The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in an interesting place right now. We're in between phases, and will be left to wonder and theorize about the future of the franchise until Black Widow arrives May 2020. Additionally, Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox will bring iconic characters like the X-Men and Fantastic Four to the MCU. Although just when the studio will do that is a complete mystery. Still, X-Men: First Class writer Zack Stentz knows who should play the new Magneto: Breaking Bad standout Giancarlo Esposito.
Marvel Studios has revealed its original schedule for Phase Four, with both movies and Disney+ series coming. As such, there will be plenty of rumors about possible casting choices. One such rumor claimed the Giancarlo Esposito was up for a major Marvel role, prompting Zack Stentz to chime in about who he should play. Check it out below.
Does anyone else have chills? Magneto is one of the most iconic villains in Marvel lore, and Giancarlo Espositio has certainly proved his penchant for playing such a character on the small screen. And really, who doesn't want to see Gus Fring with superpowers?
Zack Stentz's tweet is sure to excite the countless Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul fans out there. Giancarlo Esposito's character Gus Fring really amped up Breaking Bad when he appeared late in Season 2, raising the stakes and giving the drama a bonafide villain. The Emmy nominated actor certainly has the chops to play the Master of Magnetism, possibly with a new twist on the character's backstory.
On both the page and screen, Erik Lehnsherr/ Magneto is typically portrayed as a Holocaust survivor. This is where his mutants powers develop, and his childhood trauma informs his extreme views on the conflict between mutants and humans. Zack Stentz suggested a new take on the character to accommodate Giancarlo Esposito's role as Magneto: making him a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. It would be a bold narrative pivot, and a powerful new way to bring the character's story to the modern MCU.
Logistically, it would be difficult to bring Magneto into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while still retaining his roots in the Holocaust. It's currently the year 2023 following Avengers: Endgame's time jump, so the villain would have to be a very old and frail man in order for the timeline to match up. On the flip side, the Rwandan genocide only happened a few decades ago, allowing for a man of Giancarlo Esposito's age to embody the part.
Related: Marvel Asked For Loki To Be 'A Villain As Good As Magneto,' Thor Writer Reveals
Zack Stentz clearly knows the X-Men well, and helped bring Michael Fassbender's Magneto to life with X-Men: First Class. The movie once again showed Erik Lehnsherr's tragic story, and followed a deeply vengeful mutant who was hunting down those responsible for concentration camps. The movie was a massive success, and three sequels followed.
Right now it's unclear if/when the X-Men will be brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Dark Phoenix only recently ended its theatrical run, so Marvel Studios is likely going to give it a few years before finally bringing mutants into the massive franchise. But it's something the fans have been waiting for, so these rumored casting aren't going to stop anytime soon.
The next installment in the MCU is Black Widow on May 1, 2020. Dark Phoenix will be available digitally on September 3, and on Blu-ray, and DVD on September 17, In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
