Drew Starkey Open to Joining the MCU as Cyclops After ‘Lucky’

Drew Starkey has spent the last seven years primarily recognized for his role as Rafe Cameron in all five seasons of Netflix’s ‘Outer Banks.’ With the final season premiering on August 20, the actor finds himself free from contractual obligations for the first time since joining the series.

This newfound freedom has led to a busy schedule. Starkey is currently promoting three different projects, including Apple TV’s ‘Lucky,’ where he portrays Cary, the mob-connected husband of Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as Adam Wingard’s upcoming A24 slasher-action film ‘Onslaught,’ set to release in early September.

Amid this momentum, a rumor briefly placed Starkey in the spotlight for superhero casting. In an interview with GQ, coinciding with speculation that he was in talks to play Cyclops in Marvel’s upcoming ‘X-Men’ film, Starkey expressed his openness to the idea, stating, “I’m super open to stuff, to MCU, DCU. I think it’d be cool.”

Ultimately, the role went to ‘Heartstopper’ star Kit Connor shortly after that conversation, closing the door on Starkey’s potential MCU debut for now. However, his comments indicate that he would welcome a future superhero role rather than shy away from it.

Starkey has described his approach post-‘Outer Banks’ as one that seeks out challenging roles, gravitating towards projects that feel unconventional or unexpected. This instinct influenced his preparation for ‘Onslaught,’ where he plays a government agent fueled by MDMA, a process that included reading texts by Aleister Crowley and volunteering to shave his eyebrows for the character’s look.

Wingard, who directed ‘Onslaught,’ praised Starkey’s instincts on set, noting that he consistently added an extra element to each scene that elevated the moment beyond expectations, something Wingard specifically seeks in actors. He predicted that Starkey is on the verge of becoming a significant leading man, highlighting a charisma that embodies the essence of a future movie star.

This trajectory has also opened doors to other notable projects, including ‘Deep Cuts,’ an A24 adaptation of Holly Brickley’s novel, where Starkey learned guitar, piano, and singing, and Jeff Nichols’ ‘King Snake’ alongside Margaret Qualley. When asked about rumors of reuniting with ‘Queer’ director Luca Guadagnino for an adaptation of ‘American Psycho,’ Starkey offered a coy “no comment,” while admitting he has read the script because Guadagnino is a friend.

Even as Starkey explores roles far removed from ‘Outer Banks,’ he remains connected to the character that brought him fame. He expressed pride in Rafe, describing him as someone deserving of love who did his best despite his flaws, while humorously noting that the character needs therapy.

‘Outer Banks’ co-creator Jonas Pate echoed this sentiment, crediting Starkey’s commitment to Rafe’s darker traits for allowing audiences to empathize with a character who might not deserve it. He predicted that once Starkey is finally cast as a hero rather than an antihero, people will realize they’ve only seen a fraction of his capabilities.

With the MCU opportunity closed for now but clearly not ruled out for Starkey, his willingness to consider a future superhero role, combined with an increasingly diverse array of genre-bending projects, suggests that his next chapter could unfold in numerous exciting directions.

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