Adam Driver to portray Mister Sinister as Inde Navarrette takes on Rogue in Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ reboot
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Adam Driver is set to make his long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as supervillain Mister Sinister, while “Obsession” breakout Inde Navarrette will portray Rogue in Disney’s upcoming “X-Men” reboot.
Driver and Navarrette were among several additions revealed Friday night at Disney’s D23 convention by Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. The announcement also named Driver’s former “Girls” co-star Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier and Maya Boyd as Storm. The movie is scheduled to arrive in May 2028.
The casting news was the centerpiece of Disney Entertainment’s D23 showcase, which also featured updates on future “Star Wars” projects and a song-and-dance performance from the stars of “Frozen 3” that did not go entirely according to plan.
Driver had frequently been linked to the “X-Men,” though those reports were just as often dismissed. Many fans expected him to take the role of antihero Magneto. Most of the cast appeared in person at Anaheim’s Honda Center, while Driver joined the event through a large video screen.
“Kevin and I have discussed bringing me into the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years, and I believe we finally found the right movie,” Driver told the audience of 12,000 by video. “So I’m thrilled to be playing Maaagneto!” he joked before stopping, correcting himself and adding, “even better, Nathaniel Millbury,” one of Mister Sinister’s aliases.
Previously announced cast members also took the stage, including Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Kit Connor as Scott “Cyclops” Summers and Sadie Sink, whose casting as Jean Grey was disclosed through her appearance in this summer’s Marvel blockbuster “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.”
The actors were nearly as unfamiliar with one another as they were with the audience.
“They met backstage for the first time tonight,” Feige said.
Navarrette had likewise been widely rumored for the project after quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most in-demand performers, thanks to her memorable role as an enchanted girlfriend in the independent horror success “Obsessed” earlier this year.
The arrival of the “X-Men” in the MCU became feasible after Disney acquired Fox’s movie studio in 2019.
Jake Schreier will direct the reboot, while two acclaimed television writers — “Beef” creator Lee Sung Jin and “The Bear” co-showrunner Joanna Calo — are developing the screenplay.
Gosling suits up as Kade Auberon during the ‘Star Wars’ showcase
Ryan Gosling and filmmaker Shawn Levy led the evening’s “Star Wars” presentation with a preview of “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is scheduled for release in May 2027.
Before Gosling walked onstage, the audience watched footage of his childhood appearances as a cast member of “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
“I owe Disney a great deal,” Gosling said. “If they hadn’t searched everywhere and visited my hometown, I wouldn’t be standing here today. Three decades later, I’m back, and Disney is changing my life once again.”
Levy then helped Gosling into a leather jacket bearing the skull-and-bones emblem of his “Star Wars” character, Kade Auberon.
Gosling called Auberon “a man from the galaxy’s rougher side whose destiny becomes connected to the fastest starfighter ever created,” before presenting footage from the movie.
Disney announced earlier in the summer at San Diego Comic-Con that Gosling will also portray Ghost Rider in the MCU. He will first appear in a “Black Panther” sequel and later lead a “Ghost Rider” movie, also directed by Levy. Both films are expected in 2028.
“Star Wars: Ahsoka” lead Rosario Dawson also attended to promote the second season of her Disney+ series. Hayden Christensen joined her and will return as a Force-ghost version of Ahsoka’s former mentor, Anakin Skywalker.
Marvel brings back Downey, Evans, Atwell and Bettany
Several longtime Marvel performers appeared at D23 as current and former “Avengers” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and Hayley Atwell unveiled a new trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday,” due in theaters Dec. 18.
The preview depicts Downey, now portraying Doctor Doom after leaving Iron Man behind, overpowering Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and repelling his hammer. It also shows Evans returning as Captain America while holding a baby, along with Ian McKellen portraying a weary, long-haired and troubled version of Magneto.
Hugh Jackman appeared by video to tell Feige that he would be open to joining “Doomsday” as Wolverine. His possible involvement has fueled intense debate among fans. Although Jackman stopped short of confirming anything, speculation now appears to favor his return.
Attendees also received an early look at the approaching Disney+ series “Visionquest.” Paul Bettany, again playing Vision, and James Spader, returning as Ultron, introduced footage showing strangely human, everyday versions of their artificial characters. Bettany said he has enjoyed portraying several forms of Vision, who has “rather inconveniently died more than once.” Still, he added, “I’m told that in the Marvel Universe, nobody is ever truly gone.”
“Frozen 3” performers attempt to serenade the audience
Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel performed a haunting new version of “Frozen Heart” from the original movie, in which they voice royal sisters Anna and Elsa, as they presented the upcoming “Frozen 3.”
At least, that was the plan. The sequence was disrupted by faulty sound, video problems and a pair of stage doors that refused to open.
The two stars improvised their way through the difficulties with veteran composure.
“Should we start over and give it another try?” Menzel asked when the song finished.
Bell explained to the audience what the presentation had been intended to look like and said, “You all were going to lose your minds.”
Eventually, the performers returned to the prepared script.
“Doesn’t the world of ‘Frozen’ seem a little different now?” Bell asked. Menzel replied, “Perhaps slightly more mysterious?”
“Yes, all right, we’re back on course,” Bell said, drawing loud laughter.
Their co-star Josh Gad came next with a performance of “Oooh, Samantha,” a romantic number that his snowman character Olaf will sing in “Frozen 3.”
Other major musical moments during the event included singing and dancing by the cast of “The Greatest Showman,” a stage adaptation of Jackman’s 2017 film that will make its debut in London’s West End next year.
___
This article has been revised to fix the spelling of Inde Navarrette’s surname in the text and headlines.