Fans Are Campaigning Hard for ‘9-1-1’ Star Anirudh Pisharody to Join Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ as Nightcrawler
Casting a beloved comic book character is never a quiet affair, and Marvel’s long-awaited ‘X-Men’ reboot has proven that in a big way this month. Ever since Marvel Studios started unveiling names at D23, fans have been dissecting every announcement, celebrating some picks and campaigning loudly for others they feel are still missing.
That energy has been building for weeks across social media, where hashtags and fan-made mockups have become the unofficial second casting call for roles Marvel hasn’t confirmed yet. Nightcrawler, the fan-favorite teleporting mutant, has emerged as one of the most hotly debated open slots on the roster.
Now that debate has a clear frontrunner. A viral thread reacting to Variety’s D23 casting reveal has rallied fans around ‘9-1-1’ actor Anirudh Pisharody as their pick to play Kurt Wagner, with the hashtag #teamanirudh spreading rapidly as viewers argue he’s “the correct choice” for the role.
The timing lines up with Marvel’s ongoing rollout of its new mutant team. At D23, the studio confirmed Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, and Maya Boyd as Storm, with Adam Driver stepping in as the villainous Mister Sinister. Nightcrawler, along with several other key mutants, was notably absent from that lineup, leaving the door wide open for fan speculation.
Pisharody is best known to television audiences as Ravi Panikkar, the probationary-firefighter-turned-steady-hand of Station 118 on ‘9-1-1,’ a role he’s played since Season 4. His profile has grown steadily since, with credits including ‘Never Have I Ever’ and the stage production ‘How I Met Your Masi,’ making him a familiar face to fans even outside the superhero conversation.
He’s also been open about wanting to break into the genre for years. Asked about his acting goals, Pisharody said he would love to play a superhero, adding that he was manifesting the opportunity through interviews, social media, and even by emailing Marvel directly, according to comments given to Poptized. That kind of on-record enthusiasm has only fueled fans pushing his name into the Nightcrawler conversation now that Marvel’s casting machine is in full swing.
Nightcrawler carries real weight in the franchise’s live-action history. Alan Cumming originated the role in 2003’s ‘X2,’ and he’s set to reprise it in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ alongside other Fox-era veterans like Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Rebecca Romijn. Kodi Smit-McPhee also played a younger version of the character across the 2010s prequel trilogy, meaning whoever takes over for the rebooted team inherits a character with a genuinely passionate, opinionated fanbase.
That passion has been on full display in the replies to the viral casting thread, where supporters and skeptics have gone back and forth over who deserves the part. Some fans have thrown other names into the mix, while Pisharody’s backers have doubled down, pointing to his existing fanbase and his stated eagerness to land a comic book role as reasons Marvel should take the campaign seriously.
Whether Marvel Studios is actually paying attention to any of this online chatter remains to be seen, and no formal audition or offer has been reported. But if Marvel’s own history with fan-driven casting buzz is anything to go by, from viral petitions to social media campaigns that eventually paid off, Pisharody’s fans clearly aren’t planning to quiet down anytime soon.
Who should play Nightcrawler in Marvel's X-Men reboot?
With more ‘X-Men’ casting news expected in the months ahead, all eyes will be on whether Nightcrawler’s next chapter goes to a name already beloved by comic book die-hards.
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