Who should play the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Alden Ehrenreich as Scott Summers/Cyclops

As the leader of the X-Men during field missions, Scott Summers is frequently the strait-laced hero. He tends to come off as a rigid killjoy, the no-nonsense captain with strict orders and goody-two-shoes intent. However, he’s a necessary part of the team. Functioning as their rock, he keeps them on track and ensures that they get the job done.

As such, we need someone reminiscent of those classic movie heroes, the guys who led multimillion-dollar blockbusters through sheer screen presence. Why not go for the man who took over for Harrison Ford, one of the most iconic leading men in Hollywood history?

Taking the titular role in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Ehrenreich embodies that leader quality and sense of star power. He faintly echoes those traits that Ford had without devolving into a straight imitation, which is probably for the best.

While he can carry a film well enough, Ford’s not exactly the most versatile or charismatic guy around. He mostly plays a variation of the same character (with some exceptions).

Thankfully, Ehrenreich dodges this bullet. Never once does he become wooden or stale. By dialing up the boldness, he infuses plenty of personality into this storied character and elevates the film above the irredeemable cash grab that many expected it to be.

Some fans complained that the script didn’t make Solo roguish enough and that Ehrenreich was mostly stuck playing a standard good guy. Even if you agree with this assessment, the fact that he does that without boring us should tell you something. It tells me that he’d be an ideal candidate to lead the X-Men.