Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has revealed that Adam Driver has repeatedly turned down roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite persistent fan speculation linking the actor to the studio's upcoming X-Men reboot. Speaking to podcast host Joshua Horowitz, Feige said he has long wanted to work with Driver, joking that "it's a tradition to Zoom with him, and then he passes." The comments confirm long-running industry rumours while leaving the truth behind various casting leaks unresolved.

Driver was reportedly Marvel's first choice to play Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, though accounts differ on whether he declined early or in later negotiations; the part eventually went to Pedro Pascal. More recently, unverified leaks have linked Driver to multiple villain roles in the X-Men reboot, including Magneto, Mister Sinister and William Stryker, with sources repeatedly contradicting one another. Marvel Studios is expected to shed more light on its upcoming slate at its San Diego Comic-Con Hall H panel on Saturday 25 July.