Anna Paquin has expressed her willingness to return as Rogue, the iconic mutant character from Marvel Comics, in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. As one of the standout characters from the X-Men franchise, Rogue was a cherished figure in Marvel’s universe, thanks to her roles in both the comics and the animated series. Despite making her debut in 2000’s live-action X-Men film, Paquin’s portrayal suffered from a lack of comic accuracy and limited character development. However, the transition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) could provide an opportunity for her to redeem this character.
Having first stepped into the role in the original X-Men (2000), Paquin reprised her role in the sequels X2: X-Men United (2003) and X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). Although Paquin returned in the Rogue Cut of X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), her version of Rogue never truly reflected the beloved character from the comics. Now, with the MCU’s open narrative and creative freedom, there is significant hope for a more faithful representation.
Anna Paquin’s Willingness to Reprise Rogue
Paquin’s Last Appearance as Rogue
In an interview, Paquin lamented the fact that she “never got to fly”as Rogue, referencing a pivotal storyline from the comics in which Rogue absorbs the powers of Carol Danvers while she was still Ms. Marvel. This ability granted her superhuman strength, agility, and the power of flight—elements not yet seen in Paquin’s portrayals. The potential for her to take flight in a future project, such as Avengers: Doomsday, brings exciting possibilities for a more comic-accurate Rogue.
Rogue’s Return in Avengers: Doomsday
Reuniting with X-Men Cast in Avengers: Doomsday
Rogue’s inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday makes sense, especially if the film revisits iconic characters from the original X-Men trilogy. The narrative could bring together Paquin alongside her previous castmates to face new threats, potentially re-establishing the chemistry that audiences loved. Notably, Rogue’s abilities could play a key part in saving Earth-10005, connecting her narrative with the previous story arcs.
The Need for Comic-Accurate Powers
Redemption After 26 Years
Should Anna Paquin return to the role in Avengers: Doomsday, it would mark 26 years since her initial portrayal as Rogue. Shockingly, she has yet to showcase her powers as depicted in the comics. Consequently, her potential revival could be accompanied by the much-desired comic-accurate abilities, similar to the fresh iterations seen in recent MCU releases where characters are reimagined with fidelity to their source material. Examples include Professor X’s iconic yellow wheelchair and the revitalized design of Beast.
Connecting Rogue to The Marvels Mystery
A New Captain Marvel and Rogue’s Powers
The conclusion of The Marvels introduced an intriguing scenario linked to Paquin’s potential return. Monica Rambeau, attempting to mend a tear in the reality fabric, found herself trapped in an alternate universe where a variant X-Men team exists. Significantly, Lashana Lynch’s portrayal of Binary from the post-credits scene hints at Rogue’s comic-accurate powers, which could align beautifully with Paquin’s reintroduction to the MCU.
The existence of Binary in this alternate dimension suggests the possibility of Rogue acquiring authentic comic-based abilities after absorbing powers from Captain Marvel. This exciting twist could lead to an emotionally charged moment in Avengers: Doomsday, integrating Rogue into a rich narrative tapestry while answering lingering questions from Phase 5.