Inde Navarrette has a message for anyone worried about her take on Rogue: "Sugar!" The actress, best known for her work on "Superman & Lois," is teasing her approach to the beloved Southern mutant in the upcoming "X-Men" film, and she's leaning hard into the character's Louisiana roots. In a new interview, Navarrette revealed that she's been perfecting a thick Rogue accent, and the one-word catchphrase that defined Anna Paquin's version of the character back in 2000 is very much part of her vocabulary.
"She's got that sweet Southern charm, but there's steel underneath it," Navarrette said, describing her interpretation of the power-absorbing hero. She added that the accent is not just a gimmick but a way into the character's heart, noting that Rogue's voice is tied to her upbringing and her sense of self. For fans who grew up on the animated series and the early 2000s films, the drawl is as essential as the white streak in her hair.
A Familiar Catchphrase Returns
Navarrette didn't shy away from the obvious comparison. Anna Paquin's Rogue, who debuted in Bryan Singer's 2000 "X-Men," famously punctuated her lines with a soft "sugar," and the new film's star made it clear she's not running from that legacy. According to Navarrette, she's been saying the word so often during prep that it's started bleeding into her everyday speech, much to the amusement of her friends and family.
The 2000 film, which clocked in at just 104 minutes, introduced audiences to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and Paquin's Rogue as they arrived at Xavier's school for gifted youngsters, where Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Ian McKellen's Magneto were waiting. That original movie set the template for the franchise, and Navarrette's enthusiasm suggests the new "X-Men" film is eager to honor that history while charting its own course. The character of Rogue, after all, is one of the most emotionally complicated figures in the mutant lineup, a young woman whose touch can drain life itself, and Navarrette seems determined to capture both the vulnerability and the grit.
From Smallville to Westchester
For Navarrette, stepping into the "X-Men" universe is a homecoming of sorts. The actress spent years in the DC television world on "Superman & Lois," playing Sarah Cushing, and she said the jump to Marvel's mutant corner feels like a natural next chapter. She described the "X-Men" set as a place where cast and crew treat the material with real affection, and she hinted that the film's team has been careful to balance spectacle with the character-driven moments that made the original 2000 movie resonate with audiences.
She also noted that Rogue's Southern identity is something she takes seriously. The character was born in Mississippi and raised in Caldecott County, and Navarrette said she worked with a dialect coach to make sure the accent felt lived-in rather than cartoonish. "I wanted it to sound like home," she explained, adding that she listened to recordings of real Louisiana and Mississippi natives to nail the rhythm and warmth of the speech. It's the kind of detail that could easily be overlooked in a big-budget superhero film, but Navarrette's commitment suggests she's treating Rogue as more than a supporting player.
What the New Film Inherits
The original "X-Men," directed by Bryan Singer, remains a touchstone in the genre, holding a solid 7.023/10 rating on TMDb and launching a franchise that would span decades. Its cast, including Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, James Marsden as Cyclops, and Halle Berry as Storm, became synonymous with the characters for a generation of moviegoers. The new film arrives with that legacy hanging over it, and every casting decision invites scrutiny from a fanbase that knows these stories inside and out.
Navarrette seems unfazed by the pressure. She spoke about Rogue with evident fondness, calling her "one of the greats" and praising the character's journey from frightened runaway to confident hero. While she stayed tight-lipped about specific plot details, the actress did confirm that the accent will be a constant presence throughout the film, not a one-scene novelty. Fans can expect to hear "sugar" more than once, and Navarrette's delivery, if her interview is any indication, will carry plenty of attitude.
Whether the new "X-Men" film can recapture the magic of the 2000 original remains to be seen, but Navarrette's obvious affection for Rogue is a promising sign. In a genre that sometimes treats accents as afterthoughts, her dedication to getting the voice right, and to making that single word feel like a signature, suggests she's taking the role seriously. For anyone who remembers Paquin's Rogue fondly, that's a sweet prospect indeed. Sugar.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
