The White Queen Arrives: Samara Weaving Cast as Emma Frost in MCU’s X-Men Reboot
Marvel Studios has finally found its first lead star for the long-awaited X-Men reboot!
Ready or Not star Samara Weaving is set to star in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men feature film as the powerful telepath Emma Frost (also known as the White Queen).
According to a report from Deadline, Ready or Not star Samara Weaving is set to star in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men feature film as the powerful telepath Emma Frost (also known as the White Queen). The project will be helmed by Thunderbolts* director Jake Schreier, with The Bear showrunner Joanna Calo and Emmy-winning Beef creator Lee Sung Jin penning the screenplay. While Marvel Studios has yet to make an official calendar announcement, current development timelines strongly indicate the project is eyeing a summer tentpole release on Marvel’s reserved May 2028 slot.
In Marvel Comics, Emma Frost possesses formidable telepathic abilities along with the power to transform her physical body into organic diamond. January Jones previously portrayed a version of the character in 2011's X-Men: First Class under 20th Century Fox. As casting accelerates, fans can expect more mutant reveals in the coming months. In fact, another core X-Men member, Jean Grey, recently made her debut in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, played by Sadie Sink. Furthermore, characters like Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel, played by Iman Vellani) and Namor (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, played by Tenoch Huerta Mejía) are already established as mutants within the MCU, though it remains unconfirmed if they will appear in the reboot.
Following Disney’s landmark acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios regained the screen rights to both the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Several legacy actors have since made high-profile returns:
Patrick Stewart returned as Professor X (Charles Xavier) in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Kelsey Grammer appeared as Beast (Hank McCoy) in the mid-credits scene of The Marvels.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman starred in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, marking Marvel's first mutant-led feature film (with Reynolds confirming a fourth Deadpool entry is in early prep).
Looking ahead to Avengers: Doomsday, several legacy X-Men stars are confirmed to reprise their roles:
Patrick Stewart as Professor X / Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen as Magneto / Erik Lehnsherr
Kelsey Grammer as Beast / Hank McCoy
James Marsden as Cyclops / Scott Summers
Rebecca Romijn as Mystique / Raven Darkhölme
Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler / Kurt Wagner
Channing Tatum as Gambit / Remy LeBeau
Beyond live-action, Marvel Animation’s critically acclaimed X-Men '97 series—which picked up a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Animated Series in its debut season—is currently airing its second season on Disney+.
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Photo: Searchlight Picture, Marvel
Source: Deadline