Inde Navarrette is preparing to step into the X-Men universe, and apparently Rogue is finally giving her the motivation to work out.
The 25-year-old actress has been cast as Rogue in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men movie and says she is especially excited about the physical side of joining the superhero franchise.
“I’ve always wanted to take part in that sort of a thing,” Navarrette told Variety. “I think it’s also a really good excuse to get in the gym! I’m the laziest person, and I am very excited to get up and moving with my body.”
Navarrette, who broke out this summer in the horror hit Obsession, said joining the X-Men is particularly meaningful because she grew up a fan of the films. “I am just so excited to be a part of that world, and it’s an honor to play Rogue,” she said. “I’m a really big fan.”
Anna Paquin previously played the role in 20th Century Fox’s X-Men movies, beginning with the original 2000 film. Navarrette said Paquin’s version of Rogue helped shape her own early connection to the franchise.
“I really fell in love with the X-Men movies in the first place,” she said, adding that she believes Paquin “did such a good job” and that she feels honored to help carry the character into a new era.
Navarrette has also made it clear that she does not plan to simply imitate what came before. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, she described the role as a combination of honoring the character’s history, responding to the filmmakers’ vision, and bringing something personal to the performance.
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“Paying homage, paying respect to the incredible writers that are a part of Marvel, with Jake Schreier directing, taking what they want to do, adding my own sauce, and then going from there,” she said.
The new X-Men ensemble is also expected to include Kit Connor as Cyclops and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, along with Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Christopher Abbott as Professor Xavier, Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister and Maya Boyd as Storm.
For Navarrette, the opportunity comes with all the expected excitement of joining one of Marvel’s biggest properties, along with something considerably more practical: a very expensive reason to stop skipping leg day.
