Millie Bobby Brown Reveals She Auditioned for LOGAN's X-23 and Says Losing the Role Left Her "Broken"
It's hard to picture anyone other than Dafne Keen playing Laura, aka X-23, in Logan, she was awesome! But it turns out another future star came incredibly close to landing the part.
Millie Bobby Brown, who became a household name as Eleven in Stranger Things, has revealed that she auditioned for the fan-favorite role and even screen-tested alongside Hugh Jackman before ultimately losing out.
Brown has built an impressive career since breaking out in Stranger Things, leading Netflix projects like Enola Holmes and The Electric State. With rumors continuing to swirl that she could eventually make her way into the MCU, it's interesting to learn that she almost joined Marvel years before those conversations even started.
While promoting Enola Holmes 3 in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brown looked back on the audition process for Logan and shared just how close she came to becoming Wolverine's young clone.
"I screen-tested with Hugh Jackman when I was like, 11 or 12," she recalled, adding that it was for "the Wolverine movies" before confirming "it was for Logan."
Although she made it deep into the casting process, the role ultimately went to Keen, whose performance became one of the movie's biggest highlights. Looking back on missing out, Brown admitted the experience hit her pretty hard.
"Broken. I felt like I probably didn't get it, because I think there was someone else [who] was better."
That's simply how the audition process goes, and Keen went on to completely own the role. She returned as Laura in 2024's Deadpool & Wolverine, delighting fans who had been hoping to see the character again after Logan.
Now, plenty of Marvel fans are hoping Keen's return is only the beginning. Many would love to see Laura suit up as X-23 in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: Secret Wars, or eventually become part of Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men reboot.
Of course, Brown missing out on Logan didn't derail her career in the slightest. Stranger Things had already premiered in 2016, so even if she had landed the role, it likely would've come down to scheduling between Netflix and the Duffer Brothers.
Keen previously talked about the incredible fan support she's continued to receive for X-23 and the growing demand to see her officially become the MCU's Wolverine.
"Yeah, I mean, it means so much to me," Keen says in the video above. "I always think it's so special that something that we made 10 years ago still has an impact. And I know that I love that character so dearly.
“And it means so much to me that so many people love her as much as I do. And it's so special to know that what you've made means something."
"And I think that what we made really did mean something. And it's great to keep receiving that. I also think it's very important to connect with people.
“And every time I hear that a performance of mine has made someone feel a type of way, I feel very connected. And I think it's so beautiful. So many people are excited by it. And I'm very happy anytime anyone wants to speak about it."
With Marvel Studios preparing to introduce the X-Men into the MCU, fans are eager to see where Laura's story goes next. Keen already proved she can carry the character with both heart and intensity, and after her return in Deadpool & Wolverine, there's every reason to believe she has a much bigger future ahead.
As for Brown, she may have missed out on playing X-23 years ago, but with the Multiverse Saga nearing its conclusion and mutants finally entering the MCU, another Marvel opportunity could still be waiting for her.
Avengers: Doomsday is currently scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars following on December 17, 2027.