Inde Navarrette has opened up about playing Rogue in X-Men, saying she’s “doing everything humanly possible” to make sure she does the character justice.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) X-Men reboot movie has a lot to live up to. For better or worse, previous films in the mutant-centered corner of the Marvel universe spent decades establishing characters like Cyclops and Rogue, and now, Navarrette is one of a few actors set to shake everything up.
The actress, who was picked to play the power-siphoning superhero earlier this year, told the LA Times that she’s not taking her role in the reboot lightly. In fact, she’s doing anything but.
“I’m doing everything humanly possible because I love that character,” Navarrette said. “I’ve studied that character. I want to do it justice for myself, for [director Jake Schrieier], for what they want to portray and also for what I as a fan want her to be like. I’m doing everything, exclamation point.”
Having parts in shows like 13 Reasons Why and Superman & Lois means Navarrette has been on TV screens for years, but her role as Nikki in low-budget horror phenomenon Obsession took her fame to a new level. Through all of the Oscar buzz and turned-down parts, it was Schreier’s X-Men she decided to sign on to for one of her first post-Obsession roles.
Playing Rogue in X-Men means stepping into the shoes of a character with decades of history. Aside from the Mississippi-born mutant’s history in comics, she’s also already appeared in numerous animated and live-action projects, with actress Anna Paquin portraying her in films like the 2000 X-Men movie and X2: X-Men United.
Meanwhile, Navarrette also recently teased some of the steps she’s taking just to make sure she nails Rogue’s unforgettable southern accent. While she preps for what could be the biggest role of her career, she’s already got a few notable names in her corner. Last month, Lenore Zann, the voice of Rogue in multiple animated X-Men projects through the years, offered her support to the Marvel newcomer.
Navarette will take the reins – but not until 2028. The MCU X-Men Movie is currently slated to premiere May 5 of that year, and when it does, it will introduce a collection of other new actors to play familiar characters. The full list includes Navarrette as Rogue, Adam Driver as Mister Sinister, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Asa Germann as Angel. Details about its plot remain under wraps, but Schreier has teased some of the comic book stories that will inspire its story.
In the meantime, some of the previous X-Men are set to return to the big screen when Avengers: Doomsday marks the beginning of the end for another MCU saga this December. With Avengers: Secret Wars set to arrive the following year, there’s no telling which other heroes will make an appearance in the near future.
Photo by Xavier GALIANA / AFP via Getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
