McKellen welcomes Mackie to Marvel set: 'Hello, son — you deserve that'

Ian McKellen greeted Anthony Mackie on the Avengers: Doomsday set with "Hello, son," then told him "you deserve that" upon learning Mackie plays Captain America, Variety reported on 29 July 2026. McKellen reprises Magneto in the Russo Brothers-directed film, due 18 December 2026. The exchange marks the first on-set meeting of the Avengers and X-Men franchises, long separated by studio rights.