Oscar Isaac Says ‘Beef’ Co-Star Charles Melton Would Make a ‘Perfect’ Mutant Superhero After X-Men Snub

Hollywood friendships have a funny way of turning into casting campaigns, and Oscar Isaac and Charles Melton’s off-screen bond has become exactly that kind of story. The two actors have spent the better part of 2026 tied together through Netflix’s ‘Beef,’ playing a country club manager and the young employee whose life gets upended by him.

Their on-screen chemistry translated into real acclaim, with both men earning Emmy nominations for the show’s second season this year. Isaac picked up a nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series, while Melton landed in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category, part of a haul of 16 total nominations for the series.

That mutual admiration spilled into fresh headlines this week when Isaac weighed in on one of Hollywood’s most persistent casting rumors: whether his ‘Beef’ co-star should suit up for Marvel’s rebooted ‘X-Men.‘ Isaac made clear he’s fully on board with the idea, saying he already pictures Melton as a mutant superhero and calling it a perfect fit for the actor.

The comments land at a particularly loaded moment. Melton had spent much of the summer as the presumed frontrunner to play Hank McCoy, better known as Beast, with reports circulating for weeks that he was closing in on the role.

That speculation came crashing down just days before Isaac’s comments surfaced. Marvel Studios used its panel at the D23 Convention in Anaheim to unveil the rebooted ‘X-Men’ lineup, and Melton’s name was notably absent from the roster, alongside fellow rumored castmate Cailee Spaeny. The confirmed cast instead includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Adam Driver rounding out the ensemble.

Melton himself had addressed the rumors just days before the reveal, telling The Playlist that his openness to the project came down to his relationships with the filmmakers rather than the character itself. He pointed to his history with director Jake Schreier and ‘Beef’ creator Lee Sung Jin, both of whom are now steering the ‘X-Men’ film alongside writer-producer Joanna Calo, as the real draw of any potential involvement.

That connection runs deep. Schreier and Lee were the creative engine behind ‘Beef’ season two, the same series that put Melton and Isaac in scenes together in the first place, which makes Isaac’s public vote of confidence read less like a passing compliment and more like genuine disappointment on his friend’s behalf.

Fans have been quick to echo that sentiment online, with plenty of chatter framing Melton’s absence from the confirmed cast as one of the more surprising outcomes of Marvel’s D23 rollout. Given how loudly his name had circulated for weeks, the final list leaving him off caught many off guard.

Whether Melton eventually finds his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some other capacity remains unclear, since the studio has left the door open for additional castings beyond the D23 announcement. For now, Isaac’s endorsement stands as one of the more notable pieces of support for an actor who came agonizingly close to joining one of the MCU’s biggest franchises.

It’s a reminder that in Hollywood, the loudest advocates for an actor’s next big role are often the people who’ve already shared a set with them. Isaac clearly sees something in Melton that goes beyond their ‘Beef’ dynamic, and it wouldn’t be shocking if that endorsement keeps the rumor mill running even after D23’s official reveal.

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