Dominic Monaghan has expressed a strong interest in returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to reprise his role as the mutant Bolt. The actor, who previously appeared in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, suggested he would be open to playing a seasoned or "old-man" version of the character.
The "Old-Man" Version of Chris Bradley
In an exclusive interview with ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns, Dominic Monaghan discussed the possibility of revisiting Chris Bradley, the electrical-powered mutant better known as Bolt. monaghan specifically joked about the potential for a version of the character who has been "locked away somewhere," indicating that he would be "totally into" a more aged iteration of the role. This suggests that the actor is thinking beyond a simple cameo and is considering how the character could evolve within the current timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Monaghan also highlighted his excitement regarding the current direction of the franchise. According to ScreenRant,the actor specifically praised Sadie Sink's portrayal of Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, signaling that the current casting choices for the mutant universe are a draw for legacy actors looking to return to the fold.
Sabretooth’s Kill and the Transfer of Powers to Wade Wilson
The narrative path for Bolt's return is complicated by the character's brutal exit in the original continuity. As reported by ScreenRant, Chris Bradley was a member of Team X alongside Wolverine and Sabretooth before the group disbanded. after a period of working at a circus , Bolt was tracked down and killed by Sabretooth, an event that served as a plot device to transfer Bolt's electrical abilities to Wade Wilson.
This specific plot point creates a unique opportunity for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play with the concept of power transference. If the MCU chooses to integrate the events of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the relationship between Bolt and the version of Deadpool seen on screen could provide a rich vein of character conflict and shared history, provided the writers can navigate the character's established death.
Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey and the 2028 X-Men Reboot
The desire of actors like Dominic Monaghan to return coincides with a broader strategy by Marvel Studios to blend legacy elements with new beginnings. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already begun introducing variants of established characters, such as Professor X and Beast, proving that the studio is not afraid to pull from the Fox-era archives. This trend suggests that the 2028 X-Men reboot may not be a total erasure of the past, but rather a synthesis of multiple timelines.
With high-profile projects like Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon, the stakes for the mutant universe are higher than ever. The inclusion of legacy characters could serve as a bridge for audiences transitioning from the original X-Men films to the new MCU continuity, ensuring that the 2028 reboot feels like a culmination of the franchise's history rather than a redundant restart.
Can Bolt Survive the Days of Future Past Retcon?
One significant hurdle remins: the narrative erasure caused by X-Men: Days of Future Past, which effectively retconned the events of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It remains unclear whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe intends to honor the specific timeline where Chris Bradley existed or if Monaghan would be playing a completely different variant of the character. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if Marvel Studios has reached out to Monaghan or if this is purely a desire on the actor's part.
The question of whether the MCU will lean into the "multiverse" explanation to bring back characters who were explicitly killed or erased is the central tension of the current casting cycle. Until Marvel Studios confirms the continuity rules for the 2028 X-Men project, the return of Bolt remains a possibility based on actor availability rather than a confirmed plot point.
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