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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

‘X-Men’ packs a punch for Lawrence and McAvoy

FILE - In this May 9, 2016 file photo, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy pose at the screening of the film "X-Men Apocalypse" in London. “X-Men: Apocalypse” opens in U.S. theaters on May 27. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)
FILE - In this May 9, 2016 file photo, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy pose at the screening of the film "X-Men Apocalypse" in London. “X-Men: Apocalypse” opens in U.S. theaters on May 27. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File) FILE - In this May 9, 2016 file photo, Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy pose at the screening of the film "X-Men Apocalypse" in London. “X-Men: Apocalypse” opens in U.S. theaters on May 27. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

LONDON (AP) – It always hits the cast hard when they realize they’re back on the set of “X-Men.” Quite literally, they’re going to get punched.

Jennifer Lawrence and James McAvoy return to their superhero roles for a third time in “Apocalypse” – opening Friday – to face the threat of an ancient mutant, intent on destroying the world.

In a recent interview, they agreed that it’s the moment when they start getting beaten up that they know they’re back in character as Raven / Mystique and Professor Charles Xavier.

This is the latest big screen adventure for the two, after “X-Men: First Class” (2011) and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014).

Lawrence added that she also feels like she’s back in their comic book universe again once she’s standing on the Cerebro set in Montreal.