James McAvoy Calls ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Great While Reflecting on Crossover Era

Few superhero films have had as significant an impact on the genre as ‘Avengers: Infinity War’. Released on April 27, 2018, it brought together nearly every hero in the MCU to confront Thanos and his quest for the six Infinity Stones. This groundbreaking film became the first superhero entry to surpass $2 billion in global box office revenue.

Directed by the Russo brothers, ‘Infinity War’ received widespread acclaim for Josh Brolin’s portrayal of Thanos, the directors’ management of the extensive cast, and the film’s darker tone. It shattered records with a $250 million domestic opening and a $630 million worldwide debut. Even years later, its influence continues to resonate in the crossover-heavy blockbusters that have followed.

This context is why comments from James McAvoy, an actor outside the MCU, have sparked interest. McAvoy, known for his role as Professor X in Fox’s ‘X-Men’ films, shared his thoughts on the movie that shaped Marvel’s team-up era.

During an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast, McAvoy succinctly stated, “Infinity War is great.” His remark came as he reflected on the era of cross-franchise collaborations and its origins.

In the same conversation, he reminisced about ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’, which he noted was an early example of combining casts and timelines. ComicBook.com highlighted how this film paved the way for future crossover movies, including ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. McAvoy also confessed that he initially had reservations about the film’s direction but later changed his perspective.

McAvoy’s praise holds additional significance given his history with Marvel. He portrayed Charles Xavier in ‘X-Men: First Class’ in 2011 and reprised the role in ‘Days of Future Past’, ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’, ‘Deadpool 2’, and ‘Dark Phoenix’, his last appearance in 2019. Essentially, he experienced the studio-era transition that ‘Infinity War’ helped to define.

He has previously expressed his views on this chapter of his career. In an interview with GQ, he mentioned that he doesn’t view his Marvel roles merely as paycheck gigs and considers ‘Days of Future Past’ one of his best films. Although he hasn’t received any calls from Kevin Feige regarding a return, he remains open to the idea.

The timing of McAvoy’s comments is noteworthy, as the MCU is now integrating the Fox X-Men into its universe. Marvel has confirmed that Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as Professor X, along with Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, and Rebecca Romijn as Mystique for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler and Channing Tatum’s Gambit are also part of the cast.

However, McAvoy is not among the confirmed names. Marvel insider Alex Perez expressed skepticism about the return of the ‘First Class’ cast, stating that nothing has been mentioned on that front, although this remains an unverified rumor. The Russo brothers are set to direct ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, which is scheduled for December 18.

This adds a full-circle quality to McAvoy’s praise. The directors of ‘Infinity War’ are back for another massive ensemble film, drawing on the same crossover concepts that McAvoy believes the ‘X-Men’ films were exploring.

According to Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus, the film successfully balances a vast array of MCU heroes while largely fulfilling its ambitious goals. However, not every critic was impressed, with some finding the spectacle overwhelming and excessive. This division is part of what keeps the film a topic of debate even years later.

Its sequel, ‘Avengers: Endgame’, was released in April 2019, concluding the Infinity Saga. Since then, the concept of reuniting actors and universes has become standard, with films like ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ building on this trend.

While McAvoy’s brief comment may not be a headline-making review, it serves as a delightful reminder that those who helped initiate the trend are still closely observing its evolution. For fans hoping to see Xavier’s younger self cross over in the future, even a simple compliment feels like a hopeful sign.

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