According to IGN FilmForce, rumors of Nightcrawler's exclusion from 'X-Men 3' are likely accurate, though his final fate is still yet to be determined:IGN FilmForce checked with its sources close to X3 and was advised that it's still to be determined whether Kurt Wagner will come back. Nightcrawler may make an appearance in the film, but he is definitely not a featured character.
Nightcrawler was the breakout star, in X2, I think he was brought in a great way, but he isn't an X-Man, so he shouldn't be a major character in the next one...I think he should have a cameo in the film if anything.
On the other hand the breakout star in X3 is definitely going to be Angel, atleast thats what it seems like with the leaked script, but that script is over four months old and they rewrote the damn thing numerous of times so we don't know what is expected to happen.