
“When I say that, people don’t believe me,” Janssen said. “So I’m just gonna wait for the movie to come out and, you know, people can see for themselves.”
The 61-year-old actress first brought Jean Grey to life in 2000’s X-Men and appeared in several sequels, cementing her as a fan-favorite character. Despite many of her former co-stars—Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, and Kelsey Grammer—returning for Avengers: Doomsday, Janssen’s character will not appear in the film, sparking speculation among fans online.
Open to Returning, But Timing Is Everything
Although Janssen isn’t currently involved in the MCU, she left the door open for future possibilities.
“I’m always open to anything,” Janssen told Variety. “It depends on the timing. It’s just a hypothetical question because I don’t know that they would ever bring back my Jean Grey. At that point, I would take a look at it.”
She emphasized that her career has evolved beyond acting alone, highlighting her role as executive producer for Netflix’s Dutch drama series, Amsterdam Empire, now streaming worldwide.
“It’s really hard to go back to something where I’m just asked to come in and say a few lines,” she said, reflecting on the limitations of reprising older roles.
Passing the Torch to Sophie Turner
Jean Grey has already been recast, with Sophie Turner taking over the role in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019). Janssen praised Turner’s performance, calling it “amazing” and declined to offer advice, noting the franchise has been excellent at casting talented actors.
“They’ve been so good at casting incredible actors, and no one needs any tips from me. I’m looking forward to seeing who they cast next,” she said.
Janssen’s Current Projects
Outside of Marvel, Janssen has kept busy with several new ventures. In addition to Amsterdam Empire, she has upcoming projects including the thriller One Second After and the sci-fi action film The Experiment.
Her work as an executive producer and lead actress demonstrates her expanding influence in Hollywood beyond her superhero roots.
Avengers: Doomsday and Beyond
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026, and will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on December 17, 2027. While Janssen will not be returning as Jean Grey, fans can still enjoy the contributions of other original X-Men cast members and new MCU stars in the evolving superhero saga.
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