Just a few weeks after the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced Sadie Sink as their new Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, five more actors — and one familiar face from Star Wars — have joined the franchise’s X-Men roster ahead of the upcoming Mutant Saga.
The newest cast members were announced at Disney’s D23 fan event in Anaheim, California, on August 14. Disney, which owns Marvel Studios, acquired the rights to the X-Men characters through a merger with 20th Century Fox back in 2019.
The MCU’s untitled X-Men reboot, directed by Thunderbolts* filmmaker Jake Schreier, is set to be released in theatres on May 5, 2028.
Sadie Sink as Jean Grey/Phoenix
Best known for her role as Max Mayfield in Netflix’s Stranger Things, Sadie Sink first appeared as Jean Grey in last month’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and she will also be in next December’s Avengers: Secret Wars.
Jean is an Omega-level mutant with telepathic and telekinetic powers. A key member of the X-Men in Marvel Comics, some of her aliases over the years have included Phoenix, Dark Phoenix, and Marvel Girl. She is also the physical manifestation of the Phoenix Force, a cosmic entity that uses Jean as a host.
In the comics, Jean has a close relationship with — and eventually marries — fellow mutant Scott Summers/Cyclops.
Kit Connor as Scott Summers/Cyclops
Following in the footsteps of his Heartstopper co-star Joe Locke (who plays Billy Maximoff/Wiccan in the MCU), Kit Connor officially joins the MCU as Scott Summers, also known as the mutant Cyclops (and the eventual husband of Jean Grey).
Scott’s mutation causes him to emit intense laser beams from his eyes, and this power can only be controlled by specialized eyewear. In the comics, he becomes the first member of the X-Men, a team of superhuman mutants created by Dr. Charles Xavier/Professor X.
Christopher Abbott as Dr. Charles Xavier/Professor X
Christopher Abbott, coming off of a Tony Award nomination for his onstage work in Broadway’s Death of a Salesman, joins the likes of Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy as the latest big-screen portrayal of Dr. Charles Xavier/Professor X.
Charles, an extremely powerful telepathic mutant, is the founder of the X-Men. He also runs a private school for young mutants, the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, on his private estate, which doubles as the headquarters for the X-Men.
In the comics, Charles eventually steps down as headmaster, leaving the school to Jean Grey and, later, to Scott Summers and Emma Frost.
Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
Known primarily for her work in the horror and thriller genres, including this year’s Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Samara Weaving is now taking on the role of mutant supervillian-turned-superhero Emma Frost in the MCU.
Emma possesses high-level telepathic abilities, nearly on the same level as Charles. As well, thanks to a Secondary Mutation, she can shapeshift into an organic diamond form, which grants her superhuman strength, stamina, and durability.
In one of her more villainous arcs in the comics, Emma swaps minds with and assumes the abilities of X-Men member Ororo Munroe/Storm in an attempt to defeat the team from within.
Maya Boyd as Ororo Munroe/Storm
Broadway actress Maya Boyd is making her feature-film debut with the MCU’s X-Men reboot, joining the team as Ororo Munroe/Storm.
The daughter of a Kenyan tribal princess, Storm is an exceptionally powerful mutant who possesses weather-manipulation capabilities. In the comics, she also has royal connections through her ties to T’Challa, King of Wakanda — although it remains to be seen if she will make an appearance in 2028’s recently announced Black Panther 3, which will feature David Jonsson as the grown-up son, T’Challa Jr., of the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa.
Over the years, Storm has been a member — and at times the leader — of various iterations of the X-Men, as well as a member of the Avengers and even the Fantastic Four. At one point she even serves on an all-female version of the X-Men alongside notable mutant Rogue.
Inde Navarrette as Rogue
Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of recent supernatural horror film Obsession, rounds out the rebooted X-Men roster as Rogue, a reluctant supervillain who soon becomes a hero in her own right.
Rogue’s superpowers are often regarded as more of a curse — she has the uncontrollable ability to absorb the life force and superpowers (as well as memories and personal characteristics) of anyone she touches.
While Rogue’s longstanding romantic counterpart, Gambit, has so far not been recast for the Mutant Saga, an alternate-universe version of the character is portrayed in the MCU by Channing Tatum. At one point in the comics, Rogue and Gambit’s relationship is put in jeopardy by her discovery of his troubling history with the villainous Mr. Sinister.
Adam Driver as Dr. Nathaniel Milbury/Mr. Sinister
Perhaps best known for his portrayal as Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Adam Driver’s involvement in the MCU’s X-Men reboot was included as a surprise at the end of the casting announcements at D23. While not onstage for the presentation, Driver nevertheless confirmed via pre-recorded video that he will be playing Dr. Nathaniel Milbury.
In Marvel Comics, Nathaniel “Milbury” is one of the aliases of Dr. Nathaniel Essex, a Victorian-era geneticist whose work continues past his death through several self-clones. One such clone is the supervillain Mr. Sinister, who gains superpowers via genetic enhancements using mutant DNA.
It’s not yet known what path the MCU will take with this particular version of Mr. Sinister, but a quick perusal of his comic history makes it clear there are plenty of ways this villain can wreak havoc for our mutant heroes.
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First Featured Image Credit: ©Marvel Comics