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The MCU is adding a bunch of new heroes and villains in its upcoming Phase 5, and Magneto might potentially be one of them. His involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is yet to be announced. However, with the inclusion of mutants through Ms. Marvel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Deadpool 3, the era of mutants is about to begin.
As soon as Marvel moves into the mutant phase, Magneto being one of the strongest mutants and a core part of the X-Men story will be brought into the mix. Casting him will be interesting as this time he could be used more as an anti-hero than a villain.
Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender have been amazing as Erik Lehnsherr and at least one of those could get to reprise their roles in Avengers: Secret Wars. However, when Marvel casts a new Magneto in the future, an actor who is intense and carries a villainous charm would be needed. So, one of the following actors could play the part.
Actors who would be perfect for MCU’s Magneto
1) Giancarlo Esposito
The Breaking Bad star has become Hollywood’s go-to guy for playing the ultimate series villain these days.
Besides Gustavo Fring in Better Call Saul, he has given a menacing performance as Moff Gideon in three seasons of The Mandalorian. Giancarlo Esposito is also pretty intense with his portrayal of Stan Edgar in The Boys.
Just because of these amazing performances, he has proven to be a great choice for MCU’s Erik Lehnsherr if Marvel wants to use an older version of the character similar to Ian McKellen.
2) Christoph Waltz
Considering older Magneto choices, Christoph Waltz is another actor who could be a textbook Magneto. Additionally, fans could see him retconned as the real father of Wanda and Pietro, just like Erik Lehnsherr is in the comics.
He has delivered several powerful and menacing villainous performances in films such as Spectre and Inglorious Basterds among others. He also does really well with complex and morally ambiguous roles.
So, his acting resume already makes him a good fit for MCU’s Magneto.
3) Javier Bardem
Bardem played one of the best cinematic villains in Skyfall. Following that portrayal, Disney cast him as Salazaar in Pirates of the Caribbean 5. In recent times, the 54-year-old has been shining in Dennis Villeneuve’s Dune duology.
He should be considered a serious contender for Magneto because of the intensity he brings to a role. In addition to all this, he also has a great physical presence and carries the emotional range that is required to play Magneto, who has a very sad backstory.
His age would allow him to start off as a middle-aged version of the character, who could continue for at least a decade in the MCU.
4) Daniel Craig
If the aforementioned Bond villains could be great choices, why not James Bond himself? Daniel Craig is already done playing 007, and he is about to star in his last outing as Detective Benoit Blanc in the final part of the Knives Out trilogy. After that, he could straightaway hop on to his next franchise role with Erik Lehnsherr.
In the past, he has shown a great ability to pull off characters that showcase their physicality, and James Bond was a prime example of that. However, his portrayal of Detective Benoit Blanc shows that he is at a stage where he is more comfortable depending on his acting prowess rather than taking on roles that require more physicality. That’s exactly why he’d be the pick for a middle-aged Erik.
The 55-year-old has already shown his immense acting range with projects like Logan Lucky and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Being one of the A-Listers in the industry, his Magneto casting would also generate an insane amount of hype.
5) Denzel Washington
Over time, MCU has had multiple veteran actors playing villains and antiheroes. However, it’d be a huge win if Kevin Feige and Co could actually bag the veteran actor Denzel Washington for Magneto.
Denzel Washington is a highly talented and versatile actor known for his powerful performances and ability to bring depth and complexity to his characters. His acting range is also unmatched. So, that's exactly what is needed to pull off one of Marvel's greatest antiheroes.
While he would also fall into the older Magneto bracket, he is probably the best man that Marvel could hire in this category for the role of Erik Lehnsherr.
6) Viggo Mortensen
The Lord of the Rings star could prove to be another unique casting choice for Magneto. With 2018’s Oscar Winning film Green Book, Mortensen proved that he could still deliver some remarkable performances.
Besides his versatility, range, and emotional complexity, Mortensen packs an added talent. Magneto is a character who has experienced life in different countries and speaks multiple languages and Mortensen is multilingual in real life, speaking English, Spanish, Danish, and some French.
So, his linguistic versatility would add an extra layer of authenticity to the Marvel character. Hence, fans should have no complaints if Marvel chooses him for their infamous metal-manipulating mutant or any other familiar character.
7. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Nikolaj hasn’t been able to bag any major roles since his stint as Jaime Lannister ended with Game of Thrones season 8. However, his work in the fantasy series could make him a great contender to play a familiar MCU character.
There was a time when he was fan-cast as Doctor Doom, but he could also be another unique pick for the middle-aged Erik Lehnsherr category. Magneto is a morally complex character, driven by his convictions and experiences. Coster-Waldau has experience playing characters with shades of gray, grappling with difficult choices and conflicting loyalties.
His ability to portray moral ambiguity and internal conflicts would be well-suited to add to his natural charisma. Additionally, the 52-year-old Danish actor would be able to carry the role for more than a decade!
8. Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes is an esteemed actor with a remarkable range and ability to portray complex and captivating characters.
This is the actor who gave the world one of the most exceptional villains of all time playing Lord Voldemort. Besides Voldemort, Fiennes has played some sensational roles in Hollywood to date. With his recent stint as the lead in The King’s Man, he has shown that he is inching to do more in the action movie genre.
So, going from Voldemort to Magneto would be quite an achievement for the actor and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He would able to physically transform into the role and absolutely nail it with his acting prowess.
9. John David Washington
If not Denzel Washington, his 38-year-old son could be a great choice for Magneto, in case Marvel wants to start young with the character. The actor has already proven his ability to command the screen and captivate audiences with his performances.
His role in Tenet allowed him to bag a couple of other Netflix movies, but he must be looking for another big break, especially after Amsterdam flopped in 2022. So, the opportunity he needs could certainly come with Marvel's metal manipulator.
His relative youth and contemporary appeal would inject a sense of modernity and relevance into the portrayal of the character.
10. Sam Heughan
While most fans put him on the list of potential James Bond castings, he would turn out to be an exceptional choice for Erik Lehnsherr as well. His version of the character would also be on the younger side, considering that he is only in his 40s at the moment.
He’d also look stunning in the Magneto helmet. Apart from his physicality, his charismatic appeal and dedicated fanbase, particularly due to his work on Outlander, would bring a strong following to the MCU and generate excitement among fans who admire his talent. So, he could become one of Marvel’s surprise picks for the metal manipulator.
Each of these actors would bring their own distinct qualities and talents to the character, offering exciting possibilities for the portrayal of Magneto on screen. Ultimately, the decision rests with the filmmakers and casting directors to select an actor who can best embody the complex and magnetic nature of the infamous mutant. The best casting would be the one who gives a captivating and memorable portrayal for audiences.
