The X-Men are set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox. Many fans have been wanting this for years and they are now getting their wish. With an MCU X-Men film being inevitable it would mean that there would be new cast to play the mutants.
There are hundreds of characters in the X-Men universe which the MCU could use. I came up with my pitch for how the X-Men could be introduced into the MCU and now I will attempt to cast the film based on that proposal.
Charles Xavier – Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes doesn’t need an introduction, his work in films like Schindler’s List, The Constant Gardener, and The Grand Budapest Hotel speaks for itself. The presence of actors like him would automatically add gravitas for an MCU X-Men film that would feature a mostly young cast.
Patrick Stewart was iconic as the character in the Fox films but has retired playing Xavier. Marvel would properly want a clean break from the Fox films so it would rule James McAvoy out. Fiennes would easily fit the role of Xavier – he can rock the bald look and he comes from a Shakespearean background so he can easily make the character refined and intelligent. Fiennes also has a reputation for playing villains so he could add a darker shade to Xavier compared to previous versions of the character.
Fiennes is not above appearing in genre films – he famously played Voldemort in the Harry Potter films and is currently M in the Bond series. Nor would it be his first time in the superhero genre – he plays Alfred in The LEGO Batman Movie and he was Brett Ratner’s choice to play Jor-El in the abandoned Superman: Flyby project. The benefit for Fiennes appearing in the MCU would be a guaranteed paycheque and he could use that making films that he can direct.
Scott Summers/Cyclops – Jack Reynor
In my proposal I stated that Scott Summers AKA Cyclops would be front and centre in the MCU X-Men movie. The character has been ill-served in the Fox films so it’s time that the popular perception that he’s a dick should change. He needs to be someone who commands authority so he could lead but also has doubts over his abilities and mentally scarred because he can’t control his powers. My choice would be Jack Reynor.
Reynor is an Irish actor who has worked on both sides of the Atlantic. He is probably best known for his role in Transformers: Age of Extinction but he has improved a lot since then. He was won awards in his native Ireland and an award at the Sundance Film Festival for his performance in Glassland. He has most recently starred in the horror film Midsommar with Florence Pugh. Reynor has the look for Cyclops, he is a handsome, naturally stocky and six-foot-tall. It could be the role that makes him into a star.
My original pick for the role was Richard Madden but he is rumoured to star in the upcoming Eternals film.
Jean Grey – Alicia Vikander
Jean Grey is an incredibly important character in the X-Men because of her arc that sees her become the Dark Phoenix. She is the first female student of Xavier’s and I would follow the Ultimate X-Men comics by making her the second student after Cyclops. Whoever plays Jean needs to be prepared for the long term because of her relationship with Cyclops and her eventual turn as the Phoenix. Jean is often regarded as one of the most beautiful women in the Marvel Universe and whoever plays her needs to be known as a knockout.
Alicia Vikander is a highly talented and beautiful actress. It would be a huge coup if Marvel got an actress of her calibre to play Jean. Vikander has proven herself time and again in films like Testament of Youth, Ex Machina and her Oscar-winning role in The Danish Girl. She got into amazing shape when she played Lara Croft in the most recent Tomb Raider role. She would be able to play the supportive woman who she holds back and has shades of darkness within her.
Admittedly my first choice would have been Karen Gillan but she is already in the MCU as Nebula.
Hank McCoy/Beast – Alexander Ludwig
Hank McCoy is one of the first members of the X-Men, a man with a physically notable mutation and a genius-level intellect. When he was first introduced in the comics he had long arms and legs and later becomes the big blue furball we know and love. Hank is an important part of the team, he is the scientific genius and despite his animalistic appearance someone who enjoy high culture like classic literature. But he also the most insecure because of the appearance and fear he may become more animalistic.
An actor who could physically play Beast is Alexander Ludwig. The Canadian actor is best known for playing Bjorn Ironside in Vikings where he has shown off his action credentials numerous times. He is 6’2 tall and he has the right blend of muscular bulk and agility – attributes needed to play the character. Ludwig as Bjorn has shown himself to be a military strategist and political operator so hopefully could be able to play a scientifically minded character. Being in numerous battles Ludwig had to show he could do rage acting, so he would be able to do that again if he portrays Beast.
Ororo Munroe/Storm – Clare-Hope Ashitey
Ororo Munroe/Storm is a character with a rich history. She was one of the first major black female superheroes and she has been a tribal princess, the leader of the Morlocks, and married T’Challa AKA Black Panther. It would be a fun character for any actress to play, especially since she is a character who has to hold herself back due to her sheer power.
