In a stunningly frank revelation, acclaimed Scottish actor and theatre legend Alan Cumming has opened up about his profound dissatisfaction with his foray into the world of blockbuster superhero cinema, describing his experience on the set of X2: X-Men United as something he "hated every second of."
The Tony and Olivier Award-winning performer, known for his discerning artistic choices, did not hold back in a recent interview, expressing regret over taking the role of the teleporting mutant Nightcrawler in the 2003 film.
"It's Just People in Rubber Suits"
Cumming's critique extended beyond his personal experience to the entire genre of modern superhero films. He dismissed big-budget spectacles like The Avengers as formulaic and devoid of substance.
"The whole superhero thing... I find it really boring," he stated. "I hate it. It's just people in rubber suits. How many times can you see the same story?"
He contrasted the repetitive nature of these films with the original X-Men movie, which he felt had a more grounded and relevant narrative about outsiders and prejudice.
A Miserable Experience Behind the Blue Makeup
The actor detailed the immense physical toll of the role, which required him to sit in a makeup chair for hours on end to be transformed into the blue-skinned, demonic-looking character.
"I just decided... I'm never doing this again," Cumming recalled, highlighting the unpleasant process as a primary reason for his decision to abandon the potential franchise. This gruelling transformation, coupled with a disinterest in the material, made for a deeply unfulfilling job, despite the film's critical and commercial success.
While he acknowledged the movie was "good," he firmly stated that the experience was not worth repeating, effectively closing the door on ever returning to the X-Men universe.
