Marvel casts major star in "unexpected" MCU role

This is one of those announcements you didn't know you needed but now that it's happened, you can't see it any other way.

Giancarlo Esposito is a phenomenal actor who has been entertaining audiences of film and TV for decades. He is largely recognized as Gus Fring, the drug kingpin from Breaking Bad and recently appeared as the villainous Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian. Now, it seems that he is the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe family in an unknown role.

When the speculation around the Better Call Saul actor's involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, fans imagined him as Professor Charles Xavier. With X-Men's resurgence (and inevitable debut in the MCU), it makes sense that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige would be searching for an actor to play the mutant leader. However, it seems that won't be the case because, as reported by Collider, the actor spoke at Thunder Stage at CCXP and confirmed that he had been cast in the MCU, but not in the role you might think.

He revealed that he had been cast in a different role from the ones that fans are expecting, ruling out the telepathic titan as an option, adding that it's coming "sooner rather than later" and that it will be "better than you can imagine".

Giancarlo Esposito's MCU role may be right under everyone's nose

Since Professor X has been eliminated as an option, fans have turned to the likes of Magneto or Mr. Sinister as potential roles for the award-winning actor but the MCU has a more pressing need. Marvel parted ways with actor Jonathan Majors in December, with rumors that the studio is looking to recast Kang the Conequeror going forward. Yes, rumor has it that Kang needs a new face and with Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (which may or may not have been retitled Avengers 5) set to premiere on May 1 2026, Marvel Studios would likely prefer to finalize the castings for who will be playing who. So, could Giancarlo Esposito actually be taking over the role of Kang?

It may be two years away but this is the MCU we're talking about, so if they are sticking with Kang, they may want him to make more appearances before the big superhero roundup. It wouldn't be ideal to see Esposito as The Conqueror for the first time in the Avengers film. Before an apex movie, you need the audience to understand the weight of who this actor is in this role.

Majors' portrayal of Kang showcased his ability to switch his demeanor from calm to menacing in a split second with a subtle change in his facial expression. It gave the character a unique and powerful presence, and it's a skill Giancarlo Esposito is a master of.

Esposito has a special skillset when he's called upon to play villains. His chilling performance as Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian is proof of that. Marvel has an endless list of characters, so until we get confirmation, it's all speculation as to who he could be playing in the MCU but it would be a perfect casting to see him as Kang. Giancarlo Esposito is a top-tier actor and will certainly make fans believe his feud with The Avengers is as personal as the one between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

Would you like to see him play Kang the Conqueror? Were you hoping for him to be Professor X? Let us know who you'd like to see him play!