Alan Cumming Says He Doesn’t Fully Understand Avengers: Doomsday

Marvel’s commitment to secrecy remains a hallmark of its brand, and the anticipation surrounding ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is no different. Advance ticket sales have reportedly exceeded $50 million, even three months ahead of its December 18 release. Alan Cumming’s remarks about ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ have introduced a humorous twist to this narrative.

Cumming is reprising his role as Nightcrawler, a character he first portrayed in ‘X2: X-Men United’. This marks his return to the role after 23 years. He is joined by other returning ‘X-Men’ stars including Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden.

In a surprising revelation, Cumming shared with SiriusXM that he doesn’t fully grasp the film’s plot.

His explanation is refreshingly straightforward. He mentioned that most of his scenes were filmed in front of a blue screen, with only one rare day spent on the backlot. When a crew member began explaining the actions of the giant robots in a scene, Cumming politely interrupted, asking only where to point and what actions to take.

“There was a bit when we were shooting a scene, and it was one of the rare scenes when I was actually on the backlot and not in front of a blue screen. And this man came and said, ‘So right now Alan, these giant robots are blah blah,’ and started to tell me the thing, and I was like, ‘You know what, thank you so much, but just tell me where I point my, whatever I point. And I’ll do that. Really, I just know I’m here to run around’… And I saw Florence Pugh yesterday at the Emmys. And I said, ‘Gosh, it’s so funny. I’ve never met you, but you lay on top of me, or your body double did.’ And she goes, ‘Yeah I lay on top of you as well, but it was your body double.’” (via SiriusXM)

His self-deprecating summary of his role highlights the unique experience of filming a Marvel movie, where actors often receive scripts only for their specific scenes. Additionally, Cumming reportedly filmed in isolation from the rest of the cast.

This level of secrecy is typical for major blockbusters, which often rely on tightly controlled scripts to avoid leaks. It also illustrates how disjointed the filming process can be, especially in a project with such a large ensemble cast.

The most amusing aspect of Cumming’s story involves Florence Pugh. He recounted meeting her at the Emmys and noting that they had technically never met, despite her body double lying on top of him in a scene. Pugh humorously replied that she had also lain on top of him, but it was his body double.

In essence, the two stars have shared a scene without ever being on set together. Their doubles performed the action, which adds a new perspective to the fight at the X-Mansion featured in the trailer. According to Variety, it seems unlikely that Nightcrawler and Yelena Belova will interact again after that sequence.

The timing of Cumming’s comments is particularly interesting, as he has been quite visible on television lately. He recently won an Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program for his work on ‘The Traitors’, and he is currently appearing in ‘The Traitors: New Blood’, airing Thursdays on NBC.

Cumming has also previously discussed the physical demands of the movie. He joked about learning stunts for a fight with Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards at the age of 60, and he found it amusing to return to superhero roles after more than two decades. He also mentioned that the makeup process for Nightcrawler now takes about 90 minutes, compared to the previous four and a half hours.

Nerdist has described him as one of the most likable and candid personalities in Hollywood, and noted that he has once again broken Marvel’s embargo. It’s hard to dispute this perspective, as fans enjoy hearing about the realities of filming these blockbuster movies.

He used to be different.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc pic.twitter.com/OUutSMZneq

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

None of this indicates that the film is in jeopardy. The cast is extensive, featuring Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, the central antagonist. Scenes are often filmed in segments, requiring actors to trust the process.

What this illustrates is how Marvel’s approach has transformed even its stars into fans eagerly awaiting the final product. If Cumming remains uncertain about the plot, audiences can expect to be surprised alongside him.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments.