Honestly, Cyclops is just one of those superheroes who never got the chance to really shine in the cinema. James Marsden and Tye Sheridan have each portrayed him nobly, but the way Scott Summers’ character has been going, it’s like he’s been overshadowed by the character of Wolverine and suffered from bad scriptwriting. Therefore, for the past decades, Cyclops has been relegated as the “underrated leader” of the X-Men.
However, with the upcoming Marvel’s reboot of the X-Men saga and X-Men 97 conveying to the entire world that Cyclops is, in fact, incredible, fans can’t stop theorizing possible castings. Of the various celebrities that got mentioned, there are the well-known actors with a large number of credits and the new actors who have yet to make a mark. So, by the way, here are 10 actors, one by one, who could be the ones to bring the easiness back to Scott summarizing and to assign him the attention that he deserves, finally.
10. Jack Champion – The Young Blood
Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water, Scream VI) has been linked with the character of Cyclops. Upon being questioned regarding the rumor, he admitted that he was not aware of the news but would also love to portray the character. I believe that in terms of age, he is just perfect: 19 and with just the right amount of youthful energy and eagerness that Marvel might like for a new beginning with mutants. No details about the project have been revealed yet, but the possibility is definitely there.
9. Jensen Ackles – The Veteran Fan Favorite
Jensen Ackles, for years, has been an actor that fans were eager to see in the role, as he is always at the top of the list of fan-casting suggestions. Apart from his appearance in the TV series Supernatural, he showed his side of charisma and temper in the series The Boys as Soldier Boy. Moreover, he was once only a joke away from actually being Cyclops when he held the optic blast at a Comic-Con event, and everyone could see at once that it was made for him. It may be that Marvel wants a younger Scott so that age would be a disqualifying factor, but if what they want is an immediate commanding leader, then it is certainly Jensen Ackles who would accomplish that task with ease.
8. Brenton Thwaites – The Natural Leader
Brenton Thwaites as Nightwing in Titans already has a good knowledge of what is expected from a superhero to lead a team. This experience can be easily conveyed to Scott Summers, who quite often is the one whom the X-Men have to listen to amidst the confusion. Thwaites’ calm demeanor and “we’re all in it together” spirit make him a good choice for where Marvel is going with the character.
7. Robbie Amell – The Action-Ready Pick
Robbie Amell is no stranger to superhero films and can be seen as Firestorm in the Arrowverse or in the Code 8 franchise. He is a great example of someone who can combine the action part with the charm to the full extent; he did it in Upload, where the lighter emotional aspects of the character were dealt with. Hence, we might see Amell being the actor who is able to show the tough and the soft side of Cyclops, and, as a result, those characteristics will become the main points of the persona of character.
6. Dylan O’Brien – The Fan-Favorite Leader
Throughout the Maze Runner series and even in numerous online fan-casting threads, Dylan O Brien has always been a popular pick for superhero parts. Besides, he has shown on multiple occasions that he can lead a cast through mayhem and, at the same time, provide emotional complexity. That combination of willpower and fragility might finally get to break the “serious guy in charge” mold for Cyclops.
5. Sam Claflin – The Balanced Choice
Firstly, the actor Sam Claflin gave us examples of the Artist range through his parts in The Hunger Games and Enola Holmes – from strict to loose and fun. That’s exactly what they want from the character of Cyclops. On the one hand, he will be the guy telling you what to do in the middle of a fight, but on the other hand, he can throw a ball back at the mansion and have some fun. Claflin can make the new Scott Summers meet that level of leadership and make us feel the guy is like a brother.
4. Jake Lacy – The Versatile Performer
By way of acting in The Office (comedy) and The White Lotus, and A Friend of the Family (dark and complex), Jake Lacy displays the vastness of his talent. Cyclops is no longer an uptight team captain – he is a character who has to juggle between the call of duty, vulnerability, and his personal shortcomings. Lacy can give the character of Marvel’s Scott Summers the complexity he lacks in films.
3. Nick Robinson – The Relatable Anchor
Nick Robinson is no stranger to the big screen (Jurassic World), and he has also gained the trust of the audience with his emotional acting (Love, Simon, Maid). Being 29 years old, he would be just the right age to stay for the next several years in the MCU. Robinson can turn Cyclops not only into an awe-inspiring figure but also into a vulnerable one, the type of leader who feels human even when he is issuing commands in a fight.
2. Glen Powell – The Internet’s Top Pick
You can already understand why Glen Powell is such a popular choice if you have seen Top Gun: Maverick. As Hangman, he was one of the coolest yet most likable characters, and that is exactly what he brought to the table. Since then, fans have been consistently calling for him to step into the MCU after the X-Men 97 revival began cycling through the various Cyclops incarnations. Powell has the charm to get the old school style of Cyclops back, and that in itself makes him almost the perfect choice.
1. Henry Cavill – The Boldest Option
Perhaps it seems improbable, but just listen to my reason: the eye patch-wearing leader is far better off being the man of steel’s next-door neighbor rather than the one with the sharp claws. Fans have speculated about where in the MCU he is most likely to fit following his cameo as a Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine. While some point out that he is more of a “Superman type” than a Wolverine kind of guy, his savoir-faire as a leader, his magnetism on the camera, and his ability to be vulnerable make him a very attractive prospect for Scott Summers. Hand in hand with Henry Cavill, the A-list leader whom we have always looked for in Cyclops, could comfortably become a reality
For way too long, Cyclops has been a character who gets very little screen time, and the reboot in the MCU is Marvel’s opportunity to right that wrong. It is a choice that will ultimately depend on whether they decide to go with a star on the rise, a fan-favorite, or a big-shot from Hollywood; a perfect casting will be the key that opens up Scott Summers’ way out of the shadow of Wolverine and into the spotlight where he belongs.