Former Magneto actor Michael Fᴀssbender addresses the rumors of Denzel Washington being eyed for the iconic X-Men character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU timeline is currently focusing on The Multiverse Saga, Phase 7 is reportedly set to mark the beginning of the X-Men era in the beloved franchise. As an X-Men reboot film is in development, the MCU will have numerous mutants to recast, following Fox’s original X-Men universe.
On the latest episode of Happy, Sad, Confused, host Josh Horowitz spoke briefly with Fᴀssbender about his Magneto chapter during the Fox-Marvel era while also looking ahead to the future. During their conversations, Fᴀssbender was informed about the rumblings that Washington is being looked at for the role of Magneto, and the actor shared the following response:
Josh Horowitz: They’re going to cast somebody as Magneto – you got to pᴀss the baton at some point.
Michael Fᴀssbender: I think it’s great, I’m excited to see who does it.
Josh Horowitz: The latest crazy rumor, I don’t think this is real by the way, but Denzel.
Michael Fᴀssbender: As Magneto? I mean, brilliant, he’s a heavyweight.
Josh Horowitz: If you’re going to pᴀss the baton to someone-
Michael Fᴀssbender: I don’t even think I could pᴀss the baton [laughs]. He’s incredible!
What Michael Fᴀssbender’s Magneto Recasting Comments Mean For The X-Men Reboot
It has been more than half a decade since he last portrayed Magneto in X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and Fᴀssbender’s comments suggest that he is ready to see the character reimagined for the next generation. Even if the X-Men prequel movies never got a proper conclusion, Marvel Studios will focus on new actors taking on these roles through the MCU. The only way Fᴀssbender could potentially play Magneto again is through The Multiverse Saga by crossover over from his universe into Earth-616, which would likely only be for a cameo.
When it comes to the idea of Washington being cast as Magneto, it is crucial to remember that Marvel Studios have not confirmed those rumors, leaving them as unconfirmed reports. It’s also highly unlikely that Washington is being considered for Magneto, as the actor has previously revealed that Ryan Coogler is writing a role for him in the Black Panther 3 movie. Unless the next Black Panther installment is where the MCU intends to introduce Magneto to the audience, Washington’s X-Men rumors thus currently appear to be unfounded.
Our Take On Michael Fᴀssbender’s Magneto Recasting Comments
Hearing Fᴀssbender’s support for the future of Magneto, whether it is with Washington or not, is promising, as it’s always fun to hear an actor support whatever is next for the character they previously played, even if the casting process for the MCU’s X-Men movie has yet to begin. Since the film currently doesn’t even have a director or release date, it might be quite a while until Marvel Studios starts tapping stars as the various mutants, ᴀssuming they don’t appear in earlier MCU films before X-Men. Hopefully, more updates on the X-Men reboot will emerge sooner rather than later.
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Thunderbolts*
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May 2, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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MCU Spider-Man 4
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Source: Happy, Sad, Confused/YouTube