James Marsden will join the cast of the Apple TV+ series Your Friends And Neighbors for its second season, reuniting him with lead actor Olivia Munn. The two actors share a history dating back years before they established careers in Hollywood, having grown up in the same Oklahoma hometown.
Marsden, 51, revealed in an exclusive interview that he first met Munn, 44, through his sister, Jenny. Munn was a close friend of Jenny's in high school, despite Marsden graduating several years earlier in 1991 compared to Munn's graduation in 1998.
Their initial encounter occurred during one of Marsden's visits home after he had moved to Los Angeles and found early success in television. His sister invited him to dinner with some of her school friends, a group that included Olivia Munn. Marsden recalled the meeting took place at an Applebee's restaurant.
Years later, after both actors had achieved fame, they unexpectedly reconnected at a party in Los Angeles. Munn recognized Marsden and reminded him of their past connection through his sister and the dinner they shared. Marsden noted his surprise that he didn't recall her from the earlier meeting.
This past connection now leads to their first official project together on Your Friends And Neighbors. Marsden was announced as a new addition for the upcoming season of the Jon Hamm-led crime dramedy. Season 1 of the series is currently releasing episodes, with Season 2 already renewed. Pre-production for the second season is underway, with filming reportedly beginning earlier this month.
Both Marsden and Olivia Munn also share a connection to the X-Men film universe. Marsden played Cyclops in the original trilogy from 2000 to 2006. Munn appeared as Psylocke in the 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse. Their characters did not interact on screen.
Marsden is set to revisit his role as Cyclops in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release in May 2026. He expressed excitement about returning to the character after a long break.
The actor also noted another connection on the Your Friends And Neighbors set, sharing that he and costar Jon Hamm have been members of the same Fantasy Football league for years.
