CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Star Giancarlo Esposito Said He "Went Along For The Ride" With X-MEN Rumors

Captain America: Brave New World star Giancarlo Esposito has reflected on the rumours surrounding him playing the X-Men's Professor X or Magneto and once again teases his mystery MCU role. Check it out...

By JoshWilding - Jun 28, 2024 04:06 AM EST

Filed Under: Captain America: New World Order

Rumours have swirled about Giancarlo Esposito possibly boarding the MCU for a few years now. However, two characters who have repeatedly been mentioned by fans are Professor X and Magneto.

With Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot on the horizon, both seemed like a very real possibility. The Breaking Bad star has never shied away from playing into the rumours, though eventually admitted he'd like to play someone a little more proactive than Charles Xavier.

The actor will get his chance with what looks to be an action-packed role in Captain America: Brave New World. While Esposito has been spotted in set photos, we have no idea who he's playing; it does, however, seem like he's a mercenary tasked with taking down Sam Wilson.

Talking to ComicBook.com, The Mandalorian and The Boys star reflected on the rumours and speculation that previously surrounded him.

"The fans really started the Professor X rumor and I loved it. I went along for the ride because I love the fans," Esposito admitted. "I started thinking about Professor X, because I feel like that could be a character that I would really excel at, and really be great in. They also talked about Magneto, they also talked about [DC's Mr.] Freeze, all of those things."

"I am so happy to be in the MCU. I'm happy that you don't know what I'm doing there and I'm happy that I probably don't know what I'm doing there, but I'm happy to be there and you're going to see it soon."

It sounds like Esposito was never in serious consideration to play either X-Men character, though he has previously confirmed that, after appearing in Captain America: Brave New World, a Disney+ series is up next for him.

"When you see me in the MCU, you’re going to see a badass and I’m excited for that," he said in another recent interview. "Acting is using every part of your body, your emotions, your senses, your feelings to portray something."

"You haven’t really seen me use my body in a way I’ll be using it. The MCU is exciting. I can’t tell you who I play, but you’re gonna be excited when you see it."

Captain America: Brave New World's cast includes Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, Shira Haas, Liv Tyler, Xosha Roquemore, Giancarlo Esposito, and WWE Superstar Seth Rollins.

Julius Onah helms the movie from a screenplay by Malcolm Spellman and Dalan Musson, though the director is believed to have also taken a pass at it. Matthew Orton, meanwhile, has written new scenes for the additional photography which recently took place in Atlanta, Georgia.

Captain America: Brave New World is set to arrive in theaters on February 14, 2025.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Star Giancarlo Esposito Teases His Badass Character

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69 Comments

1 2

FireandBlood - 6/28/2024, 4:46 AM

He said he had fun trolling you 🥴

Urubrodi - 6/28/2024, 5:15 AM

@FireandBlood - He never confirmed he was going to play him, just that he wanted to

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 4:55 AM

It was never going to happen...

I'm a fan of Giancarlo, but his latest reappearance in The Boys just reminded me that unfortunately he's will struggle to to get out of that box that Gus Fring put him in. Hell of a character, but he can't shake it. He will always be better as the antagonist type.

dagenspear - 6/28/2024, 4:59 AM

@UniqNo - I think he could've worked for Charles Xavier in theory.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 5:10 AM

@dagenspear - potentially but he's already got a 'Patrick Stewart' kind of presence on screen and i would probably feel he's copying...that's just me though.

But as a black man myself, i will say the X-men is one property that i feel they don't need to race swap on. It would kind of go against what they actually represent. There's so many characters they can pull from to represent everyone fairly from any and all backgrounds. Again, that's just my view.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 7:42 AM

@UniqNo - Outside of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he hasn’t been amazing in anything else. He’s been riding that Gus Fring train for a long time now. Fine enough actor, but I’d rather not have him being his always the same performance to a major MCU role. The character he’s playing in Cap 4 is good enough for me.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 8:48 AM

@mountainman - Yeah, and I don't blame him for wanting to play a good guy that has some name recognition with fans. But his recent characters down to his line delivery in The Gentleman and again with The Boys just echoes Fring.

