Dafne Keen has once again stepped into the shoes of Laura, also known as X-23, Wolverine’s female clone, in Deadpool & Wolverine. After her stunning debut in Logan (2017), fans were thrilled to see her return in this new film, where she portrays an older, more seasoned version of X-23.
Just like her first appearance, Keen’s performance has won over Marvel audiences, and many are now campaigning for her to have a bigger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Alongside big names like Channing Tatum, Wesley Snipes, and Jennifer Garner, Keen has found herself with a dedicated fanbase that is eager to see more of her.
For Keen, the idea of continuing as X-23 is an exciting prospect. In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, she made it clear that she’d love to commit to the role long-term, saying, “I would 100% do this for the rest of my life.”
In a follow-up conversation with ComicBook, Keen went even further, sharing how much the character means to her and her hopes for expanding X-23’s story in the MCU’s X-Men reboot:
“I would love to come back. I would pay them to come back. Playing Laura has been the biggest honor of my life,” Keen told ComicBook’s Phase Zero. “I feel like we’ve barely touched the surface with her. She’s such a complex and cool character, even from a fan’s perspective.”
Is X-23’s Future in the MCU?
There’s no shortage of excitement around the possibility of Dafne Keen continuing as X-23 in the MCU. Given that she’s now entering the next phase of her acting career, and with her recent role as Jedi padawan Jecki Lon in Star Wars: The Acolyte, Keen’s star power is only growing.
With Jecki’s journey in Star Wars cut short, Keen seems more than ready for a franchise role that could take her career to new heights. Having already succeeded in the challenging transition from child actor to adult star, why not keep building on that momentum?
Marvel Studios faces the difficult task of moving forward with its X-Men reboot, especially with the massive void left by Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Keen’s X-23 could step into that space, taking over the Wolverine mantle, which would align beautifully with the comics while delivering an emotionally powerful storyline on screen.
Another option could be to have Keen’s version of Wolverine exist alongside other characters, opening up possibilities for her to join teams like the Young Avengers, New Mutants, or even the more edgy X-Force. Either way, the future looks promising for Keen’s X-23.
