Famke Janssen, iconic as Jean Grey in the X-Men films, revealed she hasn't been approached by Disney about joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite fan interest and her co-stars reprising roles in upcoming projects, the actress remains open but uninformed. Her comments highlight the enduring popularity of the character 25 years after her debut.
Famke Janssen has portrayed Jean Grey, the powerful mutant with telepathic and telekinetic abilities, since the original X-Men film in 2000. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, she addressed the frequent speculation about her return in the MCU, stating, “Every time I do an interview, it’s mentioned. It’s interesting. I didn’t realize that was such a big part. Every interview I do, that will come up, and of everything I say, that is going to be the only thing that’s gonna be printed.”
Background on Janssen's Role
Janssen's last appearance as Jean Grey was in X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), where the character met a dramatic end. Despite this, fans continue to express desire for her involvement in Marvel's expanding X-Men integration following Disney's acquisition of Fox. Janssen reflected on the character's lasting impact: “I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people. It’s been so long, but it’s nice that people are still talking about her. I’m sure every single time there’s a new movie that they’re doing… it’ll come up again.” She emphasized that she has “never ever” spoken to Disney about reprising the role.
MCU Developments
Several of Janssen's X-Men co-stars are set to return in Avengers: Doomsday, directed by the Russo brothers and premiering on December 18, 2026. Confirmed cast includes Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, James Marsden as Cyclops, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, Kelsey Grammer as Beast, and Channing Tatum as Gambit. Meanwhile, Marvel Studios is developing an X-Men reboot under director Jake Schreier, who shared in an August Empire interview: “I can’t say anything about it, but we’ve started work on X-Men, and that’s obviously very, very exciting.” No details confirm Janssen's involvement at this stage.