He might make a good Dumbledoor for HBO's reboot 🤷🏾‍♂️. Race there wouldn't be as big a deal as Xmen, but I'm sure they're a good guy for him out there somewhere. Excited to see what they do with him in the MCU, especially knowing that he's going to be attached to a show aswell.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 9:22 AM

@UniqNo - This role, from what we’ve heard about it is more physical than his usual role. So there’s something different at least.

It’s hard for me because I loved him in BB and BCS and have just been underwhelmed in everything else I’ve seen him in. He’s fine, but not great, in anything I’ve seen him in besides those shows.

Wonder how much of that was just him thriving with amazing writing and direction.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 9:29 AM

@mountainman - Well everyone brought their A game with Vincient Gilligan, but even those other actors have had a hard time establishing themselves outside of those character.. so the writing in BB/BCS for sure helped.

Tonic24k - 6/28/2024, 9:52 AM

@UniqNo - I'm glad you said this. Because as someone not black, I feel the same way. And not because it "works in my favor", so to speak. I think we all have to learn how to normalize some of these common sense views.

In other words, I think it's a nonissue to say I want the X-Men and Fantastic Four portrayed just as they are in the comics. Any black characters stay black and any white characters stay white. (And any other race for that matter.)

And I think I can voice this reasonably while not even coming anywhere close to sounding like it's some flagrant race issue. Because at the same time, I LOVE the cultural elements of characters like Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, Ms. Marvel, this new latin take of Namor, the Native American roots of Echo, etc. And I welcome more of that!

I just also want the more prominent characters from the comic books to be brought to life in a definitive way.

If anyone has a differing view, I'm certainly open to dialogue.

Tonic24k - 6/28/2024, 9:54 AM

@mountainman - Now I'm trying to think what else he's been in...lol. I know Mandalorian. Which definitely fits that typecast. And I only know one other role from his younger years of acting which was a bit goofy if I remember correctly.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 9:58 AM

@UniqNo - I think that Bob Odenkirk is great in whatever he’s in, but he really isn’t a leading man for the most part. I liked the movie Nobody but it didn’t make a lot of money.

I feel like Jonathan Banks should be in more stuff. He’d likely get typecast too but movies and shows always need that type of role.

I’d like to see Rhea Seehorn in more stuff. She killed it in that show. But I haven’t seen her in anything else. Same for Patrick Fabian.

Michael Mando could have been a great Scorpion but Sony seems to have forgotten about that character. Hopefully he comes back. Was also amazing in the show.

I’m still disappointed that Tony Dalton got wasted as The Swordsman in Hawkeye. I feel like that guy could really make a splash if given the right roles.

There was such an amazing cast on BCS. As someone who loves BB and even lived in Albuquerque when that show came out, it is very near and dear to me. But I think I might actually like BCS better.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:04 AM

@mountainman - Yep, and you've kind of made my point, the cast there really should be doing great things, but time will tell.

Rhea Seahorn is criminally underrated. What she did I those last few episodes should have won her an Emmy, but it's BCS, thry always get overlooked.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:06 AM

@Tonic24k - Recently I’ve seen him in The Mandelorian and The Boys and both roles are very similar to Gus Fring, at least in the personality and behavior of the character.

He’s been in a ton of stuff dating back to the 70s or 80s but Breaking Bad seemed to revitalize his career and he’s being typecast.

Tonic24k - 6/28/2024, 10:13 AM

@mountainman - Ah! I forgot he was in The Boys. I haven't even started that yet. (Smh, I know I know, I'm slacking! ha)

But yes, I can easily imagine he plays a similar role in that. It is a bit of a shame such a damn good actor keeps taking roles that just keep him in that same character framework.

Has he ever addressed this? I'm curious if this is just what he wants to do or if he's expressed interest in expanding his acting range.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:14 AM

@UniqNo - She was absolutely robbed of that emmy. Bob and the show overall were by Succession that last season too, but I get that is a popular show that just isn’t to my personal taste.

