Cody Rhodes’ New Instagram Story Just Reignited MCU X-Men Casting Rumors

Wrestling stars crossing over into Hollywood is nothing new, but few current WWE Superstars have generated as much movie-related buzz lately as Cody Rhodes. Between his upcoming film roles and his increasingly public Hollywood ambitions, fans have started paying close attention to every hint dropped on his social media.

That attention only intensified after Rhodes made a highly publicized visit to Marvel Studios’ Burbank offices last week, a moment that immediately set off fan speculation about a possible MCU role. With no official confirmation from either side, the internet was left to fill in the blanks with fan-casting theories ranging from X-Men villains to symbiote antiheroes.

Now, Rhodes has added fresh fuel to that speculation. According to MCU Film News, the WWE Champion used the ‘X-Men ’97’ theme in his latest Instagram story, a detail that comes shortly after his previously reported Marvel Studios visit.

That Marvel Studios appearance, shared to Rhodes’ Instagram Story on August 26, showed him inside the studio’s offices without any explanation of why he was there. Fans quickly speculated Rhodes could be eyeing a role in the studio’s upcoming live-action ‘X-Men‘ film, floating names like Bastion, William Stryker, Havok, and even Venom as potential parts he could take on.

Using the ‘X-Men ’97’ theme now only adds another layer to that theorizing, especially given Rhodes’ history with the franchise. During a past appearance on Logan Paul’s ‘Impaulsive’ podcast, Rhodes was asked which X-Men character he’d want to play, and he responded positively when the name Cable was suggested, a nod to his long-standing familiarity with the X-Men animated universe.

Rhodes’ Hollywood resume has been steadily growing regardless of any Marvel connection. He’s set to star as Guile in the upcoming video game adaptation ‘Street Fighter’ alongside Roman Reigns, and he previously appeared in the action-comedy ‘The Naked Gun’ as well as multiple episodes of The CW’s ‘Arrow.’ He’s also attached to the comedy-drama series ‘The Rest of Us,’ where he plays Elliot Parker.

None of this confirms an actual Marvel role is in the works, and it’s entirely possible the studio visit and the Instagram story are just further evidence of Rhodes’ genuine fandom rather than an industry tease. Still, the timing hasn’t stopped wrestling and Marvel fans alike from connecting the dots.

Marvel’s X-Men slate is already shaping up to be a major undertaking, with the live-action reboot not expected to premiere until 2028, well after both ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ hit theaters. That gives plenty of time for casting news to trickle out, whether or not Rhodes ends up being part of it.

For now, Rhodes seems content to let the speculation build without confirming or denying anything outright. Whether this is simply a wrestler enjoying his Hollywood connections or the early signs of an actual Marvel casting remains anyone’s guess.

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