Wagner Moura Clarifies Mr. Sinister X-Men Casting Reports For MCU Reboot
Will another acclaimed star be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe? The Oscar-nominated actor in question gives a firm answer in a new exclusive interview
The recently released Spider-Man: Brand New Day has major implications for the future of the MCU, and not just for Tom Holland's Spider-Man/Peter Parker. Since the end of the Infinity Saga with 2019's Avengers: Endgame, the franchise has been dipping its toes into the well of X-Men lore. Fans naturally speculate about who could play new iterations of these superheroes and villains, bringing The Secret Agent's Wagner Moura into the discussion.
Rumors have been spreading online that Moura could be playing Mister Sinister, a supervillain associated with the X-Men, in a future MCU installment. However, in an interview with ScreenRant's Liam Crowley for The Last House, Moura clarified that while he is a fan of the comics and the MCU, he has not been contacted about a potential role. Check out his comments below:
Dude, I've been reading these things on the internet, and people are sending that to me. I mean, I'm a fan of that whole entire universe, especially when I was a kid reading all those graphic novels and everything. But there's nothing. No one contacted me about it. It's just something that people read. But on the internet, I don't know nothing honestly about it. I would love it.
Twins Wanda/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), both notable X-Men, were introduced to the MCU back in 2014, per a unique copyright agreement between Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox. When Disney acquired 20th Century, the MCU started featuring more X-Men, but usually the versions of them from Fox's franchise (played by the same actors).
However, it has long been assumed that the MCU will eventually properly reboot the X-Men, recasting the characters. Thus, Moura became a top choice to play Dr. Nathaniel Essex a.k.a. Mister Sinister. Making his debut in 1986, Sinister is known for allying with Apocalypse and experimenting on himself and others in the service of his mission to create the ultimate superhuman.
Sinister's abilities in the comics include telekinesis, telepathy, shape-shifting, super-healing, and an extended lifespan. He has yet to appear in any live-action adaptation of the Marvel Comics, but he was previously voiced by Christopher Britton in X-Men: The Animated Series and Clancy Brown in Wolverine and the X-Men, among other animated appearances.
"I would love it," Moura says, suggesting some interest if Marvel Studios were to take inspiration from the fan cast and give the actor a call. The MCU has a long history of casting majorly awarded actors, some of the most acclaimed and admired stars currently working. Moura would fit right in, coming off his Oscar nomination and Golden Globe win for his performance in 2025's The Secret Agent.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is gearing up for its next crossover event with Avengers: Doomsday, slated for theatrical release on December 18, 2026. The Doomsday cast features many actors from Fox's X-Men franchise; their presence will possibly indicate how the franchise will handle the X-Men going forward, amid the MCU's full reset after Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027.