Marvel has not had an easy run since the earth-shattering release of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, and now an upcoming star of Avengers: Doomsday is causing unnecessary headaches that could jeopardize the studio’s comeback attempt. The post-Endgame world has seen the MCU struggle with numerous productions, from cinematic flops like The Marvels to confoundingly bad sequels like Captain America: Brave New World.
A period once believed to be the IP’s window of opportunity has instead been marked by superhero fatigue, leading to declining interest in Marvel’s Phase Four and Five offerings. This has only been compounded by the sheer volume of annual installments, which have remained interconnected to the point that all must be seen in order to fully understand what’s happening in one.
The studio was dealt an even bigger blow when Jonathan Majors, the actor cast in the role of Kang the Conqueror, was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment in 2023. His prompt termination required a creative reshuffle, as Kang was slated to become the MCU’s big bad across multiple films. It was then revealed that the next Avengers film would be titled Doomsday and that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom — a bombshell announcement that both excited and divided the fandom. With the stage now set for Doomsday to be Marvel’s highly anticipated Hail Mary, the studio can’t afford any more roadblocks. Unfortunately, one actor slated to appear in Doomsday, Kelsey Grammer, has already taken the wheel and steered the bus straight toward one.
Kelsey Grammer Is Quickly Becoming Marvel’s Next Red Flag
Kelsey Grammer, the actor who played Hank McCoy/Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand and Days of Future Past, delighted Marvel fans when he made a surprise appearance in The Marvels’ post-credits scene in November 2023. His cameo set the stage for Fox’s ensemble of X-Men to finally enter the current MCU, an exciting prospect given the studio’s need to reinvigorate the fading franchise. However, in the months since it was confirmed that he would return in Doomsday, Grammer has created a few unnecessary PR headaches for Marvel.
The first occurred when he revealed some light Doomsday spoilers during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, which, thanks to current MCU stars like Tom Holland, everyone knows is a giant Marvel no-no. The spoilers immediately made the rounds on social media, revealing which current MCU stars Grammer allegedly shares scenes with. While this might have earned Grammer an eyebrow raise from Marvel President Kevin Feige, the spoilers are light and by no means devastating.
Combined with Grammer’s recent praise of President Donald Trump, however, the Frasier star is quickly becoming something of a red flag for the studio. Speaking to Fox News ahead of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, Grammer described Trump as “extraordinary,” going on to say, “He’s one of the greatest presidents we’ve ever had. Maybe the greatest.” Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, of course, but Grammer’s assessment comes on the tail of Trump’s approval rating declining over the course of his first year back in office.
Trump, a twice-impeached convicted felon, has spent recent months calling affordability in America a “Democratic hoax” and lashing out at female reporters who dare to ask him questions he doesn’t like, even telling one, “Quiet, piggy.” His sweeping tariffs have led to skyrocketing prices on everything from groceries to automobiles, contributing to higher inflation. Grammer, a prominent conservative voice in Hollywood, has praised Trump in the past. Still, his timing could not be worse, given Marvel’s already fragile state and the potential divisiveness of such statements.
It didn’t take long for Grammer’s Trump praise to circulate online and ruffle more than a few feathers, especially from Frasier and Cheers fans. While some fellow conservatives applauded Grammer’s transparency, others were quick to share the opposite reaction. “Kelsey Grammer is a fine actor,” one user wrote on X. “And a complete fool.”
Another juxtaposed Grammer’s intelligence with Frasier Crane’s, the character Grammer is best known for playing, inferring that just because he portrayed an intelligent character on TV doesn’t mean he’s smart in real life:
The biting remarks didn’t stop there, with some questioning the authenticity of Grammer’s words:
Another X user revealed that their respect for Grammer had officially left the building:
Again, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but the risk Grammer runs here is alienating a large portion of his following who do not share his political views, at a time when both he and Marvel Studios need all the help they can get. His Frasier reboot was canceled at Paramount+ in early 2025 after just two seasons, and although Grammer was optimistic that the series would find a new home, it has not yet done so as of this writing.
Similarly, Marvel’s decline in both quality and viewership post-Endgame means that the studio cannot afford negative press. If Grammer continues to be an outspoken political voice, it could inspire fans to boycott Doomsday the way former Harry Potter fans are doing with HBO’s upcoming adaptation, a direct result of author J.K. Rowling’s anti-transgender rhetoric. Similarly, continued backlash could force Marvel to make unwanted adjustments to Grammer’s scenes to appease an irritated fandom.
None of this is ideal, which begs the question: Will Grammer continue exercising his constitutional right to freely speak his mind, or will the blowback he’s currently experiencing encourage him to keep his views to himself? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, assuming all goes according to plan, Avengers: Doomsday promises to feature the biggest Marvel mash-up fans have gotten since Endgame when it arrives in theaters Dec. 18, 2026.
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