New X-Men, New Faces? First Casting Candidates for the Reboot Revealed
Insider Reports on Recasting of Rogue and Beast for the New Marvel Film
The X-Men are back! Professor X, Magneto and more will soon be appearing in the highly anticipated "Avengers: Doomsday". But the future of the "X-Men" is already set beyond that. A new "X-Men" movie is in development! According to Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider, Marvel has now set its sights on two new actors for the project.
Odessa A'zion as Rogue?
Specifically, Sneider discussed the casting of Rogue and Beast on the podcast "The Hot Mic". For Rogue, he mentioned that they are interested in "Marty Supreme" star Odessa A'zion. Rogue is a mutant with the ability to absorb the memories, powers, and life energy of others through physical touch. In the original "X-Men" films, Rogue is one of the central characters and was portrayed by Anna Paquin. There, she meets Professor X and attends his school for gifted youngsters.
Peter Claffey as Beast?
Marvel may also have a candidate in mind for Beast. Sneider mentions the name Peter Claffey. The actor most recently garnered attention as the lead character Dunk in the "Game of Thrones" spin-off "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms". Beast (aka Hank McCoy) is a mutant known for his unique combination of superhuman intelligence and physical strength. The character has been played in the past by Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Hoult. Grammer will reprise the role in "Doomsday".
What We Know About the New X-Men Film
However, Sneider emphasizes that nothing is finalized yet. The casting of A'zion and Claffey is not confirmed; they are merely candidates Marvel is reportedly interested in. Nevertheless, the casting process could begin soon. After all, a key step in production was recently completed: the creative team is in place.
The reboot will be directed by "Thunderbolts" director Jake Schreier. Most recently, a new writing team has also been brought on board: Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo. All three worked together on "Thunderbolts". So, a well-established team awaits us for the new "X-Men" film. You can find out more about the creative team and what they're planning for the new "X-Men" film here.
Possible Release Date
Exactly when the film will be released is still uncertain at this point. A 2028 release seems realistic. A look at the theatrical calendar shows that Disney has scheduled four slots for as-yet-untitled Marvel films in 2028. It's quite possible that the "X-Men" film will premiere on one of those dates.
The X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday
But for now, Marvel fans are looking forward to "Avengers: Doomsday" and the return of several original "X-Men" actors such as Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden. A first teaser already offers a glimpse of what's to come.
The X-Men on the Big Screen
For many fans, the return of the mutants to the big screen is also a trip down memory lane – after all, the "X-Men" films have had a decisive influence on superhero cinema for more than two decades.
It all began in 2000 with "X-Men", directed by Bryan Singer. The film is considered a pioneer of modern superhero cinema, long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe came into being. At the center are the mutants – people with special abilities who live in a world that fears and rejects them. With characters like Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen), the film established central conflicts surrounding integration, discrimination, and power. Wolverine, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, also quickly became a fan favorite.
The sequels "X2" and "X-Men: The Last Stand" continued the story and, in particular, deepened the tensions between humans and mutants. While "X2" is often cited as one of the best superhero films of its time, the third installment received a somewhat mixed reception.
The 2011 Reboot
The franchise was reimagined in 2011 with "X-Men: First Class". The film tells the backstory of Professor X and Magneto and sets the plot during the Cold War. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender took on the younger versions of the iconic characters.
This was followed by "X-Men: Days of Future Past", which brought the old and new casts together and incorporated time travel, as well as "X-Men: Apocalypse" and "X-Men: Dark Phoenix". These films expanded the universe, focused more on ensemble stories, and reimagined familiar comic book storylines.
Spin-offs: Wolverine and Deadpool
At the same time, the "X-Men" universe continued to evolve through spin-offs. Wolverine was a particular focus with "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", "The Wolverine", and the highly acclaimed "Logan". The latter presented a significantly darker, more mature version of the character and is considered by many to be one of the best superhero movies of all time.
The "Deadpool" films starring Ryan Reynolds struck a completely different tone. "Deadpool", "Deadpool 2", and "Deadpool & Wolverine" deliberately broke with the conventions of the genre. With their self-deprecating humor, direct address to the audience, and a much edgier tone, they became huge hits and significantly expanded the scope of the "X-Men" universe. The "X-Men" world was further expanded with the film "New Mutants".
TV Shows in the "X-Men" Universe
The franchise has also expanded into the realm of TV shows. "Legion" told a standalone, psychologically driven story centered on a powerful mutant and stood out stylistically from the films. "The Gifted", on the other hand, presented a more classic scenario: a family on the run from a world that persecutes mutants. However, "X-Men '97" is particularly popular among fans.
Overall, the "X-Men" films have had a lasting impact on the superhero genre – from the first serious comic book adaptations to experimental spin-offs and TV series. With the upcoming reboot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise now faces another fresh start, one that is set to finally usher the mutants into the next era.
