Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feigehas stated plenty of times since Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, now 20th Century Studios, that theX-Men will be making their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universesoon. How soon, however, remains debatable, but there’s a good chance that they’ll officially be entering the Marvel Studios universe post-Avengers: Secret Wars, which means there’s a lot of time to decide who exactly is going to play these ever-important characters.
Of them all, there aren’t many characters in the X-Men with the amount of significance that Erik Lehnsherr, AKA Magneto, holds. Not only is he their best villain, but he’s one of the greatest and most compelling in the entire Marvel Comics catalog. But who could ever follow up the likes ofMichael Fassbenderand the legendarySirIan McKellen? There are options for the big bad, but it won’t be an easy cast. Still,these actors would be perfect to play Magneto in the MCUand would have no trouble embodying the character’s essence.
10Sir Ian McKellen
Known for: ‘X-Men’ (2000)
To get the obvious option out of the way, maybe there’s a world where no one actually replaces Sir Ian McKellen. With the prominence of the multiverse at the moment and the promise that the characters of the MCU will cross over with those ofthe original X-Men trilogy,there’s a chance that some of the original cast may stick aroundto reprise their roles.
While two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender did a phenomenal job in the prequelX-Menfilms, there’s no question thatSir Ian McKellen is the best and was perfect for the role. If Marvel Studios is planning to potentially bring him into the fold withAvengers: Secret Wars, who’s to say that he can’t stick around with the new X-Men?
9Daniel Day-Lewis
In a world where three-time Oscar winnerDaniel Day-Lewisreturned to actingthanks to the seemingly endless money from Disney, he would be an absolutely perfect casting for the role of Magneto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Being of Jewish descent, he can bring a great representation of that aspect of the character–a very important one.
Although he hasn’t worked since 2017’sPhantom Thread, there’s always the chance he returns. Even if he doesn’t come back for the Erik Lehnsherr role, it’s nice to imagine an alternate reality where he steps into the purple boots to become this metal-wielding Marvel villain to face off against the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men.
Phantom Thread
8Jeremy Irons
Known for: ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)
Yes,the former Alfred (Jeremy Irons)as Magneto may sound odd at first. However, Irons is much more than his role in those mediocre movies and would make for a great casting choice for Erik Lehnsherr. Irons has a lot of experience in a superhero blockbuster franchise, and his portrayal of Batman’s (Ben Affleck) father figure would serve him very well in his adaptation of Magneto.
Moreover, Jeremy Irons is an Oscar-winning actor with plenty of experience playing complex villains withthe gravitas and complexity neededfor a character like this X-Men villain. Magneto also needs to have some grit and presence, which Irons has to spare. Movies likeDead RingersandReversal of Fortuneshow how imposing and intimidating he can be without even raising his voice, while recent roles like HBO’sWatchmenshowcase his flair and showmanship.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
7Claes Bang
Known for: ‘The Northman’ (2022)
Coming from projects likeThe NorthmanandDracula,Claes Bangis no stranger to playing roles like the magnetic-powered enemy. He’s got a lot of experience playing a villain-like role when he stepped into the cloak as none other than Dracula in the eponymous mini-series. His presence as the blood-sucking character plays well for Magneto when he’s getting serious and taking down people who oppose him.
Playing the iconic Fjölnir the Brotherless inthe Viking epic,The Northman, allowed him to show offthe gravitas Bang can hold through his sheer appearance and body acting, not to mention the vocal performance he gives. If he were to mix his performance here and the one he gave out inDracula, Claes Bang finds himself being a top choice for the iconic X-Men foe.
The Northman
6Dustin Hoffman
Known for: ‘Megalopolis’ (2024)
Most recently starring inMegalopolis,Dustin Hoffmanis also incredibly well-known for his multiple movies across six decades. His portrayal of the older Kung Fu master in theKung Fu Pandaseries showcases a great example of why he would be great for the role of Magneto. Shifu is a veteran warrior, and that spirit could easily be transferred to the character from theX-Menfranchise.
