Denzel Washington’s latest Marvel announcement has now made theMCU’s best Magneto fan cast impossible to pull off.Fan-casts for myriad X-Menhave been rampant ever since it became apparent that Marvel Studios would be developing its very own series of X-Men-focused projects. Kevin Feige recently confirmed that the X-Men will be an important part ofthe future of the MCU, particularly after Secret Wars in the next MCU phase. According to rumors, this may also be duringa soft reboot of the MCU.
These new X-Men projects will likely feature a brand-new cast distinct from Fox’s, particularly afterDeadpool & Wolverinepaid tribute to the X-Men franchise of yesteryear. Wolverine is, of course, one of the most widely fan-cast roles for these new projects, with actors like Henry Cavill, Daniel Radcliffe, and Tom Holland often at the forefront. Denzel Washington, meanwhile, has also been popularly cast in another X-Men role - but he now seems to have drawn a definitive line beneath that possibility.
Denzel Washington Has Long Been A Fan Casting Favorite For The X-Men
Some Fans Want To See Denzel Washington As The MCU’s Magneto
There are manyroles that Denzel Washington could play in the MCU, with hopes recently being pinned on him embodying the Kang variant followingJonathan Majors' MCU departure. Now that it appears that Marvel Studios is indeed pivoting from Kang entirely, however,another popular casting choice for Washington has been to embody the MCU’s Magneto. This would of course have been part of the MCU’s version of the X-Men as a brand-new variant of the iconic character after Sir Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender portrayed him as part of Fox’s X-Men franchise.
The MCU faces a problem in how it can debut a modern-day Magneto that is still in operation despite being a Holocaust survivor.
At 69 years old, Denzel is slightly older than Ian McKellen was throughout his time in the role. There is also no doubt thathe would bring the necessary gravitas to the role, with the legendary actor boasting a litany of iconic roles in his back catalog. These include portraying civil rights leader Malcolm X - a figure that draws significant parallels to Magneto in their philosophies surrounding the rights of marginalized groups. Still, no matter how perfect Washington would be for the role, it seems it will remain unfulfilled.
Washington’s Black Panther 3 Role Makes Magneto Impossible
Ryan Coogler Is Writing A Role For Denzel Washington In Black Panther 3
Denzel Washington recently revealed in an interview withThe Today Showthat Ryan Coogler, who wrote and directedBlack PantherandBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, is writing a part for him in the next Black Panther.Black Panther 3is yet to be officially confirmedby Marvel Studios, but a threequel was inevitable given it is thesecond-most successful franchise in the MCU. The part being written for Washington inBlack Panther 3remains to be seen - buthis comments suggest that he is ready to take the part regardless. His full comment is as follows:
I played Othello at 22, I’m now going to play it at 70. After that, I’m playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.
It is highly unlikely, however, that this part will be Magneto. WhileBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverdebuted one of the few new mutants in the MCU, Namor, the chances that his mutant status will lead to an appearance by Magneto in the sequel are slim. Prevailing theories instead point towards Washington taking on the role of Blue Marvel, a veteran hero within Marvel Comics. Furthermore, Washington’s insistence that he is looking to retire soon also seems to preclude him from taking on a mainstayMCUrole like Magneto.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
