With Disney set to take control of 20th Century Fox next year, we still don't know what their plans are for the X-MEN franchise. Will they attempt to fold the existing films (and cast) into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Will they reboot the entire series? It's too soon to tell at this point, but Disney CEO Bob Iger has previously indicated that the X-Men (and Fantastic Four) would be falling under the supervision of Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. "I think it only makes sense. I want to be careful here because of what's been communicated to the Fox folks, but I think they know," Iger said. "It only makes sense for Marvel to be supervised by one entity. There shouldn't be two Marvels."
No matter what happens with the X-MEN franchise, I think it's safe to say that there are still a great many X-MEN characters who fans are eager to see on the big-screen, and Bishop is certainly one of them. To be fair, Bishop has already appeared in the X-MEN franchise as he was played by Omar Sy (THE INTOUCHABLES) in Bryan Singer's X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, but Sy didn't exactly have a lot to do in the film so a recast isn't out of the question, something the X-MEN franchise, with the exception of Wolverine (for now), has never been shy about.
Bishop was born in a future of the Marvel Universe in which the Sentinels, giant mutant-hunting robots, had taken control of North America. Professor Charles Xavier and most of the X-Men were killed and the remaining mutants were imprisoned in mutant concentration camps. It was in such a camp where Bishop was raised and branded with a M tattoo over his right eye for identification. Eventually, a rebellion overthrew the Sentinels and Bishop joined the XSE (Xavier Security Enforcers), but when a group of mutant criminals opened a portal to the time of the X-Men, Bishop had no choice but to follow them through. It was then that he encountered (and joined) the group he knew only as legend: The X-Men. Brash yet intensely loyal, Bishop is a skilled warrior, proficient in both hand-to-hand combat and firearms. His mutant ability also makes him quite formidable as he's able to absorb most types of energy and then project that energy from his body in the form of concussive blasts.
Several of the actors that I had considered for Bishop have already played memorable characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, such as Idris Elba (Heimdall) and Djimon Hounsou (Korath), but there is one other MCU actor who might just be able to sneak by in a new role. I've been a huge fan of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje since his days on HBO's Oz, and although he's already played Kurse in THOR: THE DARK WORLD, he was unrecognizable for much of the film so I feel that he'd be able to step into the role of Bishop without much problem. Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire) would be another great fit for the role, plus, he's already had experience working with Disney on SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (although his part wound up being recast.) For my final suggestion, I was considering going with someone like Chad Coleman (The Walking Dead), but I was watching THE THING the other night and I'm really into the idea of Keith David taking on Bishop. Sure, he may have a few more birthdays under his belt than most of the other actors one might consider for the role, but an older Bishop, world-weary from a life spent skipping through time, might be a interesting way to go.
Remember, you're free to suggest anyone in the comments, so let your inner casting director run wild!
Previously on Cast This, you were asked to fill the role of Dracula, one of cinema's most terrifying yet alluring villains. Several of you seemed pleased by my picks of Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) and Adam Driver (STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI), but you came through with plenty of great suggestions of your own, including Alexander Skarsgard (Big Little Lies), Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders), and Dan Stevens (APOSTLE).
