As theMarvel Cinematic Universeexpands, there’s more characters - and more universes - to come. All eyes might be trained on just what complications the MCU will experience inDoctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, but some fans have been patiently waiting for heroes outside of the Avengers to emerge as well. Characters associated with theX-Menand theFantastic Fourwill eventually be part of the main universe for the MCU, and there is a lot of expectations attached to some of the fan favorites.
Jean Grey, originally known as Marvel Girl before she became Phoenix in the comics, is a founding member of the X-Men. Her “Dark Phoenix” storyline has played out on the page, in animation, and in two different live action movie trilogies already. After the Disney-FOX merger, the character can now be used in projects from Marvel Studios, leaving a lot of fans wondering just when she’ll come to the big screen and who it will be that brings her to life. These actresses would all be great to play a Jean Grey who had already grown up learning alongside her fellow X-Men.
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Holland Roden
WhileFamke Janssen has expressed interest in playing Jean Grey again, there hasn’t been any indication that the MCU will use the same performers that FOX hired for theirX-Menmovies. Holland Roden, who has appeared all over television and movies, is best known for her role as Lydia Martin inTeen Wolf,and could be a great successor to Jansse and Sophie Turner in the role.
Roden’s experience as Lydia is actually a great crash course in playing a character like Jean Grey. Though Lydia wasn’t telepathic or telekinetic, playing reactions to her visions as a banshee, or using her banshee scream offensively, aren’t all that different from showing Jean’s abilities on camera. Lydia is a slightly more high strung character than Jean, but the ease with which Roden switches from Lydia’s own anxious behaviors to comforting others is a great demonstration of just how she could channel Jean’s emotions as well.
Conor Leslie
Like Roden, Conor Leslie has a slew of projects under her belt, but she’s best known for one in particular. Hers, however, happens to be a different comic book inspired project. Leslie currently stars as one ofthe titularTitansin the HBO Max series. She plays Donna Troy, former sidekick to Wonder Woman, and one of the founding members of the original team.
Donna has detective skills that could rival Batman’s, mentors the younger members of the team, and pulls no punches when explaining to Dick Grayson just why his decisions aren’t in his best interest. She’s a bit more caustic with her comments than Jean Grey would be, but her dry sense of humor, and her kindness when faced with Raven’s unstable powers are hints at how she could play Jean.
Naomi Scott
She might be the only actress to play both a Disney princess and a Power Ranger - as well as one of Charlie’s Angels. Naomi Scott brought some edge to the role of Kimberly Hart in the 2017Power Rangersreboot movie, and she made the audience seeAladdin’sPrincess Jasmine as much more than the title character’s love interest. Despite playing already established characters in hugely known projects, Scott managed to make them her own, adding plenty of emotional layers to them the audience didn’t expect.
Scott might not look exactly like the comic book character people remember, but that shouldn’t be a hurdleto her being cast as a potentialX-Men. She’s certainly got the emotional depth to play a Jean who struggles to understand just how powerful she really is.
Camilla Belle
Camilla Belle has a hugely varied resume thanks to starting out modeling and acting as a toddler. She did kids’ movies like Disney Channel’sRip Girls. Belle has appeared in thrillers likeWhen A Stranger Calls. She’s also been in action films likePush. With a little bit of everything in terms of tone and genre, she’s certainly got all of her bases covered when it comes to a potential superhero movie.
Her resume has been a little quieter the last few years as she’s focused on writing and producing, but knowing the ins and outs behind the camera could be an advantage for someone entering a major franchise as well. Some maintain that thenear future isn’t the time to introduce theX-Mencharacters as well, which means there’s still plenty of time for Belle, and other actors here, to learn more about approaching the franchise.
Kennedy McMann
Kennedy McMann has the least professional experience of the actors here. She’s only been active in the industry for a few years, but in those few years, she’s become the star of the CW’sNancy Drewseries as the titular teen detective. The CW’s series is more supernatural and serial than procedural, providing for a lot of dramatic performances from its cast.
McMann makes even the most out-there supernatural events seem perfectly grounded in reality, connecting with the audience even as they should be focused on the ghosts or ghouls in the background. Her ability to emotionally draw the audience in even as they race to solve the mystery before the writers unveil the truth is no mean feat, and something necessary to make superheroes relatable. McMann would have no problem making Jean Grey vulnerable and grounded even as she became powerful enough to destroy the entire world.
