Adam Driver's Marvel character has a name, and it is not the one fans were expecting.
At Marvel's D23 presentation, Driver was introduced as playing Nathaniel Milbury in the upcoming X-Men film. That name does not appear on most short lists of famous Marvel villains, but according to Collider, it is an alias with a long and specific history in X-Men comics.
Nathaniel Milbury is one of several aliases used by Nathaniel Essex, the character better known to fans as Mister Sinister. Marvel's own character history lists variations including Nathan Milbury and Mike Milbury among the many identities Essex has used. By announcing Driver under the alias rather than the villain's well-known name, Marvel appears to be deliberately obscuring the full scope of the role.
Mister Sinister was created by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri and made his full debut in 1987's Uncanny X-Men No. 221. Born Nathaniel Essex in Victorian England, he was a scientist obsessed with evolution and genetics whose research eventually brought him into contact with Apocalypse. That transformation turned him into a virtually immortal geneticist who has spent decades experimenting on, manipulating, and attempting to control mutants.
Sinister's obsession centers specifically on two bloodlines: the Summers family and the Grey family. His interference in their lives led to one of the stranger chapters in X-Men history. He created Madelyne Pryor as a clone of Jean Grey. Madelyne later married Scott Summers and gave birth to Nathan Summers, who eventually became the mutant Cable.
Driver was described as one of the biggest surprises to come out of the D23 presentation, particularly given years of speculation about when the Star Wars actor might enter the MCU. His casting was announced alongside a broader reveal of the new X-Men lineup, which includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Charles Xavier, Maya Boyd as Storm, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Inde Navarrette as Rogue.
Marvel has not confirmed the full extent of Driver's role, but the Nathaniel Milbury alias suggests the studio is leaving room to reveal more about the character as the film approaches.
