Inde Navarrette on The Kyle Buchanan Show: Heat 2 rumors, Rogue in X-Men and what Gen Z wants from movies

Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of this summer’s horror hit “Obsession,” sat down with film journalist Kyle Buchanan on “The Kyle Buchanan Show,” and several of her answers quickly made headlines: she set the record straight on “Heat 2,” talked about playing Rogue in Marvel’s “X-Men” and offered Hollywood some blunt advice about younger moviegoers. The Hollywood Reporter said the episode was posted Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Was Inde Navarrette offered Heat 2?

No, according to Navarrette herself. Speculation had circulated that she turned down a role in “Heat 2,” the sequel to Michael Mann’s 1995 crime thriller, to take on “X-Men,” after reports in July that she had met with both Mann and “X-Men” director Jake Schreier, The Hollywood Reporter noted.

“Is it true that you were offered Heat 2?” Buchanan asked. Navarrette laughed and said no.

“I’m glad that you brought it up because I can say it. No, I was not offered Heat 2,” she said, per THR. “I auditioned, I want to say, for two months from April all the way up until — I don’t know if it had gotten cast, but it was just kind of no longer a conversation.”

She said she sent in multiple self-tapes and would have happily taken even a small part. “Definitely didn’t say no,” she said. “That’s one of those opportunities where no matter how big you get, you’re still gonna get told no.”

What did she say about playing Rogue in X-Men?

Marvel confirmed in August that Navarrette will play Rogue in its “X-Men” film, directed by Schreier and slated for May 5, 2028. The Hollywood Reporter listed a cast that also includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm and Adam Driver as the villain Mister Sinister.

On the podcast, Navarrette said she’s especially excited about the character’s Southern roots. “It could be the accent, right? Just going back to Southern. I mean, there’s so much to her and I, I can’t wait to get it started. I can’t say too much, but that character I’m really excited about,” she said, as quoted by ComingSoon.net.

She praised her castmates as “all incredibly talented” and had particular words for Boyd: “She’s wonderful, she’s amazing, she is such a light, she’s incredibly talented, she’s a triple threat, I’m pretty sure there’s a fourth one in there controlling the weather.”

ComingSoon.net also reported that she recalled Marvel keeping her casting quiet before its D23 presentation. After seeing rumors online, she said she contacted her representatives to ask whether she’d missed an announcement, and she described spotting famous Marvel actors when she walked onstage.

Why her comments on Gen Z and ads got attention

Variety highlighted Navarrette’s advice to studios trying to keep young audiences coming to theaters. “Gen Z just wants to go to something that they don’t feel like they’re being sold,” she said. “Maybe we are tired constantly of having ads in movies or production placement and all of these things. We understand it’s fundamental. We grew up with commercials that are fun that we still quote like State Farm and Aflac. It’s kind of fun. But we don’t want to be sold. We want original stories.”

“Just because we’re living in the time of technology doesn’t mean we’re not living a human life or feel human experiences,” she added. “I’m happy ‘Obsession’ brought that to the table.”

Her perspective carries weight because of what “Obsession” did at the box office. Variety reported that the Focus Features release, made for less than $1 million, grossed $522 million worldwide this summer and kept earning more for four consecutive weekends, making it one of the most profitable films in Hollywood history.

FAQ

Where can I watch the Inde Navarrette interview with Kyle Buchanan? The full episode of “The Kyle Buchanan Show” was posted online on Oct. 21, and outlets including Variety and The Hollywood Reporter embedded the video.

Did Inde Navarrette turn down Heat 2 for X-Men? No. She said she auditioned for about two months but was never offered a role.

Who does Inde Navarrette play in X-Men? Rogue. The Marvel film is directed by Jake Schreier and scheduled for May 5, 2028.

What is Obsession? A horror film made for less than $1 million from Focus Features that turned Navarrette and co-star Michael Johnston into stars, grossing $522 million worldwide, according to Variety.