Before suiting up as Mister Terrific in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman reboot, actor Edi Gathegiwas already part of the superhero universe — playing the mutant Darwin in 2011’s X-Men: First Class. But if you blinked, you might have missed it. His character, whose power was literally survival, was killed off far too early — and fans have never let it go.
Now, over a decade later, Gathegi is breaking his silence on that controversial moment — and he agrees with what many have been saying since day one.
⸻
“They’re Not Wrong”: Gathegi Agrees with Fans Over Darwin’s Death
Speaking in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Twilight and StartUp actor admitted he was just as confused and disappointed by Darwin’s early exit in First Class as fans were.
“They’re not wrong,” Gathegi said of the fan backlash. “I think it is just a case of bad representation and missed opportunity.”
In the comics, Darwin’s mutant ability allows him to evolve instantly to survive any threat — so his on-screen death at the hands of Sebastian Shaw (played by Kevin Bacon) didn’t sit right with comic book loyalists. Gathegi himself assumed the character would be brought back in a future installment.
“The fact that he died in the first one isn’t that big of a deal — if he does what he does in the comics, which is come back,” he added. “Every movie that came out and the character didn’t come back, it solidified that it was a misrepresentation and a missed opportunity.”
⸻
A New Start in the DC Universe
Thankfully, Gathegi is getting another chance at superhero greatness — this time, in the DC Universe.
He’s been cast as Mister Terrific in the upcoming Superman film directed by James Gunn. And according to him, this isn’t just another role — it’s a second chance to do things right.
“This job is kind of undoing the wrongs of Darwin,” he said. “I know that as it stands right now, this isn’t the only project that I’ll be in.”
Gathegi joins a stacked ensemble that includes David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Nathan Fillion as Green Lantern — among others.
⸻
Justice for Darwin? Maybe Not — But Redemption is Coming
While fans may never get closure for Darwin in the X-Men universe, Edi Gathegi’s journey as Mister Terrific promises a new chapter — one with more purpose, power, and (hopefully) screen time.
And for those who’ve been rooting for him since First Class, it’s a well-earned redemption.
