Could Inde Navarrette’s ‘X-Men’ Reboot Rogue Absorb Carol Danvers’ Powers Like in the Comics?
Marvel’s mutant era is officially here, and fans are diving into comic book history to speculate on the direction of the rebooted team. With recent casting news taking over superhero social media, discussions have shifted from who is playing whom to what these characters might do when filming begins.
This speculation grew after Marvel Insights, a fan account on X, proposed a theory linking Rogue to Carol Danvers. The post highlighted Rogue’s unique ability to absorb another person’s powers and memories through physical contact, suggesting that during ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, Rogue could drain Carol Danvers and gain Captain Marvel-level powers.
The theory has solid comic book foundations. Rogue first appeared as a villain in ‘Avengers Annual #10’ back in 1981, created by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden. She permanently absorbed Carol Danvers’ powers and psyche before eventually joining the X-Men in 1983. This storyline left Carol Danvers without her abilities for years and transformed Rogue into one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants, making the idea of revisiting this dynamic in the film universe plausible for longtime fans.
The current buzz around this theory stems from the casting of Inde Navarrette as Rogue. Marvel confirmed at Disney’s D23 showcase that Navarrette, known for her role in the horror hit ‘Obsession’, will portray Rogue in the upcoming ‘X-Men’ reboot. This announcement came alongside other casting news, including Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm, and Adam Driver as the film’s villain.
The timeline is also significant. Directed by Jake Schreier, the reboot is set for a May 2028 release, marking the MCU’s first ‘X-Men’ entry following ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. This means any potential power absorption between Rogue and Carol Danvers would likely occur in the X-Men film rather than in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, although crossover speculation is rampant as Marvel intertwines its mutant storylines with the broader Saga.
Navarrette’s casting has sparked its own discussions beyond the powers theory. Some fans have speculated whether her recent rise in popularity from ‘Obsession’ influenced her casting, while others argue that strong performances in smaller projects naturally lead to bigger roles. Interestingly, Navarrette had previously expressed a desire to play Mystique rather than Rogue, leaving that character still available for future casting announcements.
Adding a nostalgic touch to the news, Lenore Zann, who has voiced Rogue in various animated X-Men projects over the last three decades, welcomed Navarrette to the role with a video message filmed in Dublin, delivered in Rogue’s signature Southern drawl. This gesture was widely shared as a passing-of-the-torch moment for a character who has primarily been portrayed on screen by Anna Paquin and Zann until now.
As for the Instagram detail mentioned in the viral post, it’s the kind of clue fans enjoy pursuing, though nothing official connects Navarrette’s social media activity to a specific plot direction. Marvel has not confirmed any storyline involving Rogue absorbing Carol Danvers’ powers, and until more details about Schreier’s film emerge, the theory remains fan speculation rooted in decades of comic book history rather than a confirmed plot point. With ‘X-Men’ still two years away, this is likely just the beginning of many theories surrounding Rogue’s live-action debut.