Clare-Hope Ashitey is an English actress from a Ghanaian background. She is best known for playing Kee in the excellent Children of Men. Since then she has worked mostly in TV, appearing in shows like Doctor Foster, Shot Fired, and Seven Seconds. She deserves more film roles because she has range. In Beyond the Gates and Children of Men she has performed with an African accent so she can do it again if she played Storm.
Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat – Bella Ramsey
When Kitty Pryde was first introduced in the comics she was a 13-year-old girl who just developed her powers. She has acted as a POV character in the comics and the Pryde of the X-Men cartoon and I would go for similar interpretation for the MCU X-Men movie. Kitty could serve as an example of the growing number of young mutants and as a character who needs to learn how to use their powers. She can grow up as the film series progresses.
In this film, Kitty should be aged around 12 to 15 which makes casting tricky because there is no announcement on when the MCU X-Men movie would be produced. If the film’s made in the near future I would cast Bella Ramsey. Ramsey is known as Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones and became a fan’s favourite because of her blunt, no-nonsense delivery and willingness to get into a fight despite her young age. Her career has expanded beyond Game of Thrones – she plays Mildred Hubbert in the CBBC version of The Worst Witch and has appeared in many feature films, TV shows, and short films. Ramsey has shown her range so she can play Kitty as a scared youngster who slowly grows in confidence and ability.
Ramsey has dark hair and is of a petite status so she would be a physical match to her comic book counterpart.
Mister Sinister – Clive Owen
The X-Men have a great roster of villains like Magneto, Apocalypse, and the Hellfire Club. One who has yet to make it to the silver screen is Mister Sinister. Born Nathaniel Essex, Sinister was a Victorian scientist who has a multitude of powers like longevity, healing, and super-strength. Sinister is connected to Cyclops and Jean and his obsession would be one of the driving force of this film.
Sinister is an imposing figure – he is tall, muscular and chalk-white skin. Fans have clamoured for Bryan Cranston to play the role and Jon Hamm was set to play the character in The New Mutants but cut due to the reshoots. My pick would be Clive Owen. Owen is a talented actor who has been nominated for an Oscar (Closer) and a Golden Globe (The Knick.)  Owen is tall and broad-chested so would match the physical appearance and he would be able to play the character as both the refined gentleman and a cunning mastermind – willing to experiment on his fellow man.
Like Fiennes, Owen could add gravitas to the project. If done right Mister Sinister could be one of the great MCU villains.
Vertigo – Olga Kurylenko
Out of all the characters on this list, my version of Vertigo would deviate the most from her comic book origins. In the comics Vertigo is a Savage Land Mutate, a primitive people who were experimented on. I would change her to be a mutant from Eastern Europe who’s the result of Sinister’s eugenics program and becomes one of his henchmen. I picked her because she has a useful power where she can disorientate people, cause pain, and knock people unconscious. She would also have a seductive quality.
A woman who would fit the description would be Olga Kurylenko. Hailing from the Ukraine Kurylenko started her career as a model and has gone on to act in films from America, the UK, France, and Australia. She is obviously a beautiful woman and she has shown to have a menacing side in the historical action film Centurion where she played a mute warrior who hates the Romans. Kurylenko should channel that type of performance to play Vertigo by making her a character who enjoys inflicting pain partly as a way to cope with her powers.
Remy LeBeau/Gambit – Jack Lowden
Gambit is a fan favourite who hasn’t been served well by the Fox franchise. He was shoehorned into X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the spin-off film with Channing Tatum has been cancelled due to the Disney takeover. Considering the cast would mostly be in their 20s the actor playing Gambit should be of a similar age. My pick would be Scottish actor Jack Lowden.
Lowden is an emerging star, appearing in films and TV shows like War & Peace, Dunkirk, and Fighting With My Family. The main reason I picked Lowden was because of his performance in Mary Queen of Scots. In that film he played the man who seduced the Queen and showed himself to be handsome, charming, and roguish, characteristics that match Gambit. Lowden role as a wrestler in Fighting With My Family shows he can handle the action set pieces.
The biggest issue for any actor playing Gambit is his Cajun background which is a particular accent. Even though Lowden is Scottish his English accent is effortless and I sure he can do the Cajun accent if he works with a good dialect coach.
