When the X-Men finally find their way into the MCU, one of the most crucial pieces of casting will be of the actor chosen to play Magneto. The Master of Magnetism is considered by many to be one of the most complicated and compelling characters in all of Marvel Comics, often fluctuating between heroism and villainy as he attempts to create a safe world for mutants. Just when and how mutants will debut in the MCU may be difficult to gauge at the moment, but Erik Lehnsherr will certainly be represented in some way, especially considering his massively influential role in the source material.
Although the mutants were conspicuous in their absence during Disney's recent Investors Day, Kevin Feige has promised that their arrival is imminent in the franchise's future phases, begging the question: "How?" Introducing the persecuted minority group of supers will certainly take some careful planning, especially since mutants have yet to appear (as far as we know) in the MCU's now-concluded Infinity Saga. Marvel Studios has a tradition of updating the stories surrounding their heroes, often altering their origins in order to bring them into the present day. Though this practice sometimes means significant deviation from the original stories, the franchise has been overwhelmingly successful in capturing the essences of their famous characters. It is very possible - and perhaps probable - that many of the MCU's X-Men and mutants will appear differently than previous depictions would suggest.
Magneto, a prime candidate for such a reinvention, has an origin from the comics which will present a bit of a dilemma for the filmmakers, one which would be hard to replicate given the MCU's timeline and continuity. As with Michael Fassbender's and Ian McKellen's versions of Magneto, Marvel Comics' Erik Lehnsherr is a survivor of the Holocaust, necessitating the casting of an elderly actor or somehow de-aging the character through some sort of super-science or magic. However, it may be possible to create a new version of Magneto with a different tragic backstory, one which would influence his actions and serve to both humanize him and motivate him on his crusade for the fair treatment of mutants. Creators could focus more on Erik's comics-accurate loss of his wife and daughter as his primary motivator, or else tie him to another in-universe event or organization which altered his life significantly - such as HYDRA's villainy, the fall of Sokovia, or the Stark family's war-profiteering. Casting may ultimately depend on which path Kevin Feige and company choose to take, but here's a list of some actors capable of capturing the essence of this all-important and nuanced character.
Giancarlo Esposito
Giancarlo Esposito is having quite a moment right now, considering his portrayal of the infamous Moff Gideon on Disney+'s The Mandalorian. On the show, the actor's skills are on full display with his sizzling performance as the mysterious Empire loyalist, able to inject the role with the necessary villainy and gravitas. Gideon's calculating and menacing nature is not unlike Esposito's other iconic role, Gus from the Breaking Bad series, who memorably serves as that series' big bad for two seasons. As if those two characters didn't already cement the performer as one of the industry's go-to antagonists, his work in The Boys is equally chilling and imposing.
Esposito is on the top of many fans' minds when considering who should don Magneto's characteristic helmet, and with his background, it is hard to argue that he would be a great choice. He would be a particularly good fit should the MCU tap into the Master of Magnetism's early appearances in Marvel's Silver Age of comics, which saw the character as a more adversarial figure. However, since Magneto is at his most compelling when he is forced to find common ground with the X-Men, Esposito's skill as an actor would serve him well should Disney's version call for a future redemptive arc.
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig, who is expected to end his tenure as James Bond ends in No Time to Die in 2021, is no stranger to being at the center of a blockbuster and would be a welcome presence in the MCU. Known for his stoic and grounded performances, Craig is one of the more obvious choices for Magneto - one very much in line with the character's depiction in Fox's X-Men: First Class trilogy (with Fassbender in the role). The action star has put his dramatic chops on display in films in like Defiance and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, preparing him well for some of Magneto's more intense moments.
Additionally, Craig is at just about the right age should it be revealed that the MCU's version of Magneto is Wanda and Quicksilver's father - as he was for decades in the comics, before a recent retcon which undid the family lineage. Although the Maximoff twins believe their parents dead, an X-Men film could show that he somehow survived. Because WandaVision continues to tease "House of M," a popular comic book arc in which an out-of-control Scarlet Witch rewrites the universe to one in which her father is all-powerful, a strong and authoritative presence like Craig's may be just what is called for.
Javier Bardem
Javier Bardem is another performer with a long list of villain credits. However, the Spanish actor also possesses a distinctive charm and likability factor which would certainly come in handy should the MCU explore Magneto's populist side. In the comics and other versions, Magneto is often presented as a fairly dynamic feature, able to lead groups of mutants, including the citizens of Genosha, the Brotherhood of Mutants, and the X-Men. In Jonathan Hickman's current X-Men line, the Master of Magnetism has a leadership role on the new mutant nation on Krakoa, frequently dealing with diplomatic issues. Bardem's confidence and worldliness make him the best fit should Kevin Feige and company tap into the X-Men's current comic book iteration, a move which would certainly bring a drastically different version of mutants ever before shown on screen.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Although many fans were disappointed by Game of Thrones' conclusion, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's work on the series was a consistent highlight. As Jaime Lannister, the British actor flexed his range, able to flit between harshness and sensitivity on a dime, at times considered one of the series' most hated characters and at others one of its most beloved. Above all, Jaime was a warrior, a quality he shares with the determined Magneto in every iteration, regardless of where he is situated on the hero-villain spectrum.
Since Coster-Waldau was able to humanize Jaime by showing the character's tender side, particularly in his protection of his children Tommen and Myrcella, those instincts would translate well to Magneto's defense of young mutants. Fans sometimes forget, but in the comics of the 1980s, Magneto spends several years as the headmaster of the Xavier Institute, becoming a regular character in The New Mutants after Professor X's sudden departure. At his core, Magneto fights for a world in which all mutant children are safe and cared for, so this seldom-explored history might help bring the MCU's iteration, strengthened by an actor like Coster-Waldau, into a new, more paternal light.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is no stranger to the superhero scene, having played Black Manta in Aquaman and Doctor Manhattan in HBO's critically-acclaimed Watchmen series. The two roles are strikingly different, speaking to Abdul-Mateen's incredible skill as an actor, but both characters tap into various facets of the Magneto. Black Manta displays a desire for justice after his father is killed, going to extremes and causing no shortage of collateral damage - a narrative feature of many Magneto-centric storylines. Like Doctor Manhattan, Magneto's immense power sometimes sets him apart from others, effectively detaching him from the world around him and causing more harm than good. If Abdul-Mateen were able to draw from those two performances, he could just pull together a version of the complicated figure that perfectly captures Magneto's essence.
Abdul-Mateen may be an atypical choice for Magneto, but his relatively young age would be crucial to keep the important character center stage for as many appearances as possible. It's hard to imagine an older actor signing one of Marvel's extensive multi-film contracts. Additionally, at 6'3", his physical presence is very much in line with Marvel Studio's previous casting of its heroes and villains. Further, if the MCU were forced to radically reinvent the character due to the logistical limitations of his comics backstory, allowing for a Black actor to take up the role would help to literalize the "mutant metaphor," which was intended as an allegory for Civil Rights from X-Men's very first issue in 1963. Stan Lee created Magneto as a Malcolm X stand-in and, therefore, casting a talented young Black actor like Abdul-Mateen would not only help diversify the cast but also serve to make the mutant population more reflective of the very group it was intended to represent.
In order to avoid the character's over-saturation after his decades-long stint in Fox's X-Men series, the MCU may wish to delay Magneto's appearance in the story they create. However, being that Magneto is such a potent source of conflict in the comics, as well as a fascinating foil to Professor X, it is unlikely that he will be off the table forever. Here's hoping that Kevin Feige and his talented team of writers do justice to this legendary Marvel Comics creation, bringing the actor on board who best serves the story they wish to tell.