The Hollywood Reporter has learned that up-and-coming stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Maisie Williams have officially joined the cast of Josh Boone's eagerly awaited X-Men spin-off New Mutants. Taylor-Joy will portray Illyana Nikolievna Alexandria Rasputina, a.k.a. Magik, while Williams will breathe life into Rahne Sinclair, a.k.a. Wolfsbane.
The report also reveals the rest of the yet-to-be-announced team members, which will consist of Danielle Moonstar, Sunspot, Cannonball, and Warlock. It's believed that the studio is making a concentrated effort fo find ethnically appropriate actors for the roles, specifically a Native American actress for Moonster and a Brazilian actor for Sunspot.
THR's Borys Kit adds that while both names were being floated around since early last year, negotiations only began after the studio officially greenlit the film earlier this year. As for other rumored castings, he reveals that James McAvoy will not be reprising his role as Professor X in the film, likely meaning that we won't see the X-patriarch again until X-Men: Dark Phoenix in November 2018. He also debunks rumors of Nat Wolff (Death Note) being in consideration for Cannonball, saying it won't be happening.
Production is expected to begin this July, so we should be hearing more casting reports pretty soon. Boone and his long-time writing partner Knate Gwaltney penned the script. Details on the plot are being kept under lock-and-key, but it's expected to be a loose adaptation of the Demon Bear Saga.
Williams is, of course, best known to audiences for her role as Arya Stark on HBO's hit fantasy drama Game of Thrones, which returns this July, while Taylor-Joy is coming in hot from the mega-success of M. Night Shyamalan's Split.
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New Mutants hits theaters April 13, 2018