Famke Janssen feels that she’s done playing Jean Grey for the X-Men films

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Before GAME OF THRONES star Sophie Turner stepped into the boots of one of Marvel's most powerful telepaths in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, the character of Jean Grey had been potrayed (for years) by actress Famke Janssen. Recently, while participating in a panel at Denver Comic Con, Janssen confessed that she believes her days of playing Jean Grey have come to an end.

While thinking back on her time as the hot-tempered but always kind-hearted Jean Grey, Famke turned to her fans and said, “That was so amazing. I never knew – I don’t think any of us had any understanding of how popular our first movie was going to be and that it was gonna live on for 15 plus years,” Janssen said. “And then I certainly didn’t realize – I mean I knew Jean Grey could turn into Dark Phoenix, obviously, and that Phoenix rises from the ashes, but the fact that as Jean Grey or the Phoenix they’ve killed me, I’ve come back, I’m like a cockroach. They can’t get rid of me.”

From there, Janssen went on to express her gratitude for the opportunity she had to work with so many of her talented co-stars. While waxing rhapsodic, she also revealed that she feels as if she's done reprising the role in whatever lies ahead for Fox's mutant-related saga. She shared this by saying, “It’s the gift that keeps on, kept on giving. I think we’re done, but it was really great while it lasted and it lasted for a long time. It's been nothing but a pleasure working not just as Jean Grey, which was such an honor because comics were so fantastic already, but then the entire cast who I got to play with, all my fellow actors, thespians who are so talented. It was just a wonderful experience. I’m very grateful.”

Ah, but don't shed your tears just yet. During that same panel, Famke also stated that she'd "do anything" to step into the role of Jean Grey at any point in the forseeable future. "Jean Grey is a part of me. I would defienitely come back to play her whenever they ask me."

Hmmm … I don't know. I think that with the right script and enough coin in the purse anything is possible. For one thing, time is a funny thing in comic books. Who's to say that, in the future, the X-MEN don't encounter another time-travel-related scenario? After all, anything goes when it comes to comic book movies; it's part of what makes them so much damn fun to experience.

But what do you think? Would you be game for Janssen making a return to the role in some capacity? What are your ideas to keep her in the loop? Let us know in the comments section below.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX will rise in theaters beginning on November 2nd, 2018.