While doing press for her upcoming psycho-horror film,
Split, which also incidentally co-stars James McAvoy,
The Witch breakout actress Anya Taylor-Joy reaffirmed a previous
New Mutants rumor that
Demon Bear was the film's antagonists "
I have [seen the Demon Bear animatic], it’s pretty cool. I’m a big fan so I’d love to be a part of it. I can’t say very much, but I would love to be a part of it. I think this year’s gonna be very exciting.”
When asked if she'll be reuniting with her
Split co-star in the film, Taylor-Joy replied, "
I mean, I think James is already a part of it, isn’t he?" We didn't know that, but we certainly are weighing the possibility now (depending on how you interpret Anya's remarks).
Previously,
a leaked animatic and rumor confirmed Josh Boone's film as adapting parts of Bill Sienkiewicz and Chris Claremont's
Demon Bear Saga and reported that Fox was in the process of negotiating with Taylor-Joy to play Magik, Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) to play Wolfsbane and Nat Wolf (Paper Towns, Death Note) to play Cannonball. Previous rumors also stated that Alexandra Shipp's
Storm would be a member of the team, along with Brianna Hildebrand's
Negasonic Teenage Warhead.
Shadowcat's pet dragon Lockeed also appeared in the leaked animatic so there are rumors that Ellen Page may join the cast as well, though how that would work from a chronological standpoint is a headscratcher.