The wait for the mutants to officially join the Marvel Cinematic Universe has Marvel fans buzzing with anticipation, and the possibilities feel endless.
When The Walt Disney Company acquired 21st Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios gained access to an arsenal of iconic characters, including the X-Men and Fantastic Four. No longer confined by licensing restrictions, Marvel’s creative team unlocked a treasure chest of potential stories for their sprawling superhero universe.
While fans already know that Marvel’s First Family will debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps—directed by Matt Shakman and set to premiere later this year—the roadmap for the X-Men remains unclear.
Still, Marvel has made major mutant-related moves. Earlier in 2024, Beau DeMayo’s X-Men ’97 debuted on Disney+ to critical acclaim. Although set outside the MCU timeline, the animated series was a triumphant return to form for the mutants, reaffirming the demand for their big-screen comeback.
Then came the summer blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), directed by Shawn Levy. The record-breaking R-rated hit brought Hugh Jackman’s Logan back in a time-hopping, Multiversal epic that audiences couldn’t get enough of. The film became one of the year’s top earners, with rumors swirling that Jackman could reprise the role in the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Hints of the X-Men’s presence in the MCU have been sprinkled throughout the franchise for years. From Madripoor’s mention in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to Kamala Khan’s confirmed mutant gene in Ms. Marvel, Marvel has slowly been laying the groundwork for their arrival.
Now, speculation is heating up over who might take on these legendary roles. For Jean Grey, previously portrayed by Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is reportedly in the running. However, neither Disney nor Marvel has commented on the rumors.
Meanwhile, Academy Award nominee Cynthia Erivo has voiced her desire to play Ororo Munroe, AKA Storm. Speaking to NBR, the Wicked star shared her vision for bringing the weather-manipulating mutant to life:
“I really want to play Storm,” Erivo said. “I know it sounds frivolous, but I think we haven’t uncovered how grand she is and all of that inner turmoil that she has, so I think there’s a world where we could do something like that.”
According to insider Jeff Sneider, this dream casting might not be far off.
“On the latest episode of The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider said he’s heard that there is ‘actual interest’ in enlisting Erivo to play the weather-manipulating mutant,” Comic Book Movie reported. “The reporter also indicated that he knows about another individual (we’re not sure if it’s an actor or director) on the studio’s radar but is keeping it under his hat for the time being.”
Erivo has already proven her box office prowess with her standout role as Elphaba in Universal’s Wicked. The film, co-starring Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and Michelle Yeoh, has earned nearly $700 million globally. The sequel, Wicked: For Good, is set to release this November, further cementing Erivo as a powerhouse talent.
With Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp having portrayed Storm in live-action and Alison Sealy-Smith voicing the character in animation, Erivo could bring a fresh and complex take to this iconic role.
What do you think about these X-Men casting possibilities? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
