Edi Gathegi Says He Was Promised Darwin’s Return After X-Men: First Class When He Questioned Character’s Early Death: “Killing the Black Guy First Is So Played Out”

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Edi Gathegi felt optimistic upon agreeing to portray Darwin in “X-Men: First Class”. However, as Darwin was the sole Black mutant on the team other than Zoë Kravitz’s Angel, he had apprehensions about his character perishing early in the movie. Yet, the filmmakers assured him that Darwin would reappear later, mirroring his comic book counterpart. Regrettably, this did not transpire.

In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter, focusing on his part in James Gunn’s Superman, Gathegi shared insights about his past involvement with the X-Men series.

Gathegi shared that he contacted his representatives to express concerns about his character being the sole Black character in the movie apart from Zoë Kravitz’s character. He also pointed out that he was the only mutant who met an early death midway through the film, which he found troubling. In 2009, he voiced his frustration saying, “The trope of killing off the Black character first is overused. I can’t be part of this.

During that period, they informed Gathegi that his character’s death was a pivotal scene in the film, designed to advance the plot and inspire the rest of the cast. Additionally, they hinted that Darwin’s unique abilities, which allowed him to adapt and endure anything, could potentially lead to a comeback in a future production. This piece of information offered Gathegi some optimism.

He shared that they had planned to resurrect my character, as is often the case in the comics. [Darwin] can’t meet his end; instead he regenerates. So, we kept our fingers crossed that they would stay true to their promise. When I didn’t appear in X-Men: Apocalypse, I felt certain it was all over.

Gathegi explained that this incident underscored the typical treatment given to characters of color in major movie franchises.

Speaking about X-Men: First Class, what I got from my role as an actor and as a person of color is that even if you’re the strongest mutant globally, there are still barriers preventing you from fully realizing your potential,” he expressed.

That’s why his role as Mister Terrific in James Gunn’s Superman feels like a full-circle moment.

Speaking as a cinema enthusiast, I find that Mister Terrific in Superman presents an intriguing narrative. The takeaway for me is this character embodies being among the most intellectually gifted beings in the cosmos, yet he’s still capable of contributing significantly to saving our world. It’s a fascinating dialogue, setting a new standard for conversation.

Initially, Gathegi contemplated skipping the audition for the character Mister Terrific. He was planning a trip to Europe and had recently secured a role in a production featuring Robert De Niro. When his representatives asked him to record an audition, he hesitated. However, upon learning that James Gunn himself was eagerly awaiting his submission, he decided to proceed.

That changed his mind.

He recalled a time when Gunn had spoken to him during the premiere of The Suicide Squad, expressing admiration for his work. In a hurry, just before departing, Gathegi quickly recorded an audition tape instead.

On the following day, I found myself in an Uber en route to LAX, glancing at my Instagram when I spotted a direct message from James Gunn. He wrote, ‘Hey, your audition was fantastic!'” (Gathegi stated.)

While traveling through Milan, he even bought shoes for a premiere that hadn’t happened yet.

Thinking about it, if I manage to land this job, I’ll surely require a suitable attire for the red carpet event. As fate would have it, I wore those shoes to the Superman premiere many years down the line.

During his holiday, Gathegi chose not to worry excessively about getting the role, but as soon as he received a call for a screen test, he abruptly ended his vacation early.

Ultimately, he selected the Superman role over the De Niro project, explaining that the DC character provided a more extended career path for him. Additionally, he mentioned that the final product on screen was remarkably similar to the Mister Terrific character he had initially auditioned with, despite the filming process involving numerous innovative experiments.

James moves with a sense of joyful exploration, remarked Gathegi. “He’s experimenting, he’s attempting quirky maneuvers, and he’s venturing into the unconventional.

Currently, his interpretation of Mister Terrific in the series “Superman” is being praised as a standout moment. This marks quite a change from his initial foray into the world of superheroes, and Gathegi is well aware of this transformation.

“It’s a pretty cool full-circle moment,” he said.

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2025-07-12 10:14