‘Obsession’ Stars Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette Celebrate Their X-Men Connections

Few films this year have struck a nerve quite like ‘Obsession’. Written and directed by Curry Barker, the horror hit follows Bear, played by Michael Johnston, a hopeless romantic who uses a mysterious “One Wish Willow” to make his best friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, love him more than anyone in the world. Made on a $750,000 budget, it has gone on to earn more than $520 million worldwide.

The film turned both of its leads into breakout names. Johnston, a ‘Teen Wolf’ alum, earned praise for a layered performance full of yearning and quiet desperation, while Navarrette’s unsettling turn as Nikki even inspired a fan-driven Oscar campaign.

Now the 2 stars have opened up about another thing they have in common: the X-Men. In a new interview with Nexus Point News, the duo shared a playful high-five when asked about their involvement in the mutant universe.

“I mean, it’s an honor, and I’m just really excited,” Navarrette said. Johnston added, “Yeah, I mean, I got to be a part of the animated series, and it was so much fun, and I think I recorded that years ago. But it came out recently, and people love that show, and I love the X-Men, so it is pretty cool,” he told Nexus Point News.

Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette share their joy for being part of the X-Men. Read our interview: https://t.co/Lyh1ooHV98 https://t.co/8xHXOoo28G

— Nexus Point News (@NexusPointNews) October 26, 2026

Their excitement is easy to understand. While Johnston has lent his voice to an animated corner of the franchise, Navarrette is stepping into one of its biggest live-action projects. At D23 in August, Marvel officially announced that Navarrette will play Rogue in Jake Schreier’s ‘X-Men’ reboot.

She joins a cast that includes Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Maya Boyd as Storm, with Adam Driver playing the villain Mr. Sinister.

You wished for this. Official trailer for OBSESSION, only in theaters May 15. Text 724-876-4554 🖤 https://t.co/rNfs9wfwml

— Obsession (@obsessionmovie) March 11, 2026

The actress has admitted the role came with some nerves. She has described Rogue as her first big character and said she felt a fear of failure after ‘Obsession’, but that worry faded once she saw how excited everyone was about the casting.

She has also given fans an early tease of Rogue’s Southern accent. During a red carpet interview with eTalk, she offered a quick take on the character’s iconic “sugar” catchphrase, while noting she would keep working on it with the Marvel team.

The interview also touched on what made their on-screen dynamic so compelling. Navarrette explained that she wanted to blur the line between Nikki’s real self and the version shaped by Bear’s wish, since the story is told entirely through his perspective.

Johnston said playing Bear reminded him of being in high school and being too afraid to share his feelings. He also credited Barker for letting him dig into the character’s backstory and praised Navarrette for being fully present in every scene.

Both stars reflected on how much it meant to see audiences embrace the film. Navarrette noted that original stories are really important, calling the response validating after the team took a big creative swing.

Navarrette’s momentum shows no sign of slowing down. Beyond ‘X-Men’, she has upcoming projects including the sci-fi thriller ‘The Waffle House Index’ and a Halloween hosting stint on ‘Saturday Night Live’.

For Johnston, ‘Obsession’ has opened new doors as well, with critics highlighting the complexity he brought to a deeply flawed character. Together, they’ve become one of the year’s most talked-about on-screen pairings. Whether through animation or live action, both actors now have a place in the X-Men legacy, and their genuine enthusiasm for the franchise is clear.

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