Adam Driver explains why he rejected several Marvel roles before agreeing to portray Mister Sinister in the upcoming ‘X-Men’ film.
Adam Driver had been turning down Marvel offers for years, but he has finally found the character that made him change his mind. The actor, best known for playing Kylo Ren in ‘Star Wars’, is set to portray Mister Sinister, one of the comic books’ most formidable villains, in the upcoming ‘X-Men’ film, scheduled for release on 5 May 2028.
During an appearance on the American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Driver explained why he had decided to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) after previously turning down numerous opportunities.
“I was a huge X-Men fan. I liked the other projects too, but this felt like the right time,” the actor revealed, acknowledging that he had grown up following the adventures of the mutants.
Driver also highlighted the importance of Jake Schreier, director of ‘Thunderbolts*’, and the involvement of Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios.
“It was a combination of X-Men, Jake Schreier’s vision and Kevin Feige. Everything came together. The script is really good,” he explained.
Adam Driver’s Fear of Failing in Marvel
Driver admitted that one of the reasons he had avoided joining the franchise was the enormous exposure that comes with starring in a superhero film.
“A lot of people are going to see it, and if it’s bad, a lot of people will see you being bad in it. Also, I don’t want to mess it up,” he explained.
Kevin Feige had previously revealed that trying to recruit the actor had practically become a tradition. The two had held discussions about potential characters, but Driver ultimately turned down the offers.
Who Is in the Cast of the New ‘X-Men’ Film?
In this new chapter, Adam Driver will portray Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mister Sinister, a scientist specialising in genetics and cloning who has become one of the mutants’ most dangerous enemies.
The film will also feature Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier and Maya Boyd as Storm.
They will be joined by Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Asa Germann as Angel.
The production will mark the mutants’ return to the big screen with a refreshed cast and a storyline integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, under Schreier’s direction.
For Adam Driver, the film will mark his return to a major Disney franchise following ‘Star Wars’, this time as a villain whose obsession with genetic evolution promises to become one of the greatest threats facing the new X-Men.
