Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige introduced the new X-Men cast at D23, the biennial Disney fan convention, on August 15, 2026. The announcement confirms long-standing rumors that the mutant team would join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The cast includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury, a potential alias for the villain Mr. Sinister.
Who's in the X-Men cast?
Sadie Sink, known for her role as Max in Stranger Things, will play Jean Grey, the telepathic and telekinetic mutant. Sink previously appeared in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the Fear Street trilogy, and The Whale alongside Brendan Fraser.
Kit Connor, famous for Heartstopper, takes on Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, the team's leader. Connor also appeared in RocketMan, voiced Brightbill in The Wild Robot, and has a role in the upcoming Elden Ring adaptation.
Christopher Abbott, known for Girls and films like Poor Things and The Wolf Man, will play Charles Xavier, the telepathic founder of the X-Men.
Inde Navarrette, who starred in Obsession and Superman & Lois, is cast as Rogue, a mutant who absorbs powers and memories through touch.
Maya Boyd, a Broadway actor, will play Storm, the weather-controlling mutant. Her casting surprised many due to her relative obscurity.
Adam Driver, an Oscar-nominated actor known for Star Wars, plays Nathaniel Milbury, widely believed to be a pseudonym for Mr. Sinister, a geneticist obsessed with creating a perfect superhuman race.
Why are fans complaining?
Fan reactions are mixed. Some are disappointed that their speculative picks didn't land the roles. For instance, many hoped Cailee Spaeny would play Rogue, leading to criticism of Navarrette's casting. One user, @ackyhousewife, wrote on X: "Y'all are glazing Inde just because of her performance in Obsession. IMO, she doesn't fit the character of Rogue in the slightest." Another, @alan__s66, added: "Indeed should've been Mystique. She doesn't give Rogue vibes."
Others question the roster's completeness. @tom40188701 asked: "No Beast, No Bobby, No Angel, No Logan??" @joethekrow demanded: "Who is playing Jubilee? Nightcrawler? Wolverine?" @Marafty3 wondered about Magneto and whether Hugh Jackman would return as Wolverine, while @Marafty3 also asked about Channing Tatum as Gambit.
Despite the criticism, many fans are excited about the cast, with some praising Marvel's choices. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on May 5, 2028.
