Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after years of speculation, but we’ll have to wait to see who he’ll be suiting up as.
Esposito confirmed that he had been cast in an upcoming superhero movie during a recent CCXP panel, according to Collider. The actor, who is usually known for playing infamously intimidating bad guys from across pop culture, had previously been fan-cast to play the MCU’s version of Charles Xavier.
However, he now says that he’ll appear in Marvel’s wide universe of heroes as a different character than fans may have expected. All Esposito teases for now is that we’ll learn more about his role “sooner rather than later,” adding that it will be “better than you can imagine.”
It’s not too shocking to hear that Esposito has been as another character besides the mind-reading X-Men leader. In March, the actor expressed interest in playing the character but said he would change some things in his portrayal. Specifically, he wasn’t in love with the idea of being in a wheelchair every day.
The MCU is on the verge of potentially introducing some important characters and storylines, so where Esposito will show up is anyone’s guess. In July, fans will finally see Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine enter the fray, finally giving audiences more mutant screentime. While X-Men ’97 continues to attract attention on Disney+, it’s still unclear how it might eventually incorporate more traditional X-Men stories down the line.
Captain America: Brave New World will see Anthony Mackey return as the film’s title character when it comes to theaters on February 14, 2025. Then, come July 25, 2025, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn will enter the MCU as its new Fantastic Four. For more, you can check out everything else Marvel has prepped for 2024.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
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