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Despite having a fairly forgettable year, Disney recently announced its future projects on Investor Day that has left fans awestruck. With multipleStar Warsand MCU projects lined up, the future looks definitely exciting. As Marvel Studios is aggressively pursuing its Phase Four, the inclusion ofFantastic Fourwas a surprising inclusion as part of the future prospects. But unfortunately, there has been no official confirmation regarding the status of mutants in the MCU. Though it is widely speculated thatWandaVisionwill introduce the mutants, the executives at Marvel Studios have stayed mum for quite some time now. Nonetheless, Kevin Feige has already told us that the arrival of the X-Men is ‘imminent’ and we couldn’t be any happier about it. But before the official confirmation arrives, Marvel Studios need to cast the most important mutant of them all: Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto. The Master of Magnetism was portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender in Fox Studio’s X-Men. As it is quite inevitable that the MCU will be looking for a new actor to play the anti-hero, here are our top picks.
Related:15 Comic Book Villains With The Saddest Origin Stories
10Giancarlo Esposito
TheBreaking Badstar has achieved further stardom with his recent portrayal of Moff Gideon inThe Mandalorian. Known for his engaging performances as antagonists, Giancarlo Esposito is one of the most sought after actors in the industry right now. His ability to portray calculating and sinister characters with an unflinching menace is perfectly suited for the role of Magneto. However, the actor’s broad acting range can also be brought to use if Disney wishes to include Magneto’s redemptive arcs in the movies.
9Ralph Fiennes
Related:MCU: 13 Characters Who Became Much More Popular After The Movies
Having cemented his legacy as Lord Voldemort in theHarry Potterseries, Ralph Fiennes particularly shines as an antagonist. His spine-chilling performance as SS Officer Amon Roth inSchindler’s Listis a testament to the actor’s prowess as an unforgettable villain. His portrayal of Monsieur Gustave H. can also work in his favor if Marvel Studios decides to go for a slightly less menacing Magneto.
8Javier Bardem
Widely regarded as one of the best actors of this era, Javier Bardem is shocking yet to make his appearance as a comic-book villain. Having risen to fame for his portrayal of Anton Chigurh inNo Country for Old Men, Bardem also received widespread acclaim for his role of Raoul Silva inSkyfall. Bardem’s impeccable range and an imposing screen presence would work wonders for the MCU, if cast as Magneto.
7Liam Neeson
A powerful individual who believes in a dubious justice system for self-preservation, where have we heard this before? Liam Neeson’s splendid performance as Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’sBatman Beginsdoesn’t really need much explanation as to why the actor is quite perfect to play the role of a similar character in the MCU. His unparalleled gravitas paired with sage-like wisdom easily sets him up as an intellectual opponent of Charles Xavier, whenever he is not crushing metals and destroying cities.
6Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Related:7 Weird Facts Most X-Men Fans Don’t Know About Magneto’s Body
ThoughGame of Thronesdid not finish on a high note, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s portrayal of Jaime Lannister received universal acclaim. Starting off as an arrogant and immoral character, Jaime Lannister’s journey of regaining his honor and numerous sacrifices was perfectly captured by this Danish actor. His ability to seamlessly move between the emotional spectrum is a much-needed quality for the role of Magneto. Like Erik Lehnsherr, Waldau’s Jaime Lannister stayed a warrior till the very end, having a soft spot for children (except Bran), a trait that is also shared by Magneto in the comics.
5Michael Shannon
Not averse to playing terrifying characters with self-preservation qualities, Michael Shannon’s portrayal of General Zod inMan of Steelwas one of the major highlights of the movie. Shannon’s striking on-screen presence and his ability to play strong characters with morally dubious motives would perfectly set up Magneto as MCU’s next greatest antagonist. His unflinching and menacing presence can gel easily with the angst of a Holocaust survivor who wishes to protect the mutants at all costs.
4Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Related:Can A Black Magneto Work In The Marvel Cinematic Universe?
Having already played two major comic book characters in the recent past, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an interesting choice to play the Master of Magnetism in the MCU. As Black Manta inAquamanand Doctor Manhattan inWatchmen, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II can internalize the rage and detachment of both the characters, thus encapsulating Magneto from the comics. Though a few might argue that changing the character’s race would receive severe backlash, casting Yahya Abdul-Mateen II would actually enforce the idea of equality and reflect the mutant metaphor in modern times, as envisioned by Stan Lee. The actor’s striking physique and stunning acting chops can easily do justice to one of the best comic-book anti-heroes of all time.
3Mark Strong
Though Mark Strong’s last portrayal of a comic book villain inGreen Lanternwas fairly forgettable, the actor has since become a fan-favorite owing to the massive popularity of theKingsmanmovies. The actor got a second chance at redemption when he was cast as Doctor Sivanna inShazam!. However, the actor received critical acclaim for his role of Hani Salaam in Ridley Scott’sBody of Lies. A suave actor with a distinct individuality, Mark Strong can bring a sense of control and rage to Magneto.
2Christopher Waltz
Having played the role of SS officer Hans Landa inInglourious Basterds, it is quite ironic to offer the role of a Holocaust survivor to Christopher Waltz. But then, the actor’s German-Austrian ancestry can put the personalized spin on the charismatic anti-hero that the MCU surely needs. Regarded as one of the best actors of all time, Waltz can effortlessly play the role of a cold, menacing character, along with a German accent.
1Charles Dance
If Marvel Studios is looking for an older version of Magneto, Charles Dance is the answer. Having risen to fame for playing the role of Tywin Lannister inGame of Thrones, the similarities between Magneto and the Lannister patriarch are quite uncanny. Both care deeply about their family, would go to any extent to ensure their survival, and are terrifyingly menacing if the situation arises. Also, it would make sense to cast Charles Dance as Magneto if the MCU is going for a comic-book accurate portrayal, since Erik Lehnsherr is a Holocaust survivor.
Akash Senapati
Senior Content Strategist
Articles Published :373
Akash is the Lead Content Strategist for FandomWire. Having started as a writer for FandomWire back in 2020, he now manages a global team of writers who share the same passion for motion arts, from Martin Scorsese to the latest MCU flick. He loves DC Comics, Anime, Pink Floyd, and sleeping in no particular order. His favorite graphic-medium writers are Grant Morrison, Chris Claremont, Christopher Priest, Garth Ennis, and Eiichiro Oda. Prep time > Aliens.
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Charles DanceChristopher WaltzDisneyGiancarlo EspositoJavier BardemLiam NeesonMagnetoMark StrongMarvel StudiosMCUMichael ShannonMutantsNikolaj Coster-WaldauRalph FiennesX-Men
