James Marsden admits lying about Avengers at Jimmy Kimmel Live
After a teaser confirmed his return as Cyclops, the actor came clean about denying his character’s return earlier on live TV.
Celebrities are put on the spot all the time during late-night appearances, and most of them find clever ways to dodge questions without technically lying. Some handle it smoothly while others do not. Recently, James Marsden appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and openly admitted that he had lied about not being part of the next Avengers movie.
James Marsden started his career with small TV roles before landing his big break as Scott Summers, also known as Cyclops, in the X-Men film series. Over the years, he has taken on a wide range of roles, from romantic dramas like The Notebook to fun musicals like Hairspray and Enchanted. He also received nominations for prestigious awards, including the Emmy and the Golden Globe, for his work in Jury Duty and Paradise.
What happened
In January 2025, actor James Marsden appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and talked about his footage from his X-Men movies playing over the closing credits of Deadpool & Wolverine. When Kimmel asked if he’d ever appear again as Cyclops, Marsden responded with, “Ah, no.” Fast forward to his most recent appearance on the same show, and the truth came out.
After a teaser for the new Avengers film dropped, Marsden was clearly visible as Cyclops, blasting away in his full costume. Kimmel wasted no time calling him out. “I felt a sense of confusion and betrayal,” Kimmel told him, before rolling the clip of Marsden’s denial from the January visit.
Marsden laughed and admitted, “Not a very good liar”. He further added, “That’s me calculating as fast as I can what I can or cannot say.” He explained that he was just trying to figure out what he could reveal without getting in trouble. When Kimmel pushed him to confess, he finally admitted, “I was being coy. I mean, I’ve learned with these movies, you can’t say anything.”
Marsden also discussed his concerns about his age when it comes to returning to the Cyclops role. The last time he wore the iconic suit was nearly 20 years ago, and he admitted there was a period when he thought the opportunity had simply passed. “At some point you’re like, well, I’m not going to be able to do this again,” he said. But when news of the Avengers broke, he confirmed that the costume is the original comics-accurate version, which fans have already been raving about.
This isn’t the first time Kimmel has caught a celebrity in a fib; he has confronted other guests, like Robert Pattinson, for lying before. But this time, Marsden returned to clarify things.
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, and stars Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom alongside Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Vanessa Kirby, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Reactions
Many people were surprised by how long Marsden had kept the secret, given how eager fans have been for any news connected to the new Avengers timeline. One fan wrote: “Cyclops better get his due in Avengers. In the comics and TV show, he is legendary.”
Another person noted how long it has been since they saw Marsden playing the famous character, “It’s wild that it’s been twenty years since he played Cyclops, given the man has aged possibly better than most in Hollywood, what a face!”
One person joked about him lying on the show and then admitted it, laughing, “You’re a bad boy, James.” One fan expressed hope that Marsden would have a chance to shine like another actor, Andrew Garfield, did in a recent film. They wrote, “I hope he gets his justice in Avengers Doomsday, like Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man No Way Home.” Garfield’s return in that film became one of the most celebrated surprise appearances in recent Marvel history, and fans are clearly hoping Marsden gets a similar reception.
And then one fan stated that it’s not a big deal that he lied about such a thing, “I mean… It’s not like he lied about getting us into a war or something.”
Many actors are bound by strict contracts that prevent them from revealing certain information. In the end, Marsden came clean, shared the truth, and gave fans the answers they were looking for. Now, everyone is eagerly anticipating Avengers: Doomsday!
