Anna Paquin has revealed what would convince her to reprise her role of Rogue in the MCU, and Avengers: Doomsday would be the perfect place to bring the iconic mutant back to live-action. As one of the most popular X-Men characters in Marvel Comics and in X-Men: The Animated Series, Rogue was an essential addition to 20th Century Fox’s live-action X-Men movie in 2000. Unfortunately, Anna Paquin’s Rogue was never comic-accurate and was continuously sidelined by Fox, but she could now seek redemption in the MCU proper.

Anna Paquin first appeared as Rogue in 2000’s X-Men, and returned in 2003’s X2: X-Men United and 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. She was one of the few original X-Men characters who didn’t get a replacement in Fox’s revised timeline, though Paquin did reprise the role for an extended Rogue Cut version of 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Fox’s Rogue never captured what made the beloved Marvel Comics villain-turned-hero so entertaining, so it would be fantastic to see her reintroduced to the MCU, and Anna Paquin has already revealed what story could bring her back.

Anna Paquin Has Previously Confirmed She’d Be Willing To Return As Rogue In The MCU

Anna Paquin Hasn’t Played Rogue Since 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past’s Rogue Cut

During a conversation with True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer in April 2024 as part of the Entertainment Weekly series Spilling the E-Tea, Anna Paquin revealed exactly the circumstances that would convince her to reprise the role of Rogue. She simply noted that “being asked” would get her to come back, suggesting she’s ready and willing to return as the power-absorbing mutant. Anna Paquin also revealed what story she’d want to explore if she is brought back to live-action as Rogue, and it would fit perfectly into the MCU’s Phase 6.

Anna Paquin went on to state that she “never got to fly” as Rogue in Fox’s X-Men franchise. This refers to Rogue’s storyline from 1981 in Marvel Comics that saw her steal the cosmic powers of Carol Danvers during her time as Ms. Marvel and permanently absorb them into her own system. This gave Rogue near-invulnerability, superhuman strength, speed and agility, and the ability to fly just as Danvers could. Paquin’s dream to “fly” suggests that her possible reintroduction to the MCU, perhaps in Avengers: Doomsday, could finally debut a more comic-accurate Rogue.

Rogue’s Return Would Make Sense Alongside Other Classic X-Men In Avengers: Doomsday

Anna Paquin Could Join Her X-Men Castmates In Avengers: Doomsday

At the end of March, Marvel Studios confirmed the first 27 actors cast in Avengers: Doomsday, the Russo brothers’ next Avengers crossover movie that will mark Robert Downey Jr.’s debut as Doctor Doom in May 2026. Doctor Doom will be opposed by members of the Avengers, the Thunderbolts and the Fantastic Four, while several actors from Fox’s original X-Men trilogy will also be returning. While only a few have been announced so far, it would be great for more to follow, and Anna Paquin would be an incredible addition.

Although it isn’t technically considered canon to the X-Men franchise, the last place we saw Anna Paquin’s Rogue was alongside the classic X-Men team from the original trilogy, as she took some of Kitty Pryde’s power to stabilize Logan’s time-travel into the past. This means that, if this version of the team is set to be seen again in Avengers: Doomsday, it would make sense for Rogue to join them. It would be fantastic to see Rogue fighting to save her world, recently designated Earth-10005, especially if she has her abilities from Marvel Comics.

It Would Be Great To Finally See Rogue Get Comic-Accurate Powers In Live-Action

Rogue Deserves Comic-Accurate Powers After 26 Years Of Being Neglected

If Anna Paquin reprises the role in Avengers: Doomsday, her upcoming appearance will mark 26 years since she debuted as Rogue in 2000’s X-Men, so it’s shocking that she’s never been depicted in live-action with her comic-accurate power-set. Her possible return could easily come with a comic-accurate makeover, however, just as Marvel Studios has gifted other returning X-Men characters in recent MCU projects. Professor X got his yellow wheelchair in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Beast got a better design in The Marvels and ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine pushed this even further.

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine put Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman’s тιтular antiheroes into comic-accurate costumes, with the latter being one of the most exciting developments the MCU has ever seen. Seeing Wolverine in his yellow-and-blue suit was fantastic, so it would be incredible to see Rogue get this treatment. This could even see her steal the power from Earth-10005’s Captain Marvel or, indeed, even Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers from Earth-616, which may contribute to one of the MCU’s most intense, emotional and surprising sequences, but could also answer a huge Phase 5 mystery.

Rogue’s Return With Comic-Accurate Powers Can Explain A Huge The Marvels Mystery

The Marvels Introduced A Very Different Version Of Captain Marvel Alongside The X-Men

The ending of 2023’s The Marvels created a huge mystery that Marvel Studios can connect directly to Anna Paquin’s return as Rogue. After mending the hole in the fabric of reality, Monica Rambeau found herself trapped on the other side, stuck in an alternate universe where she was taken in by a variant X-Men team on that universe’s Earth. Kelsey Grammer’s return as Beast was thrilling in The Marvels, but it was Lashana Lynch’s return as yet another Captain Marvel variant that teased Rogue’s comic-accurate powers in this alternate reality.

Lashana Lynch portrayed Binary in The Marvels’ post-credits scene. In Marvel Comics, Carol Danvers became Binary after having her powers stolen by Rogue and traveling with the X-Men, as she was experimented on by the alien Brood and given the power of a white hole, making her remarkably powerful. The fact that Binary exists in The Marvels suggests that this world’s Rogue has her comic-accurate powers, stolen from Captain Marvel, which means Anna Paquin’s Rogue can return in Avengers: Doomsday to show off these impressive new gifts.

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