Marvel to Completely Reboot X-Men and Recast Tony Stark with New Actor

After "Avengers: Secret Wars," set to release in 2027, Marvel will officially reboot the "X-Men" and launch a new era with different actors. Moreover, audiences will meet a new Tony Stark — the iconic character will also get a different face.

MCU President Kevin Feige has confirmed what's coming isn't exactly a "reboot" — it's more of a "reset." We're not talking about wiping the slate completely clean, but rather a fresh start with new rules within the same timeline. "Endgame was about endings. Secret Wars is about beginnings," Variety reports.

Saying goodbye to the old X-Men — but not quite yet

Before handing these characters over to new actors, Marvel's giving fans one last chance to say farewell to the familiar faces. In "Avengers: Doomsday" (2026), audiences will see Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen return as Professor X and Magneto. Also making comebacks: Kelsey Grammer (Beast), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and James Marsden (Cyclops). These returns mark the final curtain call for an era that started back in the 2000s.

A man in a red and yellow iron suit stands against the backdrop of iron doors shaped like an "X" — Tony Stark (Iron Man)

After Secret Wars, Marvel plans to restart the X-Men from scratch — with different actors, but keeping that core theme: teenagers who feel like outcasts in a world that won't accept them. Feige emphasized that this universal appeal of mutants is exactly what will drive the new film.

A new Tony Stark and other replacements — inevitable

But it's not just about mutants. According to Feige, Marvel's ready to gradually replace other cornerstone characters in the cinematic universe — including Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Steve Rogers (Captain America). He compared the situation to other franchises: "David Corenswet is the new Superman, and he's amazing. Right now, they're looking for a new James Bond. It's a normal process."

Sure, imagining another Tony Stark feels tough — Robert Downey Jr. became synonymous with the role. But as Feige reminded us, nobody believed anyone could replace Sean Connery as Bond back in the day. Today, switching actors for iconic characters is more the rule than the exception.

What about nostalgia?

I suspect Marvel won't completely erase the past. After all, the multiverse gives them the perfect opportunity to bring back beloved actors for cameos or side storylines, just like they did with "Spider-Man: No Way Home."

So even when new actors step into these roles, the studio probably won't pass up the chance to play on fans' nostalgia. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com gave you the full rundown on which actors will appear in "Avengers: Doomsday."