Disney and Marvel announced last year they re-acquired the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises from 20th Century Fox. Fans all over the world buzzed about the acquisition. People have salivated at the thought of a possible on-screen interaction to recreate some of the classic comic interactions between these characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Marvel’s First Family and of course those merry mutants from upstate New York.

With that, fans and the media alike have been tossing names left and right of possible actors that could fill the shoes of the these beloved characters on-screen. In an ideal world, here’s who should be cast in the new movie.

Mark Strong as Professor X/Professor Charles Xavier

Let us begin with the patriarch of X-Men. While Patrick Stewart played a perfect Professor X in the initial X-Men movie franchise, I am very loyal to the source material. Professor X is not that old in the comic books. He is in his early- to mid-50s when he founded his school for gifted youngsters.

With that said, I think Mark Strong strongly (pun intended) fits the bill. He is a great actor who can play a wide range of roles, and he has proven that he can handle being in a project that already has a built-in fan base as he appeared in _Kick-Ass_ and _Green Lantern,_ both being comic book adaptations as well.

If that does not make enough of a case on why he should be Marvel Studios’ Professor X, just go and watch both _Kingsman_ movies. The character Merlin, whom he portrayed fantastically, is pretty much Professor X without the mutant powers. I truly believe that Strong will bring a lot of dimension to the character and will play the character really well.

Chris Pine as Cyclops/Scott Summers

Before you start grabbing your pitchforks and torches and yell at me that he’s already in the DC Extended Universe as Steve Trevor, Wonder Woman’s love interest, hear me out. Cyclops is a self-entitled brat who has serious control issues. Although his intentions are good, especially to the mutant kind, the way he goes about it sometimes clashes with the ideals of the other heroes in the Marvel universe (especially Captain America’s). Pine has pretty much played the same character as Captain Kirk in the _Star Trek_ trilogy. Being in that franchise, along with in the DC Universe playing Steve Trevor, also proved that he can handle being in a high-profile role.

Deborah Ann Woll as Jean Grey/Phoenix

Deborah Ann Woll is technically part of the Marvel universe through her role as Karen Page on the hit Netflix series _Daredevil._ Although Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has mentioned in the past that a crossover between the TV shows and the movies could still happen, I really don’t see it coming to fruition. With that said, I can see Deborah Ann Woll playing Jean Grey well.

Woll is an amazing actor who can play Jean’s darkness and delicateness impressively. She pretty much plays the same thing with Karen Page. Even though Karen is portrayed as a damsel-in-distress type of character, there is a certain darkness in her that seems to come out from time to time (especially in the scene where she kills James Wesley, the Kingpin’s right-hand man). Jean Grey is in the same vein.

Jean is a character who is easily compromised and swayed to the dark side. Woll has also showed that she can portray a character that evolves tremendously over time, from her role as Jessica Hamby on HBO’s _True Blood._ As much as I love Deborah as Karen Page, I think she deserves to be in a bigger franchise and in a bigger role. I think giving her the role of Jean Grey in the X-Men franchise could make her the next big thing in Hollywood.

Tom Hardy as Wolverine/Logan/James Howlett

I have an unpopular opinion about Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine. I respect and like Jackman, but I hated how he portrayed the character. There is a certain darkness to the Wolverine character, a tortured soul who has gone through life watching everyone he ever loved die in front of him as well as coping with his animalistic tendencies that were bottled inside of him. It is the most vital part of the character and sadly, Jackman has struggled to bring that out in his portrayal.

I think Hardy has the acting chops to pull this darkness off. He has shown this in some of the roles he has played through the years. His portrayals of Tommy Conlon in the MMA movie _Warrior_ and James Keziah Delaney in the show _Taboo_ have proven that. Conlon, like Wolverine, has seen terrible things in his military duties. Like Logan, he is coping with a death of a colleague that he is blaming himself for. Hardy played the character really well and he showed that he can play that unstableness tremendously. As Delaney, Hardy showed that can portray a mysterious yet polarizing character who has a checkered past. Just like how he portrayed Conlon, Hardy played Delaney stupendously. Having him play Wolverine would be a dream come true for Wolverine fans out there.

Beyoncé as Storm/Ororo Munroe

Beyoncé does not have a lot of acting experience, but she has proven that she can be a versatile actor. Her initial role came when she played Foxxy Cleopatra in the _Austin Powers_ franchise. That role has proven that the former Destiny’s Child leader has the capability to venture into action. She has also starred in the thriller movie _Obsessed,_ proving that she can also do serious movies. Storm is also supposed to be a queen as she is married to T’Challa, the Black Panther, king of Wakanda. Who else can play a queen better than a real-life queen of the entertainment world?

Kristen Stewart as Rogue/Anna Marie

I don’t think there is anybody who could play Rogue better than Kristen Stewart. Stewart played a reclusive loner, shy, quiet, insecure and very sensitive Bella Swan in the _Twilight_ franchise and as much as I hate to admit it, that pretty much is Rogue in a nutshell. I think Stewart would portray Rogue as accurately as she is in the comic books. So as much as I don’t want to acknowledge the existence of the _Twilight_ series, Kristen Stewart would give life to Rogue in the form of her character from the young-adult novel.

Channing Tatum as Gambit/Remy LeBeau

Channing Tatum is set to star in the character’s solo movie, but it seems like the production has been halted. This casting has faced some backlash from fans, but I really like that he’s been tapped for the role. Because of that, I am keeping him for the Marvel’s incarnation of the team.

Aesthetically, Tatum fits the bill for the character. He has also proven he can pull off a wicked Southern accent from his portrayal of Tequila in the movie _Kingsman: The Golden Circle._ That same movie has also proven that he can do action. Channing has also proven that he can do dramatic roles as he has appeared in the movies _Fighting_ and _Coach Carter._ Despite fans not taking him seriously as an actor, Tatum is one of the most versatile performers out there right now in Hollywood, and I think he will surprise us all if he is given the chance to play the character.

Victor Garber as Beast/Dr. Henry McCoy

Victor Garber has been pigeonholed in intellectual, academic roles for most of his career. He played professor Callahan in _Legally Blonde_ and professor Martin Stein in The CW’s Arrowverse. As much as I hate stereotyping any actors to a certain roles, I think he will be perfect to play Beast. The character uses a hologram device to make him look human so he can pursue his academic pursuits. While the Beast form of the character can be a CGI voiced by Garber, he can physically portray the human hologram himself.

As much as I would love it if they cast the people I have mentioned above, I know whoever Marvel casts for these respective roles would do great with them. I have strong faith that Marvel will chose the right actors to portray these iconic characters. After all, with the studio going on its 10th year, they have a proven track record that they know what they are doing, given the success of their movies.

I am really excited about the prospect of seeing all these characters finally jumping to the Marvel universe and interacting with its current inhabitants. It’s something that a hard-core fan like me has been waiting for, and it is still hard to believe that it might come true very soon.

_Edited by Claire Colby | ccolby@themaneater.com_