The X-Men are one of Marvel Comics’ all-time powerhouse superhero teams. They made their film debut in Bryan Singer’s blockbuster film X-Men in 2000, and since then, there have been numerous projects including sequels, spin-offs, and reboots that have kept the series in the spotlight. All the X-Men films and television series so far have been distributed by 20th Century Fox, however, Disney acquired the rights to the characters in 2019.
With Disney now in control of the franchise, the way is paved for Marvel’s Mighty Mutants to enter the expanding continuity of the MCU. As of now, no standalone X-Men title has been announced, but that hasn’t stopped the internet from speculating on who will portray their favorite X-Men in the future. From Cyclops to Wolverine, here are the top X-Men fan castings according to Reddit.
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7 Giancarlo Esposito as Professor Charles Xavier
AMC
Professor Charles Xavier, the leader of the X-Men and founder of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, is one of the central pillars of the team despite spending very little time on the front lines. It is his vision of coexistence between humans and mutants that forms the guiding principles on which the team is based, and his guidance is critical in shaping many of the X-Men into the heroes that audiences are familiar with.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Fox’s Xavier has been played by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy, with Stewart reprising the role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. However, Disney has an opportunity to take the character in a fresh new direction for their primary version. Giancarlo Esposito is an actor that could portray both Xavier’s idealism and the iron will that drives his mission. Not only does Esposito have experience with comic book properties, portraying Stan Edgar in The Boys, but has even expressed interest in the role of Xavier himself, mentioning his desire to play the character during an interview on The Tonight Show.
6 Tom Hopper as Scott Summers/Cyclops
Netflix
As the field leader of the X-Men, Scott Summers has a long history as a complex and layered character, both in the comics and on-screen. While most of his teammates are gifted with abilities that they can largely control, Scott requires a special visor to keep his powerful and destructive optic blasts from causing serious damage to everything and everyone around him. This special set of circumstances is something that he is always mindful of, and often causes him enormous difficulty getting close to others.
Tom Hopper is an actor who has already portrayed a very similar character in Netflix’s Umbrella Academy series, and the adjustments necessary to play Scott would be very minimal. Hopper has demonstrated an ability to portray serious, dutiful characters who open up and show a deeply vulnerable side when whatever crisis they are dealing with has passed, and that is a trait which is necessary for bringing a character like Scott Summers to life for modern movie audiences.
5 Evan Rachel Wood as Jean Grey
HBO
Jean Grey is a character that has been the focus for some of the most dynamic and complex stories in Marvel Comics, and bringing her to life for the MCU would be a difficult task for any actress to pull of. The character has become so linked to her “Dark Phoenix” storyline that any story featuring her for an extended period of time is bound to adapt that arc eventually in one way or another.
As an actress who has played a diverse array of characters, Evan Rachel Wood has proven her ability to portray both the good and the not-so-good side of a character like Jean, with her performance as Dolores Abernathy on Westworld providing the most direct example of this capability. The development of Jean’s character is something that requires talent and range, and depending on how the MCU chooses to utilize the character that capability may even involve complete shifts in morality and attitude, something that we know Wood can play while making the transition seem natural.
4 Sam Richardson as Hank McCoy/Beast
HBO Entertainment
A brilliant mind among the X-Men, both scientifically and philosophically, Hank McCoy has been with the team since the very beginning, and is one of the most even-tempered and balanced members of the group. In the comics he is just as well known for his kind and witty nature as he is for his appearance and combat abilities.
The intellectual side of Hank has already been thoroughly explored in film by Kelsey Grammar and Nicholas Hoult, however, the MCU is an environment that is particularly well suited for showcasing Hank’s upbeat and witty side as well, and a comedic actor like Sam Richardson would be a great candidate to bring this to life. Richardson is a fantastic comedic actor that could portray a version of the character that viewers have never seen before, one that is still intelligent and capable, while also delivering the lighthearted kind of humor that the MCU has become known for.
3 Brandon Flynn as Bobby Drake/Iceman
Bobby Drake is one of the X-Men’s most easygoing and carefree members, often cracking wise in the face of the persecution mutants endure in the comics. He is also considered to be one of the more powerful members of the team, proving himself against the X-Men’s foes time and time again. Behind the snarky attitude and impressive strength, though, is a character who faces internal challenges both fantastic and relatable.
Having played a character with home troubles in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, Brandon Flynn would be an excellent choice to portray Bobby Drake’s struggles in the MCU. Flynn could bring a younger version of the character to the team, one that is just coming to terms with the realities of being a mutant, and that eventually grows into a more developed and realized character. An added factor to this character is his status as one of Marvel Comics’ most prominent gay characters, and his inclusion and portrayal would provide representation that some fans feel has been missing up to this point.
2 Rege Jean-Page as Warren Worthington III/Angel
The X-Men’s resident billionaire, Warren Worthington is another character who has gone through multiple iterations, from being a purely heroic figure, to a vicious and pragmatic antihero, and everything in between. His original mutation gives him enormous angelic wings which allow him to fly, but the writers of the various comics he appears in have made changes to his powers and appearance over the years.
As a somewhat cocky but ultimately golden-hearted character, Warren requires an actor that can portray swagger and confidence. Rege Jean-Page provided a brilliant rendition of a snarky, confident nobleman in Netflix’s Bridgerton series, and has experience with fantastical action from the upcoming Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. As a character that excels in both the boardroom and the battlefield, Warren is a character that could showcase Page’s talents and lead some truly entertaining scenes for the MCU version of the X-Men.
1 Taron Egerton as James Howlett/Wolverine
Apple Inc.
Wolverine is the most popular character in the X-Men franchise. Being portrayed by Hugh Jackman in nearly every X-Men film to date, as well as the upcoming Deadpool 3, the character is difficult for most fans to picture being played by anyone else, making the role something of an uphill battle for whoever plays him next in the MCU. Wolverine’s gruff attitude and visceral methods often clash with the rest of his team, and this is an element of many X-Men stories that could make outstanding cinema if done well.
Taron Egerton has expressed interest in the role, expressing both excitement and apprehension about following Jackman’s portrayal to The New York Times. Having held leading roles in action films such as the Kingsman series, and Robin Hood, Egerton is no stranger to the kind of intensity needed to play Wolverine in the MCU. The new version of the character has the opportunity to distinguish itself in any number of ways from the previous one, and Egerton is an actor that could definitely rise to the challenge and make the role his own if given the chance.
