Actress Famke Janssen has expressed her disappointment over being excluded from Marvel Studios' upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, stating that the studio "made a mistake" by not bringing back her character, Jean Grey, alongside many of her former X-Men co-stars.
Janssen's Comments at SPACECON 2026
Speaking with Nerdtropolis during SPACECON 2026, Janssen admitted she struggles to keep secrets and joked that her facial expressions would immediately betray any hidden plans. "I am so bad at keeping secrets that I always say to everyone I'm the worst actor in the world. It's all on my face. You right away will read it," she said. She then added, "I think they made a mistake, but hey, who am I? I'm just a little me who thinks that."
History of Jean Grey in X-Men Films
Janssen first portrayed Jean Grey in the 2000 film X-Men, which launched Fox's highly successful mutant franchise. She reprised the role in X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), and made brief appearances in The Wolverine (2013) and X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014).
Confirmed Cast for Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel Studios has confirmed the return of several original X-Men actors for Avengers: Doomsday. Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as Professor Charles Xavier, while Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, and Kelsey Grammer are also set to return as their iconic characters. Jean Grey's absence has surprised many fans, especially given the character's significance in Marvel lore and her long history with Cyclops and Professor X.
Janssen's Previous Remarks on Returning
This is not the first time Janssen has addressed the possibility of returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In an October 2025 interview with Entertainment Weekly, she revealed that nearly every interview eventually turns to questions about Jean Grey. "It's interesting," she said. "I didn't realise that was such a big part." She also acknowledged her appreciation for the continued affection audiences have for the character, saying she feels flattered that people still discuss Jean Grey decades after her first appearance. "I'm sure every single time there's a new movie that they're doing, like 'Doomsday', it'll come up again," she previously said.
Future Possibilities
Marvel has not commented on whether additional casting announcements for Avengers: Doomsday are still to come. With the multiverse continuing to play a major role in the franchise, some fans remain hopeful that Jean Grey could still appear.
