The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to enter Phase 5 following the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Fans are eagerly awaiting the introduction of X-Men and mutants into the MCU following Disney's acquisition of Fox and its properties.
At this point, it's unclear how and when Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios will do so, but until then fans are left wondering who will play the key mutants in this next step in Marvel's cinematic journey. Mystique is a key figure in Magento's Brotherhood of Mutants, so finding the right actor to take on the role will define what Mystique's role will be in the MCU in the years to come.
8 Chloe Grace Moretz
This pairing feels a bit too on the nose considering Chloe Grace Moretz recently met with Marvel over a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She expressed publicly a desire to take on the role of a supervillain, and though Mystique isn't usually labeled as such, it's a role that would give the actor enough morally gray area to really attack the role.
It feels as though she's at a point in her career where she wants to test her range and show people she can be the bad guy. Marvel might want her in a more significant role, but who's to say that Mystique won't be a prominent figure in the introduction of mutants into the MCU in the coming years?
7 Sasha Calle
Sasha Calle is set to appear as Supergirl in 2023's The Flash from Warner Bros., but with the DC comic book movie universe in limbo, it's unclear where her future stands with the brand. It's been announced that she'll have her own Supergirl movie, though it's unclear if that'll come to fruition considering Warner Bros. recently canned an already filmed and completed Batgirl movie. She has the spunk and mysteriously charismatic screen presence a younger version of Mystique would likely need if/when the character appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
6 Kristen Stewart
Sure, Kristen Stewart built a reputation for awkward dry acting due to her performance in the Twilight series, but she's grown into a much more accomplished actor over the years. Her co-star in those movies, Robert Pattinson, recently displayed how good of a choice it was to have him play Batman in The Batman, and now Stewart can do the same in her own way.
Mystique isn't always purely evil, but she tends to have an alluring danger to her that Stewart could capture. It's unclear how old Marvel's version of the X-Men will be when they're introduced, but Stewart is versatile enough to serve as either a mentor or mentee to other mutants serving under Magneto.
5 Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie is and forever will be the modern big-screen Harley Quinn. That's kind of settled at this point and it'll be tough to see that character recast whenever Warner Bros. decides to reboot their DC movie universe. There's no written law that prominent DC movie stars can't appear in Marvel properties and it's about time Robbie makes her way over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The interesting thing is that Mystique is much more reserved and private when compared to the bombastic personality that is Harley Quinn. Robbie could likely be cast as almost any character not yet introduced in the MCU. She could definitely play Emma Frost or Susan Storm, but that doesn't mean the shapeshifting member of the Brother of Mutants is also not a possibility.
4 Nathalie Emmanuel
Most known for her role as Missandei in Game of Thrones, Nathalie Emmanuel has also managed to land notable roles in both the Maze Runner and The Fast & The Furious movie series. The beauty of a character like Mystique is that because she is a shapeshifter and her origin is unknown the character can be played by anyone.
Emmanuel is great at presenting her characters as trustful and loyal allies to the cause she sees fit. That doesn't mean she can't provide a bit of anger and resistance, but it's this playful balance she's capable of that could really elevate Mystique into something more than the blue lady who can shapeshift.
3 Aubrey Plaza
Aubrie Plaza is a name often associated with comedies, but over the years Plaza has done a good job at becoming much more versatile and can deliver in a variety of genres. That being said, it could be refreshing to have a slightly more jovial take on Mystique that slowly turns serious as a major part of the character's story arc.
The last two takes on the character by Jennifer Lawrence and Rebecca Romijn felt super serious, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe tends to put its own spin on known quantities. That's not to say Plaza couldn't nail the more serious tone, but it's those moments where it's unclear if she is messing with someone or being dead serious that only she can deliver.
2 Ana De Armas
So far through Ana De Armas' career, there are two clear things about her in regard to movie-goers. The first is that she tends to work best in ensembles filled with other characters, and the second is that people generally just like watching her on screen. A role like Mystique, that's almost always a part of a mutant ensemble cast feels like the best place for her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
She's such a popular actor that it's only a matter of when, not if, she ends up joining the MCU. De Armas taking on the role of a shapeshifter could provide her with an outlet to show how dynamic she can be when playing a character dealing with identity issues.
1 Riley Keough
Movie fanatics and film buffs are very familiar with Riley Keough, but in terms of the general audience, she's an actor many more people need to know about. One of her more notable roles is in The Lodge where she plays a woman who's haunted by her past.
It's a horror thriller that Keough carries with her dazzling nuanced approach as a woman simply looking to move on but ultimately succumbs to the darkest parts of her mind. Keough carries both the presence and enigmatic presence that could add an additional layer of depth to a character like Mystique which X-Men fans have seen numerous times on the big screen.