The future of the main X-Men movies remains murky following X-Men: Apocalypse, but the cinematic universe itself isn’t done with team adventures. One of the spinoffs in development is New Mutants, based on the same-named comic book that featured students from Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters getting their start as mutant superheroes. While New Mutants doesn’t have a release date yet, development is already underway, and the project appears to have found three potential leads, according to a rumor.
These casting rumors come from HitFix, who report that the New Mutants lineup will mostly look like the one from the team’s early years in the comics. However, there will also be some familiar faces, both young and old, from earlier movies, if this rumor pans out. Here are the three actresses we can expect to see together, according to one report.
First up is Maisie Williams, best known as Arya Stark on Game of Thrones (though she also recently had a guest stint on Doctor Who). She is reportedly playing Rahne Sinclair, a.k.a. Wolfsbane, who, as her name suggests, can shape shift into a wolf-like creature at will. Williams is the second "Stark" from Game of Thrones to join the X-Men universe, following Sophie Turner, who is playing Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Next, The Witch’s Anya Taylor-Joy will be playing Illyana Rasputin, a.k.a. Magik. In the comics, Magik not only had the mutant ability to teleport, but was also a skilled sorceress. Ilyana is also the younger sister of Colossus, who was played by Daniel Curdmore in three of the main X-Men movies and voiced by Stefan Kapi?i? in Deadpool. However, given the time period of when New Mutants seemingly takes place (you’ll see what I mean), it looks like those siblings will be in a similar situation to what’s going on with Havok and Cyclops in this universe, i.e. reversal of age.
Finally, we have Alexandra Shipp as Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. Storm. Shipp, who inherits the role from Halle Berry, is making her first appearance as the weather manipulator in X-Men: Apocalypse this May. Although that movie features her as one of Apocalypse’s Four Horsemen, it appears she’ll indeed join the good guys afterwards. Storm wasn’t a member of the New Mutants in the comics, but given her young age, she’ll fit in well with the team.
In addition to these three, the article mentions that Cannonball, Sunspot, and Mirage will be included as New Mutants team members. James McAvoy is also said to play a "significant role" as Professor Charles Xavier, reprising the telepathic mentor following the "First Class" trilogy. His inclusion, along with Shipp’s, almost certainly means that the New Mutants movie will take place a few months or years after the 1983-set X-Men: Apocalypse. However, the basic premise remains the same: Xavier’s students learning how to use their abilities for the greater good.
Directed and co-written by Josh Boone, there’s no word yet on when we can expect to see New Mutants, but stay tuned for any updates regarding its development.