The two-time Oscar winner is also an astoundingly acclaimed actor, meaning he has more than enough talent to absolutely kill this role. With multiple accolades across his long-running career,Hoffman’s performing range is quite vast. The actor is also in the perfect age range to bring the character’s backstory to life, rather than potentially having to change it to fit the timeline of a younger actor’s age better.
Megalopolis
5Anton Lesser
Known for: ‘Game of Thrones’ (2011)
Anton Lessernot only finds himself being the perfect age to play Magneto, (given the character’s origins) but he also has the look and can play an experienced man who has clearly been through a lot. It’s no secret that there aren’t many characters who have been through as much as Erik Lehnsherr has. Not to mention, his role as one ofthe most underrated characters inGame of Thrones, the scheming Qyburn, gives him another asset that makes him great for this role.
Magneto is a man of many secrets and plans, and Qyburn is a great example of these things within theGame of Thronesworld. Known for human experimentation, he was thrown out of his role in the Citadel and became a member of Cersei Lannister’s (Lena Headey) Small Council. His time here depictsLesser’s ability to play a role that can be secretive and conniving.
Game Of Thrones
4Viggo Mortensen
Known for: ‘The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King’ (2003)
It’s hard to believe that one of the greatest heroes inThe Lord of the Ringsfranchise could play one of the greatest Marvel villains there is, but, surprisingly, it actually adds to his ability to play a character like Magneto.Aragorn is the rightful king of Gondor, and his nobility is legendary. The wayViggo Mortensencarries himself in the role fits very well into the iconic characterization of Magneto.
At the end of the day, Magneto is the hero of his story, and many would agree that, for the most part, he’s right in a lot of ways. His motives are compelling and understandable, anda good Magneto actor should, arguably, play him like a heroin his unique sort of twisted way. Viggo Mortensen can bring everything needed to play this legendary character.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
3Michael Shannon
Known for: ‘Knives Out’ (2019)
Michael Shannonhas played many antagonistic characters, both in and out of superhero franchises. Most known within the superhero genre as General Zod inMan of Steel, Shannon knows exactlyhow to bring a villainous guy to parallel and provide conflict for the protagonist. But he doesn’t just play villains in a physical sense; Shannon can also play an emotional and mental villain, as seen inThe Shape of Water.
If Marvel Studios wanted to bring a younger version of Magneto in, likeMichael Fassbenderin theX-Menprequel films, Shannon would be a great fit. He’s a wonderful actor who has been passed around the superhero film fan casting space for quite some time, meaning audiences would certainly love to see him appear at some point.
Knives Out
2Harvey Keitel
Known for: ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (1992)
The concept of having the man who played Mr. White inReservoir Dogsbring Magneto to life is amazing.Harvey Keitelhas been in the acting industry, perfecting his craft since 1966. His long, nearly 60-year tenure in the film space means there’s no chance that he doesn’t have the talent and skill to play Erik Lehnsherr.
While some may think that his age, being 85 years old, is a detriment to his chances of playing the character, some truly want an older Magneto. The character has seen a lot in his life, and an older actor with the prowess that Keitel has can bring that feeling and then some, for sure. If Marvel Studios wantsan older, gruff, and more weary Magneto, they should look no further than Harvey Keitel.
Reservoir Dogs
1Jason Isaacs
Known for: ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ (2002)
If one has been anywhere in the online space where discussions of potential Magneto castings take place, one would know that the top pick among the masses has always beenJason Isaacs. He’s seemingly perfect for the role, for the most part.He has the looks, the voice, the presence, and the incredible skillto pull off a role like Erik Lehnsherr.
Isaacs also has an incredible resumeof projects and characters. Dipping into DC,Harry Potter,Star Wars, and even Marvel’s video games, Isaacs is no stranger to franchises. There’s a reason he’s so commonly picked as a potential casting, and the proof is in the pudding. Isaacs, much like many of the others on this list, is Jewish, which pays incredible respect to Magneto’s origins. His wide variety of project appearances means he has experience playing a plethora of types of roles, meaning he has the versatility needed for this Marvel villain.
