RUMOR: Three-Time Oscar Winner Daniel Day-Lewis Is Being Eyed To Play Magneto In Marvel Studios' X-MEN Reboot

RUMOR: Three-Time Oscar Winner Daniel Day-Lewis Is Being Eyed To Play Magneto In Marvel Studios' X-MEN Reboot

Once upon a time, casting rumours for The Fantastic Four: First Steps were endless. Now, it's the turn of the X-Men reboot as we have another wild casting rumour to share with you, this time for Magneto...

By JoshWilding - May 17, 2025 12:05 PM EST
Filed Under: X-Men

With Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier set to direct Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot, the rumour mill continues churning out possible names for the highly anticipated movie (which, for what it's worth, we've heard is currently being referred to as Uncanny X-Men internally at the studio).

We're not putting too much stock into any of these casting claims, but following this past week's Professor X and Jean Grey rumours, there's a possible update on the MCU's Magneto. 

According to scooper @MyTimeToShineH, Marvel Studios is eyeing three-time Oscar winner Sir Daniel Day-Lewis for the role of the Master of Magnetism. Would he ever really consider a superhero movie role? We wouldn't bank on it, though the same might have once been said for Sir Ian McKellen. 

It's worth noting that this comes after the insider said, "No new [X-Men] cast will be introduced in the upcoming Avengers films, because the focus is on giving closure to the original characters. Casting hasn’t started yet because director Jake Schreier hasn’t officially signed on. That’s why Sadie Sink isn’t playing Jean Grey."

"That said, there are three roles Kevin Feige has specific actors (or at least types) in mind for: Xavier, Magneto, and Storm. The names he’s considering feel a bit too big to actually land, but you’ll see — I’ll mention them soon. Aside from those three, I haven’t heard of any other actors being considered yet," they added. 

So, while the studio would like Day-Lewis to play Magneto, no offer has gone out, and he's likely just indicative of the type of actor Feige would like to see fill the role in the MCU. After McKellen and Michael Fassbender, we're not shocked to see that Kevin Feige is aiming high. 

Day-Lewis won the "Best Actor" Oscar for his roles in My Left FootThere Will Be Blood, and Lincoln. He's also known for In the Name of the Father, Gangs of New York, Phantom Thread, and The Last of the Mohicans

McKellen is confirmed to return as Magneto in Avengers: Doomsday alongside Sir Patrick Stewart as Professor X. They'll be joined by Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), James Marsden (Cyclops), and Channing Tatum (Gambit), though this X-Men team feels far from complete. 

Meanwhile, a lesser-known social media scooper, @mainmiddleman, has claimed that Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman) and Jodie Turner-Smith (The Acolyte) are contenders to suit up as the MCU's Storm post-Avengers: Secret Wars. Hereditary star Alex Wolff is also said to be in talks for an unknown role. 

Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot doesn't have a confirmed release date. 

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RedFury
RedFury - 5/17/2025, 12:40 PM
This would be absolutely off the wall if it happened lol. It's actually incredibly hard to believe, and I'm surprised anyone would even put it out as a rumour until it had more teeth. It would be an amazing pull, but him coming out of retirement for a super hero movie is something I don't think anyone would ever have guessed hahaha.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/17/2025, 12:42 PM
@RedFury - technically , he’s already out of retirement since he’s acting in a movie that he’s son directed and co wrote with him.
RedFury
RedFury - 5/17/2025, 12:50 PM
@TheVisionary25 - oh okay, so maybe he's looking in making a big public comeback then. Though if the rumour has any salt to it, I would bank on it being all about the massive paycheck he'd get for doing it lol. Or maybe he just really loves the X-Men.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 5/17/2025, 12:51 PM
@RedFury - or he could find Magneto to be the fascinating character he is

Stranger things have happened lol
SuperiorHeckler
SuperiorHeckler - 5/17/2025, 3:01 PM
@RedFury - I'll say it: Daniel Day-Lewis is too good to lower himself and his craft for a comic-book genre movie. (But, maybe he needs the money???) 🤔
RedFury
RedFury - 5/17/2025, 5:00 PM
@SuperiorHeckler - lol you're saying what a lot of us are thinking I'm sure. Not to say there isn't a comic-book movie out there for his extreme talents. It just seems like the MCU would be a bit of a waste for his level of ability. Unless the X-Men films are something outside of the usual MCU style.
KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 5/17/2025, 5:15 PM
@RedFury - User Comment Image

User Comment Image

User Comment Image
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/17/2025, 7:30 PM
@RedFury - no way he takes this role, but would be amazing if he did and would indicate they have some great ideas in the script if he's interested.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 5/17/2025, 7:30 PM
@SuperiorHeckler - legacy money for his kids.
elcapitan
elcapitan - 5/17/2025, 8:09 PM
@RedFury - I couldn’t disagree more. The X-Men at its best is a character study with complex social and political dynamics. And Magneto is particularly complex. If written well enough the role could have a lot of gravitas (pun intended). Sir Ian McKellan is a first rate actor, and Michael Fassbender also has great acting chops (though the Scottish accent threw me off). So, never say never!
90caliber
90caliber - 5/17/2025, 11:25 PM
@SuperiorHeckler - Marlon Brando played Jor-El.
Battinson
Battinson - 5/17/2025, 12:41 PM
Duuuuuuudes that would be [frick]ing awesome!!! DDL is my favorite actor, There Will Be Blood is my favorite movie. He'd be [frick]ing epic
TheNewYorker
TheNewYorker - 5/17/2025, 12:45 PM
Hahahahaha YEAH RIGHT! Hahahahahahah
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