Marvel’s Runaways season 3: Clarissa Thibeaux talks playing Xavin

During a recent interview with Clarissa Thibeaux, we discussed the third season of Marvel’s Runaways and playing Xavin. Continue reading for more.

Fans always hope that Marvel will revive characters lost to poorly-timed cancellations, like those on Fox’s The Gifted and Marvel’s Runaways, and one in particular still has a future if Marvel/Disney sees fit, Xavin.

During a recent interview with Clarissa Thibeaux, the Runaways star told Netflix Life that she hopes Marvel is listening because she’d love to reprise her role as Xavin. Marvel’s Runaways wrapped season 3 not long ago, but Xavin’s exit on the show left the character in an opportune position to appear in another corner of the Marvel Universe.

Towards the back half of season 3, Xavin decides the best thing for Leslie Dean’s baby is to take the alien-human hybrid back to their homeworld. Leslie agrees on their course of action and the shapeshifter departs shortly after. She’s not seen again, but that doesn’t mean Xavin is gone forever.

Where could Xavin appear next in the Marvel Universe?

All in all, having Xavin (Thibeaux) cameo in another Marvel project sounds like a great idea. Maybe the shape-shifting alien will even receive a guest-spot in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. The space-faring adventure will presumably take the Guardians to distant worlds, and it’s not farfetched to think they could come across Xavin at some point.

More from Netflix News

• The true story behind The Railway Men: The Untold Story of Bhopal 1984
• Bridgerton season 3 skipping Benedict is disappointing for book fans
• School Spirits parents guide: Is the teen series safe for kids to watch?
• The Railway Men cast: Get to know the cast of the Indian Netflix series
• Outer Banks season 4 officially resumes production following actors’ strike

But if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 doesn’t work, perhaps an appearance in the Doctor Strange sequel could serve as an adequate alternative. It’s conveniently titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and such a name implies Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) will travel the Multiverse during most of the film.

Because of that factor, it’s possible the Sorcerer Supreme will run into characters from Marvel’s Runaways on his journey, mainly Xavin, but that’s just our guess.

For more on the Marvel’s Runaways’ actress, you can check out the entirety of our interview with Thibeaux below.

NetflixLife: First off. Now that season three of Marvel’s Runaways is out, are you relieved that you can speak freely about your role in the series?

Clarissa Thibeaux: OMG yes. It was so hard during season 2 because I couldn’t tell anyone I was on the show. But now that season three is out, I can talk about the full extent of Xavin.

NL: My next question pertains to your character’s origin. On Runaways, Xavin’s origin is slightly different from the comics version. Did the showrunners and writers go over the differences with you?

Thibeaux: I was able to see a lot of the differences when I went and read as many comics as I could, so I knew there were differences like the Super-Skrull aspect because Xavin is a Xartan on the show.

The thing about the Xartan race is there isn’t a lot of information on them anywhere. They’re only briefly mentioned in the comics a few times, but in a way, that’s good because it gave us room to play with the character.

NL: Did the producers explain why they went with the Xartan race rather than any other shape-shifting alien in the Marvel archives?

Thibeaux: It’s kind of one of those processes where everything happens so fast. I didn’t question it much, or sometimes, there wasn’t a straight answer given to us.

NL: Having to portray an alien character who doesn’t necessarily understand human interaction and doesn’t emote with their face, was it difficult for you as an actress to maintain that same demeanor while filming?

Thibeaux:  In order to play Xavin, I first auditioned for the role and they gave me two lines: one was about an alien and the other was something about regal, so I just kind of ran with that. But it was when I was able to look through all the comics and see how funny Xavin is that I was able to take the brashness of Xavin’s body and the way they speak and lend it to my interpretation. And I made sure the way I did everything was super intentional. There was no doubt about any of their actions.

NL: A sort of related question. In Season 3, Molly (Allegra Acosta) teaches Xavin to show emotion through facial expressions, and one of the first ones is to smile. Did you have to practice that awkward first smile Xavin gleans at the camera, to distinguish it from your own natural expression?

Thibeaux: That day was so much fun. I read through the script, and on that day, I kind of started practicing by myself. So then I just did the take on my own and everyone on set started laughing. But then one of our directors Larry came running out and suggested I try it a different way. He told me to lean in as if to bite Molly but then to smile at the last moment. It was a lot of fun.

NL: Towards the end of season 3, your character winds up returning to the Gibborum homeworld with Leslie Dean’s newborn child. What do you think happened afterward because I don’t believe anything is said about them following their goodbye?

Thibeaux:  I make up my own fan theory, but yes I would really love to see what Xavin and the baby did after. And more than anything, how Xavin’s absorption of humanity affected her/him following their return to their homeworld…and with a half-human alien baby.

NL: I understand Hulu has wrapped on Runaways for the time being, but would you be willing to reprise your role as Xavin if Marvel were to pitch you another project that involves your character?

Thibeaux:  Yes! I hope Marvel is listening because I’d love to return to the role. I think Xavin adds this different level of honesty to the Runaways ensemble, and it’s refreshing to play a character like that.

NL: Aside from Marvel’s Runaways, are you working on any other TV shows or movies at the moment?

Thibeaux:  Yes, so right now I’ve actually written a concept-theory for a short movie with a very good friend of mine. We’re trying to create a short film version which we intend to pitch as a full series to get picked up later on. We’ve actually just begun to crowdfund it and raised $6,000 for the show.

NL: What if anything can you tell us about the show?

Thibeaux: It’s called RxR and the show is about two women who find friendship in a cancer support group. It’s really funny. There’s a seriousness to it, but there’s also levity to the show.

NL: Is there anything else you’d like to add before we go?

Thibeaux: I just want to say that I hope everyone really likes the new season of Marvel’s Runaways and hope they’re satisfied with how everything turns out. My castmates were amazing and I’m sure we’ll all be on to new things soon. And I just want to say it’s been such a blessing.

Do you want to see Clarissa Thibeaux return as Xavin in the Marvel Universe? Let us know in the comments.