Marvel Studios is assembling its cast of mutants to be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men, securing actors for some high-profile Marvel characters in the process. As soon as Disney bought 20th Century and the MCU gained access to the X-Men, the reboot film became the home to some of the most high-profile available roles around Hollywood.
For as beloved as past iterations of several X-Men characters have been in previous X-Men movies, the MCU needs its own versions of the biggest heroes and villains. Some of Fox’s X-Men castings may stick around long-term, like Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, but the majority of the characters will be recast. This opens the doors for new actors to play Professor X, Magneto, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Wolverine, and other staples of X-Men storytelling in the comics.
Marvel Studios’ untitled X-Men movie is deep into development with director Jake Schreier. It’s expected to start filming in 2027 and is confirmed to come out May 5, 2028. That’s left Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige, casting director Sarah Finn, Schreier, and additional creatives and producers to figure out who will take on the main roles.
While there are plenty of rumors about who will be in the MCU’s X-Men movie cast, these are actors who are set in stone to appear, and which characters they will play.
Sadie Sink As Jean Grey
Credit: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images
Character: Jean Grey is one of the most prominent members of the X-Men in the comics. She’s an incredibly powerful telepath, empath, and telekinetic mutant, making her an Omega-level mutant. Jean is also the host of the Phoenix Force, transforming her into the Phoenix while tapping into these substantial abilities and darker tendencies.
Jean has already been introduced in the MCU ahead of X-Men thanks to Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The movie revealed that she and her sister, Sara Grey, were orphans after being abandoned by their mother. After Sara is kidnapped by Damage Control, Jean goes on a mission to find her, one that leads to her being subdued by Spider-Man’s universal inhibitor. She’s then experimented on by Damage Control, which increases her telepath abilities and unlocks her telekinesis.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Sadie Sink made her debut as Jean in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Before joining the MCU, she was best known for playing Max in Stranger Things. Sink also appeared in two of Netflix’s Fear Street movies and had a supporting role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. She becomes the fifth actress to play Jean Grey in live-action.
Kit Connor As Scott Summers/Cyclops
Character: Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, is a founding member of the X-Men. He possesses the ability to emit optic blasts from his eyes, which he has more control over thanks to his visor. Cyclops is a natural leader, making him routinely the one commanding the X-Men in battle. He’s often in love with Jean Grey or Emma Frost. Cyclops is also the brother of Havok and the father of Cable.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Kit Connor has officially been cast as Cyclops for the X-Men reboot. He got his breakout role as Nick Nelson in three seasons of Heartstopper, a role he returned to in 2026 for a movie continuation with Heartstopper Forever. He also had a voice role in DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot and a key role in A24’s Warfare. Connor becomes the fourth actor to play Cyclops in a live-action Marvel movie.
Christopher Abbott As Charles Xavier/Professor X
Character: Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, is the leader of the X-Men and founder of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. He’s one of the most powerful telepaths ever to exist and a firm supporter of mutants helping humanity. However, comics, especially more recently, have also explored the idea of him being more willing to do whatever is necessary to preserve mutant kind.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Christopher Abbott adds Professor X to an impressive filmography. He’s had a recurring role in Girls and key roles in other TV shows like The Sinner, Catch-22, and The Crowded Room. His movie appearances include Wolf Man, Kraven the Hunter, The Testament of Ann Lee, Poor Things, Sanctuary, and First Man. Abbott becomes the third Professor X actor in live-action movies.
Adam Driver As Nathaniel Milbury/Mister Sinister
Character: Nathaniel Milbury is an alias in Marvel Comics used by X-Men villain Dr. Nathaniel Essex, aka Mister Sinister. He is driven to perfect humanity and tirelessly works to achieve his goals. Notably, Nathaniel only achieves powers in the comics through the help of Apocalypse and Celestial technology, granting him the ability to alter his molecular DNA to increase physical attributes, healing, etc. He can also change his appearance and harness telepathy and telekinesis. Sinister will serve as the film’s main villain.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Adam Driver is best known for playing Ben Solo/Kylo Ren in Disney’s Star Wars sequels, but he first started to break out through his role on Girls. He’s also a two-time Academy Award nominee for BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story. Driver has turned heads with several other roles, too, such as in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel or Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky.
Samara Weaving As Emma Frost
Character: Emma Frost is a prominent X-Men character in the comics, one who has been both a hero and a villain at times. She is a powerful telepath who can also become pure diamond. When she’s embracing her more evil side, she’s best known for leading the Hellfire Club as the White Queen. But when Emma is feeling more heroic, she becomes a main member of the X-Men team, even leading her fellow mutants.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: X-Men‘s Emma Frost actress Samara Weaving has been acting for years, with her really starting to gain recognition after starring in Netflix’s The Babysitter. She went on to lead Ready or Not and its sequel, secure key roles in Bill & Ted Face the Music and the G.I. Joe relaunch Snake Eyes. Weaving has also been in Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Babylon, and Scream VI. She’ll be the third Emma Frost actress in live-action once X-Men hits theaters.
Inde Navarrette As Rogue
Character: Rogue is a longstanding member of the X-Men, despite getting her start as an unsure villain working for the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. She famously stole Carol Danvers’ powers in the comics as a result of her unique mutation of absorbing the abilities of anyone she touches. Rogue eventually joined the X-Men and is often a love interest for Gambit.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Inde Navarrette’s X-Men casting comes on the heels of her breakout role in the 2026 horror sensation, Obsession, where her performance as Nikki made her an in-demand young star. She previously appeared in 13 Reasons Why and Superman & Lois. She becomes the second actress to play Rogue in a live-action movie.
Maya Boyd As Ororo Munroe/Storm
Character: Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, is one of the X-Men’s most iconic and beloved characters. She possesses the ability to control the weather. Storm is not only a frequent member of the X-Men, but she is also a leader of the team during various iterations in the comics. Her importance to Marvel’s universe expands beyond mutants, as she’s also been an Avenger and has a romance with T’Challa, whom she eventually marries.
Actor’s Notable Movies & TV Shows: Maya Boyd will make her feature film debut with X-Men. Previously, she’s been exclusively a theater performer. Boyd was on Broadway for Merrily We Roll Along and received even greater recognition for her headlining role in & Juliet starting in 2024.
- Director
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Jake Schreier
- Writers
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Michael Lesslie
