Marvel has loaded up its new X-Men cast with horror stars, and here's why that's a smart move
- Brian Fanelli
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Finally, mutants will be a major part of the MCU.
It took years for Marvel Studios to acquire the film rights to the X-Men from Fox. Now that Marvel finally has the rights, a new X-Men movie is on its way. Last week, several cast members were announced at D23, and a majority of them have one thing in common. They're horror stars.
Drawing from the horror genre is a smart move on Marvel's part, and here's why.
Horror is a major box office draw with a loyal fanbase that will likely support the new X-Men cast
Before we break down some of the positives about Marvel's new X-Men team, let's look at who was cast and in which roles. Sadie Sink, best known for her role as Max on Stranger Things, will play Jean Grey, one of the original five X-Men and a major character who is also married to the team's leader, Cyclops, who will be played by Kit Connor. Meanwhile, Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost, a powerful telekinetic who initially starts out as a villain in the Hellfire Club before joining the X-Men. Weaving is beloved by the horror community for her role as Grace in both Ready or Not films. She was also great in Over Your Dead Body, and she had a brief role in Scream 6. Additionally, Christoper Abbott, who starred as Blake in last year's Wolf Man, will play Professor X, while Maya Boyd will play the uber powerful mutant Storm. Meanwhile, Obsession breakout star Indie Navarrette has landed the role of Rogue.
The cast announcements were rounded out by Adam Driver as Mister Sinister, a Dracula-like villain obsessed with Jean and Cyclops, specifically their genes and the idea of making a super mutant race. As already stated, what this cast has is common is their background in horror, and it's a wise move on Marvel's part to draw on that.
For instance, Obsession is one of the most successful movies of the year, earning over $450 million so far at the box office, on a budget of about a million. Simply put, it's one of the most successful movies of the year, and it's likely that horror fans will show up to watch Navarrette play Rogue. Her performance as Nikki in Obsession was memorable and unhinged in all the best ways. Further, who can deny the success of Stranger Things and the massive fanbase that it has? It's likely at least some of those fans will show up to see Sink play such a key figure in the X-Men universe.
By their casting choices, Marvel has ensured there's already somewhat of a built-in fanbase, not only X-Men fans, but also horror hounds. Horror fans show up time and time again to support their own. Box office numbers are proof.
The X-Men cast is super talented, as they've shown in their horror films
Beyond the likely box office appeal of the X-Men cast thus far, there's also the fact that they're a talented group. Sink, as Max, performed some of the most memorable scenes in Stranger Things, and she was also good in the slasher Fear Street 1978. Jean Grey is a huge undertaking, but based on her past roles, she's likely capable. Additionally, when they eventually adapt the Dark Phoenix saga, a major story arc in the comics in which Jean is overtaken by an uncontrollable cosmic entity that creates chaos and havoc, it'll be fun to see her lean into such a darker role.
Further, watching Driver transform into such an iconic villain will be a wild ride. We already know he's a terrific actor, with two Academy Award nominations under his belt. He also has the look to play Mr. Sinsiter. Meanwhile, though last year's Wolf Man wasn't a great movie, Abbott's performance was one of its only highlights. Weaving is the perfect choice for Emma Frost. She's sassy and has the sex appeal. This is a major role for her, and well-deserved. She's more than paid her dues and has amassed a pretty massive fanbase among horror fans.
The casting choice that's drawn the most reaction has been Navarrette. Social media has been loaded with hot takes about why Navarrette is the wrong choice for Rogue. While I do think maybe she would have been better cast as the villain Mystique, I believe she'll serve Rogue well. It's also possible that Rogue will be introduced as a villain in the first Marvel X-Men movie, just like in the comics. If that's the case, we've already seen via Obsession that she can play one hell of a villain. That said, her stellar performance in that movie also proved she can pull off the emotional complexities and range that Rogue requires, especially once she joins the X-Men. Rogue is a character tormented by her power, in that she can't touch other mutants, including her eventual lover Gambit, because it drains their power. Based on Obsession's massive box office success, it's likely Marvel understood Navarrette will be a major draw to fill seats in theaters, but beyond that, it's not just hype casting. She's a solid actor.
Horror stars are filling out the X-Men team, and that's a reason to celebrate. It proves that the genre is a huge box office draw with a fanbase loyal to its actors, and actors who have been playing in the sandbox for years, specifically Weaving, are more than deserving of this major career leap. Marvel has yet to cast Angel, Iceman, and Beast, three of the five original X-Men team members, but perhaps those actors will also be from the horror world.
The X-Men movie is slated for 2028.
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