Keke Palmer recently responded to rumors she's met with Marvel Studios about playing Rogue in the upcoming X-Men reboot set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Palmer, who last appeared on the big screen in 2022's Nope, discussed speculation she is in talks to portray the fan-favorite superhero during an interview with ComicBook.com. "That's confidential, sugar," she said, referencing Rogue's Southern accent in the comics. "No, I'm kidding. I don't know. I just know that the fans, the way that the fans have me booked, honey, online, I got to do a gig every week. So if we're adding Marvel to it, hey, let's do it. I'm ready for Rogue."
This isn't the first time Palmer has expressed interest in bringing the MCU incarnation of Rogue to life. The actor and singer responded positively to a fan on Twitter who suggested she was a good fit to play Rogue, quipping that her agent needed to land her an audition for the part. Marvel Studios is yet to publicly comment on whether Palmer is in the running for the Rogue role, which means reports of meetings between the two parties should be taken with a grain of salt for now.
Who Will Play the X-Men's Rogue in the MCU?
Should Palmer officially enter the running to play Rogue, she's likely to face stiff competition from many of today's other in-demand actors. Even performers previously associated with the MCU are apparently keen to read for the part, based on comments by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Adrienne Palicki. Palicki, who portrayed Bobbi Morse/Mockingbird on the ABC series, is open about her interest in suiting up as the X-Men's resident Southern belle, calling Rogue one of her all-time favorite characters.
To date, Oscar-winning actor Anna Paquin is the only actor to play Rogue in live-action as part of 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise. As those films aren't part of mainstream MCU canon, the consensus among fans is that Marvel Studios will replace Paquin for the upcoming reboot. This isn't necessarily guaranteed, though, as Paquin's X-Men co-star Patrick Stewart reprised the Charles Xavier role in the 2022 MCU blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Another X-franchise veteran, Hugh Jackman, is also gearing up to make his MCU debut, after confirming that he will return as Wolverine in 2024's Deadpool 3.
Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot does not yet have a release date.
Source: ComicBook.com