There’s no official release date set for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men reboot, but the film is currently in early stages of development. Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier has been hired to helm the movie, hoping to inject fresh energy into one of Marvel’s most iconic superhero teams. Though fans are looking forward to the returns of Fox’s X-Men cast in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (and possibly Avengers: Secret Wars), they also can’t help but wonder who will play the new versions of the classic mutants. One popular choice for Cyclops has been Harris Dickinson, star of The King’s Man and Babygirl. He’s now addressed the speculation, and his response might surprise some people.
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During an appearance on the podcast Happy Sad Confused, Dickinson was asked about the X-Men rumors. “If I’m being totally honest, I don’t think I’ve seen anything in the last five to 10 years in that universe that has been exceptionally interesting character wise. The villains, on the other hand, maybe,” he said. “But, if I’m being totally honest, working with auteur filmmakers that have a very distinct thing to say intrigues me more with characters that are probably more closely related to the real world in some way.”
Could James Bond Be Harris Dickinson’s Future Instead of Marvel?
It’s somewhat surprising to see a rising star like Dickinson come out and clearly state he doesn’t have much interest in pursuing a superhero role. For many, landing a part like that (a recurring franchise gig they can lean on for years to come) is the ultimate dream, but each actor is different and has their own set of priorities as they figure out the next steps of their career. By now, it seems like just about everyone in Hollywood has done a Marvel movie, but there are still plenty of A-listers who have largely steered clear of comic book fare. Dickinson could be looking to join those ranks.
To be fair to Dickinson, even some Marvel fans would agree that the MCU hasn’t been in the best spot over the past handful of years. While there have been hits like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Deadpool & Wolverine, multiple Multiverse Saga projects have earned uneven reviews and disappointed at the box office. It’s a stark contrast from the heyday of the Infinity Saga, when every MCU movie was a guaranteed hit and could help launch its star into a different stratosphere. The franchise’s unevenness recently could partially explain why Dickinson is cautious about joining Marvel. The last thing he wants to do is slow down any momentum he’s established career wise by headlining a box office bomb.
Cyclops isn’t the only high-profile role Dickinson has been rumored for of late. He was also near the top of a reported wishlist of possible James Bond actors. Dickinson touched on James Bond 26 in his podcast interview, calling the character and his world “interesting.” With acclaimed helmsman Denis Villeneuve set to direct Bond 26, Dickinson would be paired up with an auteur if he agreed to be the next 007. But it remains to be seen if that will happen. Villeneuve won’t start the casting process until next year, and he’s reportedly targeting an unknown. Dickinson may not be a household name yet, but he’s been in enough notable projects that he may not meet the “fresh face” requirement. In addition to The King’s Man and Babygirl, Dickinson is going to play John Lennon in Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics.
It is worth mentioning that Dickinson didn’t completely shut the door on Marvel. He noted it depends on the role, and he seems fascinated by the prospect of playing a villain. There have been some great MCU antagonists over the years, giving actors an opportunity to craft well-rounded performances of captivating characters. Perhaps something like that might be more appealing to Dickinson, particularly if he didn’t have to sign a long, multi-picture contract. But he might decide that franchises just aren’t for him, and instead he bounces between auteurs for various films.
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