TheX-Menmovies nearly featured some very familiar faces, many of whom later appeared inMarvelprojects. TheX-Menfranchise helped redefine the superhero genre, paving the way for the modern Marvel movie boom. Interestingly, some major superhero movie actors came to joining theX-Menuniverse long before they found fame in other comic book roles.
TheX-Menmovieslaunched a cinematic universe that ultimately spanned decades, beginning withX-Men(2000) through toLogan,Dark PhoenixandDeadpool 2.Throughout these, numerous recognizable faces almost played some of Marvel’s greatest mutants. From future Avengers to Netflix’s Defenders, some surprising stars were considered for mutant roles, often turning them down or losing out due to behind-the-scenes changes.
8Angela Bassett Was First Choice For Storm
Bassett Ultimately Played Queen Ramonda In Black Panther
Before Halle Berry donned the cape as Storm,X-Menscreenwriter David Hayter revealed that Angela Bassett was the original choice to play the weather-controlling mutant. In fact, according toThe Hollywood Reporter, Bassett was so firmly in mind that she was essentially considered a lock for the role. The castingwould have been perfect.
Bassett boasts a very distinctive delivery style and a commanding, almost severe presence. These areperfect traits to embody the imposing Storm. Bassett had already established herself with powerful roles in films likeWhat’s Love Got to Do with ItandStrange Days, and her authoritative screen presence would’ve brought gravitas to Storm.
Unfortunately, negotiations didn’t work out, and Fox ultimately cast Berry, whose take on the character spanned four main films. Bassett would ultimately find superhero success as Queen Ramonda in theBlack Pantherfilms. Had she accepted theX-Menrole, her MCU journey might never have happened. Yet, Bassettremains a top fan-castingfor the MCU’s Storm.
7Charlize Theron Turned Down Jean Grey
Theron Ultimately Played Clea In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Long before becoming a sci-fi action icon inMad Max: Fury RoadandThe Old Guard, Charlize Theron wasoffered the role of Jean Greyin the originalX-Mentrilogy. According to an interview cited byObserver,Theron turned down the part after being offered it by director Bryan Singer. This left the door open for Famke Janssen to step into the role.
Jean Grey’s arc (from telepathic mutant to the cosmic Dark Phoenix) became one of the trilogy’s central storylines. Theron’s intense screen presence would have offered a much different portrayal. While it’sunclear why she declined, the timing may have conflicted with other career moves in the early 2000s.
Theron eventually joined the superhero world with her appearance in the MCU’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesspost-credits scene. While she is yet to appear in a full narrative, her introductionteased multiverse incursions and a possible return from Dormammu. Nevertheless, her near-miss withX-Menremains one of the franchise’s biggest what-ifs.
6Sigourney Weaver Was Supposed To Play Emma Frost
Weaver Ultimately Played Alexandra In The Defenders
Sigourney Weaver nearly brought her sci-fi pedigree to theX-Menuniverse as Emma Frost. As reported bySuperHeroHype, Weaver was in talks to play the powerful telepath and former Hellfire Club member in earlier drafts ofX-Men: The Last Stand. At the time, the idea was to introduce Frost as a major antagonist, or at leasta morally complex presence, in the increasingly dark narrative of the third film.
Weaver, fresh off a string of genre-defining performances in theAlienseries, would’ve lent both elegance and menace to the role. Ultimately, the script changed, and Weaver never joined theX-Menfold. Weaver’s unique talent of rapidly switching between tender and formidablewould have worked incredibly well for the morally ambiguousEmma Frost.
Ironically, she later played the villain Alexandra in Marvel’sThe Defenderson Netflix. Thisgave audiences a tasteof what her presence in a Marvel property could feel like. However, Emma Frost remains a missed opportunity.
5Channing Tatum Nearly Played Gambit Before His Doomed Solo Movie
Tatum Ultimately Played Gambit In Deadpool & Wolverine
Channing Tatum isalmost synonymous with Gambit. Not because he played the role, but because of his long, tragic association with the character. However, even before his now-infamous solo movie was announced and stalled repeatedly, Tatum was nearly cast as Remy LeBeau inX-Men: The Last Stand.
Tatum toldUproxx, he came“really close”to landing the part. Unfortunately, the role wasremoved from the overcrowded sequel, and producers ultimately went with Taylor Kitsch forX-Men Origins: Wolverine. Tatum’s Southern charm and action chops made him a fan-favorite choice, and his passion for the role led to him being attached to a standaloneGambitfilm for years.
