Anirudh Pisharody, an actor recognized for his roles in "9-1-1" and "Never Have I Ever," has publicly stated his eagerness to portray Nightcrawler in Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men film. Pisharody's interest gained traction after a fan tweeted a comparison of the actor to comic book depictions of the character, along with the comment, "Anirudh would devour as Nightcrawler."
Pisharody quote-tweeted the fan's post, expressing his strong willingness for the role by stating, "So, so down" and tagging Marvel Studios. This sentiment has been met with widespread support from fans across social media platforms, many of whom are tagging Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to voice their approval.
While specific casting details for Marvel's X-Men reboot are still emerging, the film is expected to introduce a new iteration of the popular mutant team. Previous reports have indicated that Inde Navarrette is set to play Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister. The role of Nightcrawler, previously portrayed by Alan Cumming in earlier X-Men films, is among the notable mutants yet to be officially cast for the reboot.
Similar fan-driven casting discussions have surfaced for other roles. Agnez Mo, star of "Reacher," has also responded to fan suggestions that she portray Psylocke, posting on social media, "Thanks! I’m just gonna put it out to the universe… Psylocke." Other confirmed cast members include Samara Weaving as Emma Frost and Kit Connor as Cyclops.
With "Avengers: Doomsday" on the horizon, further announcements regarding the new X-Men lineup are anticipated in the coming months.