The 3 Biggest Questions Avengers: Doomsday's X-Men Trailer Raises

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has fully brought the X-Men back at last in Avengers: Doomsday. As part of Marvel Studios' unusual marketing decision, the third of four trailers has now been released online. After focusing on Steve Rogers and Thor for the first two, Avengers: Doomsday's third trailer spotlights the X-Men.

More specifically, it shows Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Ian McKellen's Magneto, and James Marsden's Cyclops. The first two are shown in the wreckage of X-Mansion, while the latter is seen unleashing an optic blast with a Sentinel walking behind him. And despite only being 1 minute and 8 seconds long, the X-Men Doomsday trailer effectively creates a lot of excitement to see these mutants again.

While the Doomsday trailer footage itself could be a complete lie and not actually be in the movie, what it does show still raises some significant questions about the upcoming MCU release.

Who Attacked The X-Mansion?

It's a recurring plot point in the X-Men franchise that the X-Mansion is repeatedly under attack and often destroyed. So, perhaps it should not come as a surprise to see it in shambles once more in Avengers: Doomsday.

The signage is on the ground, rooms are covered in debris, and many items throughout have been knocked over. The question is, who is responsible for leaving Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters in this shape?

The trailer concludes with Cyclops seemingly in the heat of battle among more destruction (more on that later), with the feet of a giant Sentinel walking behind him. But, Magneto and Professor X seem rather calm as they sit among the wreckage of the X-Mansion, suggesting an attack has already occurred.

This alternate universe version of the X-Men may have been under attack for some time by the Sentinels. The rough state of the building could even be the direct result of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom. Could a multiversal Avengers team, Earth-828's Fantastic Four, or another familiar team be responsible for attacking the mutants?

Additionally, the side effects of a looming incursion could be what has transformed the X-Mansion in this way. Rather than having them be in opposition to a singular villain or team, the multiverse collapsing and their universe potentially dying completely would be an explanation that directly ties into Avengers: Doomsday's story.

Where Are The Rest Of The X-Men?

As great as it is to see Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops again, they are hardly the only X-Men characters confirmed to appear. The official Avengers: Doomsday cast includes Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique, Kelsey Grammer's Beast, and Channing Tatum's Gambit. Many also expect Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine to appear.

Yet, none of these characters are seen in the X-Men-focused trailer. This creates a worrying conclusion that they are all dead by this point. Whether from a direct attack on the mansion or the result of the incursion, there is a chance that Nightcrawler, Mystique, Beast, and Gambit die early on. That could even explain why Famke Janssen's Jean Grey, Halle Berry's Storm, and others are not in the movie at all.

But their absences are not a sure-fire death sentence. They could all be just off-screen, partaking in a fight, patiently waiting for their demise during an incursion, or not even at the X-Mansion at this point. Furthermore, if the trailer footage was shot specifically for the marketing campaign, Marvel just may not have felt it necessary to include them all this early on in the promo.

In any case, the other X-Men characters not being in the trailer could point to them having smaller roles overall. Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops may be the most important players among the mutants in Doomsday, which could explain why the trailer highlights them and leaves the rest of the cast out.

Who (Or What) Is Cyclops Firing His Optic Blast At?

Marsden gets the big finale shot of the trailer, with Cyclops ripping off his visor and unleashing a massive optic blast into the sky. It's an incredibly epic moment that already shows how the MCU is redeeming Cyclops after years of mistreatment in the Fox series.

As cool as the shot is, there is a question about why Cyclops is doing this at all. His general worse-for-the-wear appearance shows how difficult the current battle he's in has been for him before getting to this moment. There are a few different possibilities for who or what is the cause of the optic blast.

For starters, Cyclops may be the last line of defense against the attacker of X-Mansion. Whether that's Doom, the Sentinels, or someone else, it would make some sense for the hero to let an uncontrolled blast out after exhausting all other options to defeat someone, especially if his friends and teammates have perished along the way.

The latter possibility may also explain the moment. The X-Men movies have shown Cyclops firing the red beam into the sky in moments of anguish, torment, and heartbreak. If he has witnessed someone close to him die, perhaps even Professor X (again), then the optic blast could be more of an emotional release than a strategic decision during combat.

If that is not the case, perhaps Cyclops is also doing this due to an incursion. He could be firing off a powerful optic blast as a desperate attempt to stop his world's destruction. That'd make this a last-ditch effort to be a hero and save himself and his entire universe, raising the stakes of the moment, should it actually be in Avengers: Doomsday.