Unfortunately, delays, rewrites, and eventually Disney’s acquisition of Fox led to the movie’s cancellation. Tatum wasfinally able to don the purple body armorinDeadpool & Wolverine, a film which corrected many of Fox’sX-Menmissteps. Thrillingly, Tatum has also been confirmed to play Gambit in the MCU’sAvengers: Doomsday.
4David Harbour Was Turned Down For The Blob
Harbour Ultimately Played Red Guardian In Black Widow
Before gaining worldwide fame as Hopper inStranger Thingsand suiting up as Red Guardian in the MCU, David Harbour auditioned for a far less glamorous role: the Blob inX-Men Origins: Wolverine. Reportedly, Harbour didn’t just read for the part, heactually started gaining weightto play the morbidly obese mutant. He was reportedly turned down after executives believed he looked too unhealthy for the role.
Harbor joked that he was“too fat”to play Blob, with the character’s large frame created through major prosthetics. The part eventually went to Kevin Durand. Harbour later reflected on the experience with humor,noting how surreal it wasto be rejected forlookinglike the character.
It all worked out in the end, as Harbour’s rise in Hollywoodbrought him to more prominent roles. Harbour’s eventual turn as Red Guardian proved to be a highlight in each of his appearances, includingThunderbolts*.Still, his almost-debut in theX-Menuniverse is a strange footnote in the long list of missed casting connections in superhero history.
3Chris Hemsworth Was Very Close To Playing Gambit
Hemsworth Ultimately Played Thor Throughout The MCU
Long before he became Thor, Chris Hemsworth came heartbreakingly close to joining theX-Menuniverse as Gambit. In an interview withVariety, Hemsworth revealed that hegot very close to playing GambitinX-Men Origins: Wolverine. The casting ultimately went to Taylor Kitsch, whose portrayal was met with mixed reviews.
Hemsworth noted his disappointment at the time, having struggled to find major movie roles after leaving his television tenure. Interestingly, another role Hemsworth missed out on around this time was the lead inGI Joe. This ultimatelywent to fellow Gambit hopeful, Channing Tatum.
Thankfully, Hemsworth landed the role of Thor shortly after, skyrocketing him to fame in the MCU. Had he been cast inX-Men Origins:Wolverine, his entire trajectory might’ve changed. Moreover, the Marvel Cinematic Universecould have lost one of its most iconic heroes.
2Rosario Dawson Was Supposed To Play Cecelia Reyes
Dawson Played Gail In Sin City And Claire Temple In Daredevil
Rosario Dawson is now probably best known in the superhero genre for her portrayal of Claire Temple across Netflix’sDefendersshows. Her comic book legacyactually goes back much furthertoSin Cityand its sequel,Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.Years later, Dawson was set to play Dr. Cecilia Reyes in Fox’sThe New Mutants.
According toThe Hollywood Reporter, Dawson was cast in the role but exited before filming began, with Alice Braga eventually replacing her. Cecilia Reyes is a mutant doctor who serves as a mentor to the younger characters. This would have allowed Dawson to join yet another major superhero property.
At the time, Dawson was deeply involved in Marvel’s TV universe, and her presence in a Fox film may have complicated branding and scheduling. Still, Dawson’s departure fromNew Mutantswas a missed chance to bring her charisma to theX-Menworld. Though the film suffered from delays and lukewarm reviews, Dawson’s presencecould have helped the troubled production.
1Russell Crowe Turned Down Wolverine
Crowe Ultimately Played Nikolai Kravinoff In Kraven The Hunter And Zeus In Thor: Love And Thunder
Hugh Jackman was famously cast just weeks beforeX-Men(2000) began filming, but what many don’t know is that the role was offered first to Russell Crowe. According toDigital Spy, Crowe passed on the part and recommended his friend Jackman, who was thena little-known Australian actor. The decision changed superhero history.
While Crowe had just come off major success with films likeL.A. Confidentialand would soon win an Oscar forGladiator, he reportedlydidn’t connect with the roleor the idea of signing on for multiple films. In time, his advice to consider Jackman proved fateful. Jackman went on to portray Logan for nearly two decades, becoming one of the most iconic comic book actors of all time.
Crowe would find his superhero roles as Kraven the Hunter’s father in Nikolai Kravinoff and Zeus inThor: Love and Thunder. He also gavea celebrated performanceas Superman’s alien father, Jor-El, in the DCEU. Yet, if Crowe had accepted the role of Wolverine, theX-Menfranchise, and perhaps the entire superhero movie landscape, would have looked very different.
