X-Men ‘97 Live-Action Fancast

What if X-Men ‘97 was reimagined in live-action? Check out the brilliant lineup of actors I think would perfectly embody these iconic characters, bringing their powers, personalities, and emotional depth to life on the big screen.

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X-Men ‘97 Live-Action Fancast: Who I’d Cast in a Dream Adaptation

With the animated X-Men ‘97 revival breathing new life into one of Marvel’s most beloved teams, it’s hard not to imagine what a live-action version might look like. The blend of soap opera-level drama, iconic powers, and moral complexity has always made the X-Men ripe for prestige treatment—and casting the right actors would be key to capturing that lightning in a bottle. Below is a carefully curated dream cast that respects the essence of each character while bringing something new, electrifying, and cinematic to the table.

Regal, commanding, and emotionally layered—Ralph Fiennes is tailor-made for Magneto. His performances in Schindler's List and The Grand Budapest Hotel show both the gravitas and nuance required to portray a man who is equal parts revolutionary and tragic figure. Fiennes would bring a Shakespearean weight to Magneto's ideology and pathos, delivering a portrayal that is as intimidating as it is heartbreaking.

Ralph Fiennes as Magneto

Mark Strong’s natural authority and calm intensity make him an excellent fit for Charles Xavier. Known for his grounded yet powerful presence in films like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Shazam!, Strong would bring wisdom, restraint, and an unshakeable moral center to the leader of the X-Men. His commanding voice alone could anchor Xavier’s iconic philosophical monologues.

Mark Strong as Professor X

Austin Butler oozes charisma—he’s suave, magnetic, and just dangerous enough to be believable as Remy LeBeau. After turning heads as Elvis, he’s more than proven his range and ability to disappear into a role. With his Southern charm, a devil-may-care smile, and the acting chops to balance Gambit’s humor and heart, Butler could easily pull off the bayou thief with style and swagger.

Austin Butler as Gambit

Margaret Qualley is the perfect mix of playful and powerful, sweet yet deadly—just like Rogue. Her work in Maid and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood shows her ability to blend vulnerability with fierce independence. With that unmistakable Southern charm and a spark behind the eyes, Qualley would bring Rogue’s inner turmoil and badassery to life effortlessly.

Margaret Qualley as Rogue

Dan Stevens is a master at playing charming with a hint of menace—ideal for the cold, calculating villain Bastion. Whether it's his turn in Legion or The Guest, Stevens knows how to play intelligent characters teetering on the edge. He'd bring both eerie precision and a simmering rage to Bastion, making him a compelling, next-gen threat to mutantkind.

Dan Stevens as Bastion

Justice Smith's infectious energy and expressive range make him a perfect Morph. He’s shown his emotional flexibility in The Get Down and comedic chops in Detective Pikachu, embodying Morph’s shape-shifting spirit both literally and figuratively. He’d inject heart and levity into the team, especially in the wake of darker arcs.

Justice Smith as Morph

Few actors exude quiet intelligence and warmth like Jeffrey Wright. Known for cerebral roles in Westworld and The Batman, Wright would perfectly embody Hank McCoy's blend of erudite charm, compassion, and physical strength. He'd ground Beast as the team’s conscience—a brilliant mind wrapped in fur and muscle.

Jeffrey Wright as Beast

Matt Smith can play unhinged like few others. His turn in Last Night in Soho and Doctor Who proves he has the flair and theatricality needed for Mister Sinister. Smith would thrive as the twisted geneticist obsessed with evolution and control, making Sinister as unnerving as he is magnetic.

Matt Smith as Mister Sinister

With his commanding presence and powerful frame, Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage, Cowboy Bebop) brings the perfect physicality to Bishop. But it’s his intensity and emotional depth that would sell the character’s tragic future and unwavering sense of justice. He could easily anchor the show’s time-traveling, dystopian arcs with gravity and grit.

Mustafa Shakir as Bishop

If you’ve seen Victoria Pedretti’s work in The Haunting of Bly Manor or You season 3, you know she can channel passion, pain, and madness—traits essential for Jean Grey, especially when leaning into her Phoenix and Madelyne Pryor personas. Pedretti’s intensity and vulnerability would make her Jean unforgettable and deeply human, even amid godlike power.

Victoria Pedretti as Jean Grey

Miles Teller has the leadership chops and emotional complexity needed for Scott Summers. Whether in Whiplash or Top Gun: Maverick, Teller excels at playing characters caught between duty and desire. He could give Cyclops the depth often missing in adaptations—equal parts strategic tactician, repressed romantic, and reluctant hero.

Miles Teller as Cyclops

Jodie Turner-Smith has the statuesque beauty, quiet strength, and otherworldly elegance that make her a natural Storm. With performances in Queen & Slim and Anne Boleyn, she’s proven she can command attention with a single look. She radiates goddess energy, and her presence would make Ororo Munroe every bit the queen of the X-Men she deserves to be.

Jodie Turner-Smith as Storm

Rugged, volatile, and impossible not to watch—Karl Urban is Logan. Whether in The Boys or Dredd, Urban thrives on playing scrappy anti-heroes with depth. He’d bring the grizzled, no-nonsense edge to Wolverine while still hinting at the pain behind the claws. It’s easy to see him slicing through Sentinels one moment and brooding in a bar the next.