‘Street Fighter’ Star Cody Rhodes Breaks His Silence on That Marvel Studios Meeting, and Somehow Says Nothing at All
The Cody Rhodes Marvel Studios meeting has been the wrestling and comic book worlds’ favorite guessing game for weeks now. It all began with a single photo, a bit of mystery and a fan base more than willing to fill in the blanks.
On August 26, Rhodes shared a photo on his Instagram story showing him at the Marvel office in Burbank, California. He offered no caption or explanation, and it wasn’t even clear whether the picture was recent or old. That was enough to send fans spinning theories about everything from Cable to Sabertooth to Venom.
Now, the man himself has weighed in, sort of. In an interview with Brandon Davis, Rhodes said the topic has been “heavily discussed but I never discuss it,” adding that the whole thing was just a photo taken at “a wonderful office after a wonderful meeting with wonderful people.”
He also joked that one person sitting next to him on the couch all day had been teasing things that aren’t real, and that even if they were real, he wouldn’t say. He didn’t name who was doing the teasing, but he made it clear he has no plans to confirm or deny anything.
It helps that Rhodes isn’t exactly a stranger to Marvel. He explained that he learned about the characters growing up through trading cards and the animated series. He also praised the offices, noting how much history and material is there, and said a person could study up on a character quickly if Marvel hypothetically came calling.
That “hypothetical” framing matters, since he never confirmed that a role was offered. Still, the comic book love is long-standing, and he has named Omega Red and Cyclops as his favorite fictional characters. Back in 2016, he also revealed he was pursuing the role of Black Bolt in the ‘Inhumans’ series.
Of course, Rhodes hasn’t exactly been shutting the rumor mill down. During a ‘Street Fighter’ press interview with Nerdist, he told co-star Andrew Schulz “I’m an X-Men,” which prompted fans to wonder whether he’s headed for the franchise’s reboot. Schulz has also repeatedly poked at the rumors during their press tour together.
Meanwhile, the reboot’s reported cast is already shaping up, with Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Charles Xavier, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister. Whether Rhodes joins them is anyone’s guess, and it’s just as possible he’s enjoying the attention and having a bit of fun with fans.
There’s an amusing parallel here. Rhodes recently revealed that he went to a general meeting with Legendary Entertainment, expecting simple chitchat, and ended up being offered Guile in ‘Street Fighter’ on the spot. He said he initially thought they were joking.
That doesn’t mean the Marvel visit played out the same way, and nothing confirms it did. It does show how a casual-sounding sit-down can turn into a major role for the WWE star, who has also appeared in ‘The Naked Gun’ and ‘Arrow’.
Wrestlers have had a rocky history at Marvel. Becky Lynch reportedly filmed a post-credits scene for ‘Eternals’ that was ultimately cut, and Seth Rollins filmed scenes for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ before his character was removed. Those stories are a reminder that a meeting, or even a day on set, doesn’t guarantee a spot on screen.
Timing is another factor. Any Marvel film Rhodes might join would likely arrive in 2027 or later, so fans may be waiting a long while for answers. Until Marvel Studios says something officially, every theory remains speculation.
For now, the American Nightmare seems perfectly happy keeping everyone guessing. With ‘Street Fighter’ now in theaters and his acting career picking up steam, he has plenty to promote in the meantime.
Which Marvel character would you most like to see Cody Rhodes play?
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
