Although Anna Paquin is a talented actress who made the most of the material she was given, many longtime X-Men fans were disappointed with her portrayal of Rogue in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men films.
The problem wasn’t necessarily Paquin’s performance, but how far her character strayed from the Rogue fans knew and loved. In the comics and beloved ’90s animated series, Rogue was a Southern-accented powerhouse capable of flight and superhuman strength after permanently absorbing the powers of Carol Danvers. In the live-action films, however, she was largely portrayed as a vulnerable young mutant struggling to control her abilities rather than the confident, hard-hitting superhero fans had come to expect.
That could all change now that the X-Men are being integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While Paquin has yet to be confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, there’s a slight chance she could still appear alongside several familiar faces from the Fox-era films who have been, including Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and James Marsden’s Cyclops, alongside Channing Tatum’s Gambit from Deadpool & Wolverine.
While Paquin’s potential swan song as Rogue could be more of a return to form for the character as she appeared in the contemporary comics and animated series, Marvel Studios has officially announced a new actress who will bring Rogue to life when the X-Men fully join the MCU: Inde Navarrette, who recently delivered a breakout performance as Nikki in the hit horror film Obsession.
Navarrette will portray the Southern belle in director Jake Schreier’s (Thunderbolts*) upcoming X-Men reboot, and judging by her comments, she’s taking the responsibility of playing one of Marvel’s most beloved mutants very seriously.
Hopefully, she’ll bring some of the same emotional intensity and passion that made her performance in Obsession so memorable to Rogue. Although, given what Nikki gets up to in that film, perhaps just a fraction of that intensity would be best.
“I’m doing everything humanly possible because I love that character. I’ve studied that character,” Navarrette told The Los Angeles Times.
For longtime X-Men fans who grew up watching Rogue trade blows with Sentinels and wisecracks with Gambit, the hope is that Navarrette’s portrayal will finally capture the Southern charm, sass and superhuman strength that made the character such a fan favorite in the first place. And judging by her enthusiasm for the role, it certainly sounds like she’s determined to do just that.
Do you think new X-Men Rogue actress Inde Navarrette was a solid choice for the role? Will Inde nail the Southern accent, including the animated series’ favorite term of endearment, “sugah?” Let us know in the comments.