But Jennifer Coolidge over Rhea Seehorn? I like The White Lotus and Coolidge is good in it, but she’s playing the same damn role she has since she was Stiffler’s mom 25 years ago. While she was better in season 2 of that show than she was in season 1, Seehorn absolutely was the best supporting actress that year hands down.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:16 AM

@Tonic24k - I agree with you for the most part.. F4 I don't really care for as much. I'm not lover of the previous movies but I feel what we were suppose to get from Trank got trashed in the rewrites and reshoots. I liked the body horror angle they were going for, but the powers that be tried to steer it back into super hero territory which I understand, but I didn't mind a black Johnny storm. I might alone on that 1 though.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:16 AM

@Tonic24k - Could be why he was softly campaigning for the Professor X role.

My fear for that, even outside of race swapping the character, was that if they cast Esposito they definitely would have gone down the route of making Xavier shadier and more villain like. I far prefer Xavier as a good guy who has made some questionable decisions rather than the quasi-villain that he’s been portrayed at during some points in comic history.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:19 AM

@mountainman - I've not watched white lotus but I've heard good things.

Succession, I kind of understand the buzz around it. None of the character are particularly likeable but you just can't turn away, and I think that's the charm of the show. Kieran Culkin earned his emmy for sure and the way they shoot and change character focus is not something I'm used to in a show like that.

House of the Dragon though! Season 2 is firing on all cylinders in terms of actors performances. We are being spoilt by the choice of good shows out there at the moment.

Tonic24k - 6/28/2024, 10:24 AM

@UniqNo - I really like MBJ as an actor. I think he did fine portraying the character. It just didn't really feel like the real F4 to me. But that's also because I didn't like the cast at all. All great actors...just weren't good fits for those roles, IMO.

It doesn't help that the film wasn't even serviceable to be released. Whew, buddy was that film awful. Thank the heavens Fox gave up. Something Sony should really do. (They should give up Marvel live action projects and focus on their Marvel animation endeavors.)

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:29 AM

@Tonic24k - 100% agree with you on Sony. But that cow is worth more to them almost beaten to death than to sell and allow them to make milk and cheese for Disney. Lol.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:30 AM

@UniqNo - I won’t fight too much about succession overall winning for best show or Culkin winning best actor. My personal taste prefers BCS to it, but I get why people like it.

Personally I just am not interested in rich people problems shows where every main character is unlikable. It’s the same reason I don’t like Yellowstone. But I can’t deny that a lot of people like both of those shows so it is what it is.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:32 AM

@mountainman - I can't tell you why I like yellowstone either, but I'm still hooked. I think it's Sheridan's writing. The lioness show waw pretty good. Mayor of Kingstown...another bunch of unlikeable characters but it's full of doom and gloom. I think I'll tap out after this season.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:34 AM

@UniqNo - We all have our personal tastes and there is no universal right or wrong (I wish the people on both sides of The Acolyte could understand this). I know I’m in the minority with not liking either Succession or Yellowstone. I’ve had many people shocked at me for these opinions.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:43 AM

@mountainman - About the Acolyte. I've been watching... my honest opinion. Outside of Dafne Keen and Jung-jae, everyone seems to be sleeping through it, even the writers, I feel like I've given it a fair chance and this week's episode was decent with Keene taking MVP. It may just be that I find the main actor/character(s) annoying.

The set design is good though and I am a bit interested in seeing what the stranger/master has going on, but there's an better what to get the audience to really question the 'goodness of the jedi. I'll still check out the rest but it's defintiley on par with Book of Boba for lacking much. Just my opinion.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 10:49 AM

@UniqNo - I haven’t seen it so I have no opinion. The discourse around it has just been interesting to me to watch.

I hear episode 5 had good action so maybe I’ll fire that one up. I have no desire to ever watch the whole show. Probably wait until the season is over, find out what the best action scenes are, and just watch those.

Personally I’m kind of burned out on Star Wars and I can’t particularly arricukate why. It’s just feeling stale to me. Sequel trilogy was mostly bad, BOBF was terrible, Obi Wan was disappointing, and Mando S3 was a major drop in quality. I just need more hits than misses from this franchise to want to keep up.

