We've barely come down from San Diego Comic-Con, where Marvel Studios already had plenty to announce, but it was ultimately at Disney's D23 a few weeks later that the studio saved its biggest surprises, chiefly around the X-Men and their reboot. Kevin Feige used the event to unveil a handful of the new cast members for the forthcoming mutant film. So we now know that the young and hugely talented Inde Navarrette will be Rogue, Kit Connor has been picked as the new Cyclops, Maya Boyd will play Storm, Samara Weaving will be Emma Frost, Christopher Abbott takes on the role of Professor X, while Adam Driver has accepted the part of Mr. Sinister, real name Nathaniel Essex, a scientist obsessed with genetics and mutant evolution. A particularly important character in the comics, and one who could give Marvel a far more personal adversary for this new team.
It's a rather amusing announcement, because Adam Driver had made something of a habit of turning Marvel down. Kevin Feige himself confirmed in July 2026 that Marvel Studios had tried to sign the actor several times, without success. Feige even joked that it had become a running gag to hop on a Zoom call with Adam Driver before he politely declined whatever role was on offer. We know he was approached for The Fantastic Four, probably for Reed Richards according to the rumours at the time, and that he swiftly passed after reading the script. And now, plot twist: he's finally agreed to join the MCU, not as a squeaky-clean hero but as a full-blown villain. Either way, they all join Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost. The film is currently slated to hit cinemas on 5 May 2028.
The old X-Men are coming back too
The handover should be rather fun to watch, since it's worth remembering that on top of this new generation of mutants, several former X-Men are set to reappear in Avengers: Doomsday. Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, James Marsden and a number of other veteran actors from the Fox franchise will reprise their roles and this time cross paths with the MCU's heroes and Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. Marvel Studios had already begun blurring the lines between the two universes with Deadpool & Wolverine, which saw Hugh Jackman slip back into Wolverine's claws and Channing Tatum finally make his debut as Gambit. The studio seems keen to use this transitional period to let the two generations share the screen before gradually passing the baton.
See you in 2028
There's obviously a fair wait ahead before we get to see this new team in action, given that the X-Men film isn't due until 5 May 2028. Marvel Studios is still holding plenty of cards close to its chest, particularly regarding the plot and the other characters who might join the adventure. But with Jean Grey, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Rogue, Storm, Professor X and Mr. Sinister, the shape of this new team is finally starting to emerge.
