Alan Cumming did not exactly tiptoe into superhero fame; he teleported straight through the White House as Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United. That unforgettable opening sequence, featuring Kurt Wagner slicing through Secret Service defenses, quickly made the blue mutant a fan favorite. Now, Cumming is back for Avengers: Doomsday, and Nightcrawler has acquired something new: gray hair.

The actor has spoken candidly about reprising Nightcrawler now, proving even teleporting mutants eventually collect a few silver souvenirs.

Alan Cumming recently brought a little mutant nostalgia to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon while discussing his return as Nightcrawler. Cumming confirmed that the character will look different this time around, thanks to a rather noticeable addition, his gray hair. The actor joked that the silver strands were a "concession" to him getting older.

"He's a gray-haired superhero." Cumming explained.

He said that the change was essentially the production acknowledging his age, giving Nightcrawler a more seasoned appearance. Fallon seemed delighted by the unexpected makeover, while Cumming embraced the idea of bringing an older version of the blue-skinned mutant back to the screen. It was certainly a different look from X2.

Cumming also shared his excitement about joining Avengers: Doomsday during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Although the actor said it felt like a long time since he first played Nightcrawler, he remembered enjoying the stunts and physical demands of the role. Returning to the character also means getting back to the proper stunt work he had missed.

A Secret Avenger in ‘Doomsday’? X-Men Actor Alan Cumming Hints at a Special Surprise

Alan Cumming’s absence as Nightcrawler for 23 years was reportedly a deliberate choice, much like his decision to push back against the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal.

Alan Cumming spent 23 years avoiding a blue face, and frankly, one can understand the hesitation. Becoming Nightcrawler for X2: X-Men United meant hours in makeup, restrictive costumes, troublesome contact lenses, and tattoos painstakingly drawn onto his face. After that ordeal, Cumming also chose to steer clear of giant blockbuster machinery whenever possible.

Then came Avengers: Doomsday, apparently with technology and timing finally behaving themselves. Cumming has said the new makeup process is considerably easier, while returning to Kurt Wagner felt “healing” after the original experience had been terrible. So after 23 years, Nightcrawler is back, and this time Alan Cumming gets to revisit the blue mutant without quite so much suffering.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming, and Benedict Wong Lead Opposition to Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger

Are you excited to see a gray-haired Nightcrawler in Avengers: Doomsday? Let us know in the comments!