Almost a year ago, the rumours gave way to confirmation as word came that Fault In Our Stars director Josh Boonewas in charge of bringing X-Men universe-based characters The New Mutants to the screen. Boone is still working away on the film, but he's hit Instagram with some teasing hints at the characters his team will consist of.
Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod created the original squad of teen heroes in 1982 for Marvel Graphic Novel issue four and they got their own title running between 1983 and 1991, with Deadpool popping up from time to time before a later relaunch as X-Force (Kick-Ass 2's Jeff Wadlow appears to still be attached to a script about that team.)
So who are the characters Boone is thinking of using for his film, which he's been writing with Kante Gwaltney? According to the pictures he posted (you can find them here), he's after Magik (AKA Illyana Rasputina), the sister of X-Men member Colossus, who can create teleportation discs to travel between limbo and any point on Earth, Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), who can turn into a wolf, Mirage (Danielle Moonstar), a Native American with the ability to create illusions, Cannonball (Samuel Guthrie), born in Kentucky and able generate there-chemical energy fields, Sunspot (Roberto da Costa), who can absorb sunlight and use it for various powers and Warlock, an alien being without a true form who can change shape into anything it desires.
There has been no official announcements about casting yet, though the likes of Maisie Williams and Anya Taylor-Joy have been rumoured. There's also no word on a release date yet as this one is still very much in development. The biggest challenge will be introducing a raft of new characters to moviegoers, but in this era of the ever-expanding MCU and Bryan Singer's X-Men universe for Fox, that should be an easier task than in days gone by. And if you're in need of a briefing about the concept, head here.