For the longest time, comic book movies were hit or miss. Though properties such as Batman and Superman had been proven moneymakers in the past, viewers had become disinterested with the studio's decision to adopt a more cartoonish, comical approach. And while DC Comics had made an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape, Marvel was simply unable to capture fan interest. That is, until Fox's X-men.
At the beginning of the 2000s, the world of cinema was changed forever, as the comic book movie emerged as a serious box office contender with Marvel replacing DC as the new heroes of Hollywood. Presently, the Marvel Cinematic Universe reigns supreme and with parent company Disney regaining the rights to the X-men, speculations abound as to who will be cast as Marvel's mutants.
9 Hugh Jackman
The long-time star of Fox’s X-men franchise, Jackman has portrayed the claw-wielding Wolverine for almost 20 years, finally calling it quits with 2017s Logan. Jackman expressed no interest in returning as the feral mutant, feeling that he had grown too old to portray the character. But with the emergence of the MCU and fans frothing at the mouth at the possibility for the beloved X-man to appear alongside the Avengers, Jackman seems to be open to a possible return.
8 Scott Eastwood
Fans all over the internet have been casting Scott Eastwood as not only the cigar smoking, Wolverine, but also the leader of the X-men, Cyclops for a quite some time. "The Longest Ride" star's look and over all demeanor seem to be tailor-made for the "Ol' Canuckle Head" and has the versatility to portray the crimson-eyed Boy Scout. As Disney prepares to integrate the X-men into the MCU, Eastwood's rising star status and relative youth makes the actor's potential casting very likely.
7 Olivia Cooke
Fan casting Olivia Cooke as both Rogue and Jean Grey has become pretty common as of late. "The Bates Motel" actor was in the running to play Kate Bishop in the MCU, but that casting was not meant to be. Now, with the arrival of the X-men on the horizon, Cooke may be in the running to be thrown into the mix of Marvel's cast of merry mutants.
6 Jon Bernthal
Though the "Walking Dead" actor has already appeared in the MCU as the hard-nosed Punisher, actors within the franchise have been recast with minimal if not zero backlash. Bernthal's take on the brutal vigilante gave fans a glimpse as to what the actor would be capable of as Wolverine, but with the possibility of Disney reintroducing Punisher, Daredevil and Jessica Jones into the MCU, Bernthal may be destined to continue to dish out his brand of vengeful justice with the gun and not the claws.
5 Daisy Ridley
Daisy Ridley is no stranger to monolithic franchises. Becoming the star of the latest Star Wars trilogy, Ridley has become a fixture (often polarizing) within pop culture. So, her inclusion into the MCU seems a match made in heaven. With the pending arrival of the X-men being strongly anticipated and Ridley expressing interested in joining the MCU, the actress being cast as Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke would not only make sense but would be welcomed by fans.
4 Keanu Reeves
With a slew of franchises such as John Wick, The Matrix and the recently revised Bill and Ted under his belt, Reeves has had an incredible career resurgence in recent years. The "Speed" star has expressed interest in donning the mutton chops and playing the adamantium boned Wolverine, but feels he's too old for the role. However, that doesn't exclude the actor from portraying an older version of the fan favorite. With the introduction of the multiverse with the MCU, the possibility of many versions of the same character showing up are strong.
3 Evan Peters
Peters is seemingly a no-brainer as the actor has not only portrayed the silver haired speedster, Quicksilver in Fox's X-men franchise, but also made a cameo as the character within the MCU's WandaVision (albeit a one off). Currently, Peter's fate within the franchise is up in the air, but with the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the fan favorite appearing in the MCU, it won't be surprising if we see Peter's reprising his role as the swift footed X-man.
2 Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor has been rumored to have met with Marvel for an upcoming MCU role. and the internet is alive with the actor potentially being cast as Professor X. The "Trainspotting" star is already part of the Disney family, as the actor has signed on to return to the Star Wars franchise. As the rumors continue to circulate about the potential inclusion of McGregor in the MCU and the X-men being Disney's next big project, the possibility is strong for the established actor being cast in the X-men.
1 Denzel Washington
The rumor that both Magneto and Xavier might be recast as African Americans has been floating around the internet for a short time. After all, the original idea and backstory behind the friends turned rivals was inspired by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X respectively. Recently, the idea of Denzel Washington portraying the "Master of Magnetism" has been covered by many sites online. Washington's strong screen presence, incredible acting chops and power delivery make him a fitting choice to play the villainous mutant.