Andor Season 2 is the only announced thing that I am excited for.

UniqNo - 6/28/2024, 10:55 AM

@mountainman - na I hear you. We went (depending on your age) from have a movie every few years with some tie in games) to having spoils of live action content, animation, games, etc varying alot in quality due to the change with Disney. There's defintiley some strikes of greatness dotted around them, but the amount that's out there has diminished its charm. Andor is good because it's kind of 'grounded in a human sense of reality'for lack of a better term. So the wonder and escapism in a way isn't expected and is appreciated.

mountainman - 6/28/2024, 11:12 AM

@UniqNo - I wonder if there is a way to keep a long term franchise with constant new content good forever. I think a lot of people get tired of the constant work it is to keep up and then completely fall off when there are some projects not to their taste.

It’s unfortunate that Hollywood seems intent on turning every IP into an endless franchise to make more money.

There really isn’t a great answer to this besides the original creator being very protective of the IP.

dagenspear - 6/28/2024, 6:32 PM

@UniqNo -

I call this insurance. Few can legit pull out nonsense about Magneto being right and Xavier being privileged if he's played by a black man, who may have faced prejudiced for his skin color, but still chooses to be heroic.

dagenspear - 6/28/2024, 6:32 PM

@UniqNo - I also disagree on the Patrick Stewart. He has a softer look to me.

dagenspear - 6/28/2024, 4:58 AM

Shame for me. I was kinda into the idea of him as Professor Xavier.

Tonic24k - 6/28/2024, 10:19 AM

@dagenspear - I will say, he could nail that character. And I do want to see him take on a non-villain role. Buuut, I also want Prof X and Magneto -- along with the other X-Men characters -- to just be portrayed as we know them to be. Not even a race thing, really. I just want to watch these movies and see the characters I grew up with brought to life from the comic books.

Although I will say, the latin take on Namor I absolutely LOVE! But I think too, his character's race from the comics is completely fictional and even parallels drawn to real races are more ambiguous than anything.

dagenspear - 6/28/2024, 6:38 PM

@Tonic24k - I don't think their race would necessarily effect the character.

OptimusCrime - 6/28/2024, 5:04 AM

Well...F*** you then!

Love him💁

Malatrova15 - 6/28/2024, 5:05 AM

He is kan

Turklander - 6/28/2024, 5:19 AM

He should've been Professor X

Mugens - 6/28/2024, 5:33 AM

Would be nice to see him in a role that was not the usual parts he plays. Been doing that bad guy thing (extremely well I might add) since Spike Lee's "School Daze".

TheVisionary25 - 6/28/2024, 5:40 AM

@Mugens - yeah , I was hoping he would be given the chance to play a good guy in the MCU but oh well.

Atleast it seems like he’s gonna be getting in on the action more then he previously in his villain roles for the most part so that’s atleast different to an extent.

He seems excited about it which is ultimately what matters I guess.

ProfessorWhy - 6/28/2024, 5:45 AM

Hard to believe they'd waste him on a nobody or a new character..... I'm hoping that the leaks are a distraction and his role is more than it appears

TheVisionary25 - 6/28/2024, 6:02 AM

While he would have been a good Prof X or Magneto (even Mr Freeze from DC ), I feel I am more excited now because of the mystery character he is playing then I would have been if he had been cast in either of those roles…

Don’t get me wrong , I’m sure he would have been great as those characters but I would never imagine him playing a mercenary that’s seemingly after Sam Wilson/Captain America which intrigued me more.

Interested to see who this mysterious character is and hopefully he’s around beyond Brave New World and this D+ series he’s suppose to be in!!.

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CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Star Giancarlo Esposito Said He "Went Along For The Ride" With X-MEN Rumors

Captain America: Brave New World star Giancarlo Esposito has reflected on the rumours surrounding him playing the X-Men's Professor X or Magneto and once again teases his mystery MCU role. Check it out...

CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD Star Giancarlo Esposito Teases His "Badass" Character

AVENGERS: ENDGAME Directors The Russo Brothers Are Reportedly Producing CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD