Adam Driver is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the supervillain Mister Sinister, while Inde Navarrette has been cast as Rogue in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot.
The casting announcements were made during Disney’s D23 convention in Anaheim, California, where Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige unveiled several members of the highly anticipated superhero film.
The new X-Men movie is scheduled to hit cinemas in May 2028.
Adam Driver joins Marvel as Mister Sinister
Driver’s involvement in the X-Men project had been the subject of considerable speculation for some time, with the actor frequently linked to a major role in the franchise.
Many fans had expected him to portray Magneto, but Marvel confirmed that he will instead play Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mister Sinister.
Speaking to the D23 audience through a video appearance, Driver initially joked that he would be playing Magneto before revealing his actual character.
Mister Sinister is one of the prominent villains associated with the X-Men universe in Marvel Comics.
Inde Navarrette cast as Rogue
Inde Navarrette, who gained attention for her recent performance in the horror project “Obsession,” will portray Rogue in the new film.
Her casting had also been widely speculated before Marvel officially confirmed the role.
Rogue is one of the best-known characters in the X-Men universe and is recognised for her ability to absorb the memories, powers and abilities of others through physical contact.
New X-Men cast revealed
Marvel also confirmed several other major members of the cast.
Christopher Abbott, who previously worked with Driver on “Girls,” will portray Professor Charles Xavier, the founder and leader of the X-Men.
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Maya Boyd has been cast as Storm, while previously announced actors include Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Kit Connor as Scott “Cyclops” Summers and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey.
The newly announced cast members appeared at the D23 event, with Driver joining remotely through a large screen.
X-Men officially enters the MCU
The new film marks a major step in bringing the X-Men fully into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The move became possible after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox’s film and television assets in 2019, bringing the screen rights to the X-Men and other Marvel characters under Disney’s control.
Jake Schreier is directing the reboot, while writers Lee Sung Jin, creator of “Beef,” and Joanna Calo, co-showrunner of “The Bear,” are working on the screenplay.
Marvel also unveils Star Wars and Avengers updates
The X-Men announcements were among several major reveals at Disney’s D23 presentation.
Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy appeared to promote “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is scheduled for release in May 2027.
Gosling plays Kade Auberon in the film, which is set to introduce another story within the Star Wars universe.
Marvel also showcased new material from “Avengers: Doomsday,” scheduled for release on December 18.
The presentation featured returning Marvel stars including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell. Downey Jr. is set to portray Doctor Doom, while Evans returns as Captain America.
Hugh Jackman also appeared in a video message expressing his willingness to return as Wolverine, further fuelling speculation about the character’s involvement in the upcoming Avengers film.
Frozen 3 also gets D23 spotlight
Disney’s D23 event also featured “Frozen 3,” with Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel returning to their roles as Anna and Elsa.
The actresses attempted to perform a musical number during the presentation, but technical problems involving the audio, video and stage doors disrupted the performance.
The mishap was handled humorously by the stars, who continued with the presentation before Josh Gad, who voices Olaf, performed a song from the upcoming film.
With major updates on X-Men, Avengers, Star Wars and Frozen, Disney’s D23 presentation provided several major announcements about the studio’s upcoming slate of films and series.
