The X-Men cinematic universe is in a state of flux. Following Bryan Singer's X-Men: Apocalypse, there isn't a traditional X-Men sequel on the radars over at Fox (at least, not officially). And while the studio is focusing on interesting projects like Deadpool 2, Logan and The New Mutants, we don't really know what is going to happen with the versions of the classic X-Men characters introduced in both X-Men: First Class or X-Men: Apocalypse... or do we?
James McAvoy and Anya-Taylor Joy were both in New York City today promoting M. Night Shyamalan's Split, when Joy was asked about The New Mutants, a project to which she is rumored to be attached. She declined to comment officially about her involvement in the mutant superhero effort, telling SuperHeroHype that she'd "love to be a part of it," but never going so far as to say, for certain, that she was in it. When pressed if she wants to reunite with her Split co-star for New Mutants, though, Anya-Taylor Joy exclaimed:
I mean, I think James is already a part of it, isn't he?
Now, let's take a moment to parse what is being said here. Anya-Taylor Joy (The Witch) wouldn't even confirm that SHE is officially a member of The New Mutants, which Fox has hired Josh Boone (The Fault In Our Stars) to write and direct. Her name has been attached to the project for some time, and we fully expect her to be confirmed as a cast member once all of the announcements have been made. She then appears to take the next step and say that James McAvoy already is a part of "it." Does she mean New Mutants? Does she mean the X-Men franchise, in general?
If Anya-Taylor Joy is correct, and James McAvoy is down for New Mutants, this gives us a lot more information to potentially apply to the movie. It means that the time frame for the story likely falls in that late 1980s, early 1990s frame, when McAvoy is still playing Charles Xavier, and hasn't turned the wheelchair over to Patrick Stewart. This could mean that New Mutants is the '90s-set X-Men movie that Fox has been circling. This also might mean that Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Jean (Sophie Turner) and the other Apocalypse X-Men could cameo.
We won't know until official, concrete details on New Mutants start to drop. But they have to start soon. With Logan due to arrive in 2017 (March, to be exact), we're guessing that New Mutants and Deadpool 2 will be 2018 releases for Fox, so filming could begin soon on Josh Boone's movie. Stay tuned for more details, but do you think this means, for certain, that James McAvoy's Professor X will serve as a mentor for the young mutants in Boone's charge?
