Madelaine Petsch Wants to Play Iconic MCU Mutant Character: “I’ve Done My Research”

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is getting ready to bring the X-Men into its world, and fans are excited about what’s coming next. Back in 2019 at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige revealed that mutants would be joining the MCU. He promised that the X-Men would be rebooted with a fresh new take, different from the old Fox movies everyone knows.

By September 2023, Marvel was already searching for writers to start working on an X-Men movie. Then, in May 2024, Michael Lesslie was chosen to write the script, and his role was officially confirmed a year later. After that, Jake Schreier, who recently directed Thunderbolts in 2025, was announced as the film’s director, according to reports.

Feige also shared that this new X-Men film will come after the big “reset” event in Avengers: Secret Wars. The movie will focus on a younger, newly cast team of mutants leading the story.

One name getting a lot of attention is Madelaine Petsch, best known for playing Cheryl Blossom in Riverdale. She hasn’t been officially linked to the role, but she’s made it clear she wants to play Jean Grey. In an interview with The Direct at San Diego Comic-Con, while promoting The Strangers – Chapter 2, Petsch said, “Jean Grey, obviously. Hello. I’ve not seen many Marvel films. ‘Many’ is an operative term for zero, but I have been seeing some fan casts for Jean Grey, and I’ve done my research, and that seems like it’d be really fun.”

Even though she’s new to the Marvel world, Petsch’s passion is obvious. Her red hair and experience with big shows like Riverdale make her a popular choice with fans for the powerful mutant. Other actresses like Elle Fanning and Daisy Edgar-Jones have also been mentioned as possible Jean Greys, but Marvel hasn’t made any official casting announcements yet.

With Jake Schreier directing and Michael Lesslie writing, the new X-Men movie looks set to be a fresh and youthful take on the classic team. It’s expected to hit theaters around 2027, after Avengers: Secret Wars arrives. Fans can’t wait to see who will take on the roles of Jean Grey and the other mutants as Marvel builds its next chapter.

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