The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to introduce a host of mutants from the X-Men series into their ongoing blockbuster movie franchise. Fans are clamoring to see who is cast to portray many of the heroic and/or lovable X-Men, but there's not enough being said about the villainous characters.
Some would argue evil roles in the Marvel universe require better acting skills, and whether that's true or not, a good villain can make an okay movie good and a good movie great. From young emerging actors to older Hollywood stars, there are more than a handful of men who could possibly nail the role of Sabertooth in the MCU, Wolverine's arch nemesis and the muscle of the Brotherhood of Mutants.
8 Noah Centineo
Noah Centineo is hot on the heels of debuting as Atom Smasher in 2022's Black Adam film starring Dwyane Johnson in the titular role. Many times Centineo is cast as either comic relief or the romantic interest and he hasn't had a real opportunity to show his darker side.
Playing Sabertooth would allow him to step into unfamiliar territory and showcase he doesn't always have to be the heartthrob or funny guy on the big screen. The one pushback would be that at 6'1" he isn't exactly the looming presence, but that's never stopped an actor like Tom Cruise from portraying roles in which his presence and energy are felt in front of the camera.
7 Jacob Elordi
The 6'5" Australian Jacob Elordi is most known for his role as Nate Jacobs in HBO's award-winning Euphoria, starring Zendaya in the lead role. He does a good job in the show of presenting a character that is easily hateable and vile, but layers in emotional and psychological displays that showcase he's much more broken and vulnerable than he leads on.
If Marvel is looking to create a younger generational take on the X-Men, Elordi could provide the series with a younger version of Victor Creed that audiences see slowly morph into Sabertooth over the course of an entire character arc.
6 Rory McCann
With the final seasons of Game of Thrones leaving a sour taste in the fandom's mouths most have forgotten about the brilliant actors and performances that made the show a hit. Rory McCann brought The Hound to life as a morally grey hired gun who slowly found perspective and purpose in life.
At 6'6" he more than stands as a man more than capable of morphing into Sabertooth on screen. At 53 years old that may sound like he's aged out of the running, but Sabertooth isn't one noted for being the same age as his contemporaries in the world of X-Men comics and entertainment. Audiences also know that McCann is the king of dry sarcasm and dirty looks.
5 Charlie Hunnam
Here's the thing, Charlie Hunnam could very easily be in the running to take on the role of Wolverine, and many people would probably be into that casting. Very rarely though has Hunnam played a character where audiences are actively opposed to their success.
When it comes to leading a blockbuster action movie Hunnam's had that experience, and regardless if it was a box office success or not, actors like to challenge themselves and Sabertooth could be his next mountain to scale. What good is there in always being the good guy or the one audiences are rooting for?
4 Alexander Skarsgard
Alexander Skarsgard has always existed right outside of the MCU as the accomplished actor almost landed the role of Thor, going as far as to audition in the full costume which included Thor's hammer Mjolnir. He tends to take on roles where he plays men with chaotic and wild personality traits or tendencies, which feels like the perfect match for the MCU's version of Sabertooth.
Since Skarsgard can also take on the role of a leading man, he'll likely be up for several roles in the X-Men's introduction to the MCU, provided he's still interested. He could nail any one of them, but Sabertooth might be among the most interesting challenges he could take on at this point in his career.
3 Jason Mamoa
Warner Bros. recently announced that James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, Peacemaker) would be leading DC Studios, their new DC-focused film division, alongside producer Peter Safran. It's unclear what this means for Jason Mamoa's Aquaman portrayal following his upcoming sequel.
Fan casting hoisted Mamoa up for the obvious choice to play Kraven the Hunter, but with that role filled by Sony, it's unclear where and how he'll show up in the MCU. Sure, Mamoa rarely plays the villain, but he could bring his natural charisma and stoic presence to the role of Sabertooth and make it his own unique take. Everyone who has ever worked with Mamoa says he elevates those around him, and even if it's not as Sabertooth, he needs to be in the MCU sooner than later.
2 Ryan Corr
Be warned that this entry does contain spoilers for House of the Dragon. With House of the Dragon's first season coming to a close on HBO, there are a handful of actors now thrust into the spotlight in line for new leading roles thanks to their performance in the hit Game of Thrones spinoff.
He may not have been in the show for long, but Ryan Corr's performance as Harwin Strong was impactful and resonant. Corr played the character with a wry smile and an always-present strength that had him holding his own. Marvel isn't afraid to take lesser-known names and thrust them into key roles in the MCU and since fans won't be seeing Corr in House of the Dragon outside of maybe a random flashback of some sort, it's time to bring him to another hit series.
1 Ryan Hurst
Fans of Remember The Titans, The Walking Dead, or Sons Of Anarchy might recognize the name Ryan Hurst, but he isn't the well-known A-list actor people would thrust into a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's a large man who stands at 6'4" tall and has a naturally grizzled appearance that feels as though he could take on the role of a vicious mutated killer like Sabertooth.
Hurst also happens to stay rather fit, so the transition into the world of superhero movies wouldn't be too tough a task. He's a bit on the older side in terms of age, but a character like Sabertooth is one that feels perpetually older regardless of the era of the story he's present in.