Marvel Studios has officially unveiled the first major cast members for its new X-Men movie, finally confirming who will play some of the franchise’s most iconic mutants in the MCU. Revealed during D23, the line-up includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, with Adam Driver also joining the film.
The untitled movie will be directed by Thunderbolts* filmmaker Jake Schreier and is currently set to arrive in cinemas on 5 May 2028. Several names had been linked to the film before D23, but Marvel has now officially put faces to its new generation of X-Men.
Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink will play Jean Grey, following her introduction as the character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Jean is one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel history, possessing telepathic and telekinetic abilities and famously becoming connected to the Phoenix Force. Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner previously played Jean Grey in the Fox X-Men films.
Kit Connor as Scott Summers / Cyclops
Kit Connor is officially the MCU’s Scott Summers, better known as Cyclops. The Heartstopper star takes on the role of one of the X-Men’s most important members and traditional field leaders, whose mutant abilities produce powerful optic blasts. James Marsden and Tye Sheridan are among the actors who previously played Cyclops on the big screen.
Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
Samara Weaving will play Emma Frost, a powerful telepath who can also transform her body into an almost indestructible diamond form. The character has moved between villain, antihero and X-Men member throughout Marvel history, having once been known as the White Queen of the Hellfire Club. Weaving comes to the MCU following roles in Ready or Not, Scream VI and Ready or Not 2: Here I Come.
Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier
Christopher Abbott has been cast as Charles Xavier, giving the MCU its new Professor X. The telepath is the founder of the X-Men and has previously been played most famously by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy. Abbott’s casting is one of the more unexpected announcements from D23, particularly after several other actors had been linked to the role during months of speculation.
Inde Navarrette as Rogue
Inde Navarrette will take on Rogue, whose mutant ability allows her to absorb another person’s powers, memories and life force through physical contact. Anna Paquin previously portrayed Rogue throughout the original X-Men film series. Navarrette is known for Superman & Lois and had previously spoken publicly about wanting to join Marvel as Mystique before landing a different mutant role.
Maya Boyd as Storm
Maya Boyd will play Ororo Munroe, better known as Storm. One of Marvel’s most powerful mutants, Storm can manipulate the weather and has frequently served as a leader of the X-Men. The role was previously played by Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp. Boyd comes to the film following stage work including & Juliet and Merrily We Roll Along, with X-Men set to mark a major step onto the big screen.
Is Adam Driver Playing Mister Sinister?
Adam Driver delivered one of D23’s biggest surprises by revealing that he will play Nathaniel Milbury.
Marvel stopped just short of explicitly calling him Mister Sinister, instead describing Driver’s character as a “very sinister figure”. Nathaniel Milbury is an established alias of Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mister Sinister, making his identity fairly clear. Driver had previously been heavily rumoured for Magneto, but his casting gives the new X-Men a very different villain instead.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that more casting announcements are still to come, meaning this is not yet the complete ensemble. Characters including Beast and Magneto have not officially been cast, leaving plenty more speculation ahead as the film moves towards production.
For CultureCues, this is a very good start for Marvel’s new X-Men. Wow, what a cast. Kit Connor, Samara Weaving and Christopher Abbott make this such an X-citing line-up. Inde Navarrette also showed some serious acting chops in Obsession, so we are really excited to see what she brings to Rogue. Adam Driver taking on the villain role was a genuine surprise too, and we cannot wait to see what he brings. Now we just need to know who is playing Magneto… X-Men fans should be very happy with this one. We definitely are!
X-Men will be released exclusively in cinemas on 5 May 2028.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.