Dafne Keen’s X-23 Reportedly Set to Return for Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ Reboot
Dafne Keen has spent nearly a decade building one of the most beloved corners of the X-Men film franchise, first introducing Laura Kinney to audiences in 2017’s ‘Logan’ before making a triumphant return to the role in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ That brief but memorable cameo reignited fan enthusiasm for the character, sparking constant speculation about where X-23 might turn up next as Marvel Studios continues shaping its mutant future.
That speculation has only intensified as Marvel’s untitled ‘X-Men‘ reboot moves closer to actually assembling its cast. With the film not expected to arrive until 2028, the studio has been quietly testing and locking in actors well ahead of schedule, keeping fans glued to every casting rumor that surfaces.
Now, a new report suggests Keen herself could be part of that lineup. According to insider MyTimeToShine, Keen is currently in talks to reprise her role as Laura, this time as part of Marvel’s mutant reboot rather than a standalone cameo appearance.
That report has already generated significant excitement online, with fans expressing enthusiasm across social media at the possibility of Keen carrying X-23 into the next chapter of the franchise. Given her performance in both ‘Logan’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ many see her as a natural fit to anchor the character’s future within the broader MCU.
This wouldn’t be the first time Keen has expressed interest in continuing the role. Speaking previously with ComicBook’s Phase Zero, she said she would love to return and would even pay to do so, calling the chance to play Laura the biggest honor of her career and noting that there’s still so much of the character left to explore, according to ComicBook.
Keen’s enthusiasm for the role has remained consistent across multiple interviews since her ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ cameo, even as her actual involvement in future MCU projects stayed uncertain. At one point last year, she admitted she genuinely had no idea whether more appearances were being planned, despite her clear desire to keep playing the character.
Other reports throughout the character’s development have suggested X-23 could also appear in the upcoming Avengers films, with some insiders claiming she’ll factor into both ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ before the mutant reboot even arrives. Whether those appearances happen alongside or separate from any ‘X-Men’ casting remains unclear given how much of the franchise’s plans are still being finalized behind the scenes.
Keen’s potential involvement adds another name to an already crowded and constantly shifting ‘X-Men’ casting rumor mill. Reports have connected numerous actors to various mutant roles in recent months, with some names gaining traction while others have already been dismissed as inaccurate.
With Disney’s D23 event approaching later this month, speculation has grown that Marvel could use the occasion to finally confirm more of its mutant lineup. If Keen’s involvement holds up, it would mark a significant continuation for a character whose journey through the franchise has already spanned multiple studios, directors, and cinematic universes.
For now, nothing about Keen’s reported casting has been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, leaving fans to watch closely as more details potentially emerge in the coming weeks.
Would you like to see Dafne Keen return as X-23 in Marvel’s X-Men reboot?
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