Inde Navarrette Reportedly Turned Down Heat 2 for Marvel Studio's X-Men Movie

Thanks to Inde Navarrette’s breakout performance in Obsession, the star has carte blanche to choose whatever projects she wants — and Marvel’s X-Men movie was at the top of her list.

Inde Navarrette previously admitted to speaking with Jake Schreier, director for the upcoming film, earlier this summer, sparking rumors that she’d be involved with the future MCU in some way. Those rumors were confirmed at D23, where it was revealed that she’ll be playing everyone’s favorite power-absorbing mutant, Rogue.

Speaking with PageSix, sources claimed Inde was so keen on the role that she turned down two other major projects, one of which was Heat 2. Navarrette was reportedly being eyed to play Sharlene, originally portrayed by Ashley Judd, alongside massive Hollywood stars like Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Adam Driver. (Not to worry; she’ll be working with Driver on X-Men, as he’s set to play the film’s villain, Mister Sinister.)

Image Credits: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Additionally, PageSix reported that Navarrette declined a role in an unnamed horror film directed by Mattias Hoehne (Cockneys vs Zombies, Little Bone Lodge) that would have paid out $2.5 million.

It’s safe to say that Marvel’s X-Men could be a far more profitable venture for the star, who reportedly made a modest $20,000 from Obsession. That film went on to become the highest-grossing independent movie with a budget under $1 million, skyrocketing Navarrette to international fame and putting her on the shortlist for Hollywood executives looking for their next big star.

Navarrette previously spoke about the possibility of playing a member of the X-Men in response to fancasts of her as Marvel’s Black Cat during a chat with Variety back in July.

“Every time that I see something like this I’ll giggle because, like, obviously I know the truth, but I would love to be a part of Marvel,” Navarrette said. “I think it’s fun, especially since I grew up watching X-Men – the 2000s X-Men. That would be fun.”

“Mystique has always been super cool,” she continued when asked who she’d like to play. “Growing up, I remember watching the behind-the-scenes process of all the prosthetics. That was super cool for me. I would always watch behind-the-scenes of a lot of stuff. Pirates of the Caribbean, I remember, was a big thing that I would watch the BTS of. X-Men, you know, the prosthetics. I just find it so fascinating.”

Reactions to Navarrette’s casting have been overwhelmingly positive. The news even reached Rogue’s voice actress, who sent a heartwarming welcome message to the star on social media in her signature Southern drawl.