Rebecca Romijn Discusses the Easier Transformation Back to Mystique for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Marvel’s long-anticipated mutant takeover is finally coming into view, and one of the most exciting aspects is seeing Fox’s original ‘X-Men’ stars join the MCU for the first time. Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, and Kelsey Grammer are all returning for ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘, teaming up with heroes from across the Marvel multiverse.

At the forefront is Rebecca Romijn, whose blue-skinned, scale-covered Mystique became one of the most visually demanding roles in early-2000s blockbuster cinema. Now, two decades later, she’s stepping back into the character, and fans are eager to see how this transformation compares to the version they remember from the original films.

In a post-Hall H interview with Entertainment Weekly at Comic-Con, Robert Downey Jr. sat down with Romijn and Grammer to discuss their return to the franchise. Romijn took the opportunity to share how much easier the process of becoming Mystique has become this time around.

Romijn explained that the production team was no longer interested in making actors wait for hours before shooting began. “Apparently, they were no longer interested in waiting for actors to be processed, so it was much faster,” she noted.

This marks a significant change from the original ‘X-Men’ trilogy, where Romijn’s call time often started around midnight to ensure she was camera-ready by 9 a.m., with layers of paint and prosthetics covering most of her body. Despite the quicker process this time, she has previously mentioned that the grueling routine helped her connect with Mystique’s simmering anger as a persecuted mutant.

The Comic-Con discussion also highlighted the emotional significance of the reunion. Downey expressed his enthusiasm about having Romijn and Grammer back on set, emphasizing how their presence energized the entire cast, which includes Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, and David Harbour. Grammer reflected on what draws him back to Beast, noting the character’s sense of nobility and respect for all life.

Earlier this year, the film’s cast reveal confirmed a vast ensemble that integrates Fox’s mutant universe directly into Marvel’s flagship franchise. Alongside Romijn, Stewart, McKellen, Marsden, Cumming, and Grammer are all reprising their original ‘X-Men’ roles, while Channing Tatum finally gets to bring Gambit to the big screen after years of delays.

The first trailer for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has already teased a glimpse of Mystique in action, showcasing her shapeshifting abilities as she transforms into Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova during a tense confrontation. However, details about how much screen time Mystique will have and how her storyline connects to the broader battle against Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom remain closely guarded.

What is evident is that fans are excited to see the Fox-era mutants sharing the screen with Marvel’s contemporary heroes, a crossover that once seemed like mere fan fiction. With filming still ongoing in the U.K. and a script that Romijn has acknowledged wasn’t fully completed as of Comic-Con, there’s still much to discover before ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters.

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