Marvel Rumored To Be Eyeing ‘Gilded Age’ Star Morgan Spector For Magneto In ‘X-Men’; Search For New Wolverine Taking Shape

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Marvel Studios is rumored to be eyeing The Gilded Age star Morgan Spector to play Magneto in its upcoming X-Men reboot, which is set to introduce a new generation of mutants to the Marvel Cinematic Universe when the film hits theaters in 2028.

According to recent rumors, Marvel Studios is “seriously” considering the 46-year-old The Gilded Age star to portray Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto, the iconic mutant villain previously portrayed by Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender. McKellen has been confirmed to be reprising his role as Magneto in December’s Avengers: Doomsday.

Marvel reportedly wants The Gilded Age star Morgan Spector to play Magneto in its upcoming X-Men movie

Spector, who is best known for playing George Russell in HBO’s The Gilded Age, has also appeared in Suits, Person of Interest, and HBO’s The Plot Against America.

The potential casting is particularly interesting given Magneto’s backstory as a Jewish Holocaust survivor, which has been a defining element of the character since the comics and was prominently featured in the previous X-Men films. Spector, who is Jewish, would be the first Jewish actor to portray the character in a major live-action X-Men film, should he ultimately land the role.

Given the current timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, however, fans have been curious how the studio is going to adjust Magneto’s backstory to exist in a modern setting.

Christopher Abbott, who was officially announced as the MCU’s new Professor Charles Xavier at Disney’s D23 convention in August, is 40 years old, meaning the actor who plays Magneto will likely be the same age.

A Holocaust survivor of Lensherr’s age — Magneto is portrayed as being about 10-13 years old during World War II — would be about 40 years old in the 1970s, which is not when the MCU is set.

Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Allen White among the actors rumored to be in talks to join Marvel’s X-Men reboot

In addition to the Spector rumor, Cartier Films also reported that Alien: Romulus star Cailee Spaeny — who was previously mentioned as a candidate to play Rogue — has auditioned to play Polaris, the magnetic-powered mutant who is Magneto’s daughter in Marvel Comics.

Other rumors surrounding the film suggest that Kitty Pryde has already been cast, that Marvel is searching for an actress to play an Asian female character, and that conversations are underway regarding Wolverine’s introduction into the rebooted franchise, with Jeremy Allen White being rumored to have signed on for the role.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Karate Kid: Legends and The Long Walk star Ben Wang is in talks to play Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Iceman, who was previously portrayed by Shawn Ashmore in Fox’s X-Men films.

The film’s confirmed cast includes Abbott as Professor X, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Asa Germann as Angel, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister.

Directed by Thunderbolts filmmaker Jake Schreier, Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot is currently scheduled to hit theaters on May 5, 2028.

Eric Italiano BroBIble avatar
Based in New York City, Eric Italiano is BroBible's Senior Editor & Social Media Manager with over a decade in digital media. He covers entertainment, pop culture, film, and sports, and built the site's film junket and celebrity interview presence, speaking with A-listers such as Pedro Pascal, Scarlett Johansson, Nicolas Cage, Ana de Armas, The Rock, and many more. You can contact him via email at eric@brobible.com
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