With the X-Men set to make their long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the rumor mill is firing up with various casting scoops. Just this week, a rumor circulated online about a trio of names being eyed for leading roles, but that’s been overshadowed by a much more seismic rumor: Marvel is said to be interested in casting the Denzel Washington as a major villain in the upcoming X-Men reboot.
As with the previous casting rumor, the latest originated with Jeff Sneider. On a new episode of The Hot Mic podcast (via /Film), Sneider discussed Denzel Washington’s role in the upcoming Black Panther 3. While he stopped short of putting it in plain terms, Sneider ultimately said he thinks Washington “could be the villain of X-Men,” clearly alluding to Magneto, the mutant arch-nemesis previously played by Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender. While Sneider has a decent track record with scoops, he’s not always right, so you should definitely take this rumor with a grain of salt.
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That said… Wouldn’t it be f**king incredible if Marvel cast Denzel Washington as Magneto in the MCU?! Washington has more charisma in his pinky finger than 10 Glen Powells combined, especially when you get Washington in antagonist mode. See also: his recent performance in Gladiator II as bisexual gangster supreme Macrinus, a former enslaved fighter who uses his freedom to run his own ring of gladiators. Washington stole every scene in Ridley Scott’s ridiculous epic (complimentary), and reminded us just how much fun it is to watch him chew some damn scenery.
Washington is the latest name floated for the X-Men reboot following Sneider’s prior report that Marvel is eyeing Stranger Things star Sadie Sink, The Fabelmans star Julia Butters, and Babygirl‘s own Harris Dickinson for the roles of Jean Grey (of course), Kitty Pryde, and Scott Summers / Cyclops, respectively.
Wait, Wouldn’t That Mean Denzel Washington Is Playing an X-Men Villain in ‘Black Panther 3’?
During the press rounds for Gladiator II, Denzel Washington spilled the beans on his own casting in Black Panther 3, prompting the actor to call director Ryan Coogler and apologize for breaking the news. Marvel has yet to officially confirm Washington’s casting in the Black Panther sequel, which will likely hit theaters sometime after Avengers: Secret Wars. That film is currently scheduled for May 7, 2027, which would put Black Panther 3 on the docket for sometime in late 2027 or even 2028.
We also don’t know who Washington might be playing in Black Panther 3. While promoting the Feb. 14 release of Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore has been offering updates on various upcoming projects, including the Black Panther sequel. Moore didn’t confirm Washington’s casting, but in a new interview he did say that if Washington winds up in Black Panther 3, he’ll “probably be somebody from canon.” But which canon? Marvel canon? Black Panther canon?
Moore didn’t specify, which still leaves the door open for Washington to play Magneto. The kingdom of Wakanda is a rich resource of the most powerful metal in the world, Vibranium, which Wakandans combine with steel to make Adamantium – the same metal injected into Wolverine’s skeleton. It seems mighty plausible that Magneto, a mega-powerful mutant with the ability to control metal, would wind up in or around Wakanda. That feels like a pretty organic way to bring Magneto into the MCU. After all, precious metals are still a going concern in the MCU, with Adamantium set to make its debut in Captain America: Brave New World. In a separate interview with Screen Rant, director Julius Onah confirmed that Adamantium’s introduction in Brave New World is laying the groundwork for Project X.
Not to sound like Charlie on his Pepe Silvia kick in It’s Always Sunny, but when you really think about it, Denzel Washington playing Magneto just makes sense. And until Marvel says otherwise, I’ll continue wishing it into existence.
X-Men
Summary
The X-Men film series consists of superhero films based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. The films star an ensemble cast, focusing on Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, who is drawn into the conflict between Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart & James McAvoy) and Magneto (Ian McKellen & Michael Fassbender), who have opposing views on humanity’s relationship with mutants. Xavier believes humanity and mutants can coexist, but Magneto believes that mutants are destined to rule humanity. The films also developed subplots based on the comics’ Weapon X and Dark Phoenix storylines.
20th Century Fox earned the film rights to the characters in 1994, and after numerous drafts, Bryan Singer was hired to direct X-Men (2000) and returned for X2 (2003). He left a potential third and fourth film to direct Superman Returns, leaving Brett Ratner to direct X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Critics praised Singer’s films for their dark, realistic tone, and subtexts dealing with discrimination and intolerance, but Ratner’s film was met with mixed reviews. Nonetheless, each film outgrossed its predecessor, and Fox developed two prequels: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) and X-Men: First Class (2011). Both prequels have been planned to continue into two separate trilogies. Some spin-offs of certain characters are being considered, with Deadpool being the only one confirmed so far. There are also discussions of a potential continuation to the main trilogy.
The X-Men films contributed to a reemergence of superhero films in the 2000s
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
