A little more than a year ago, word arrived that Josh Boone, co-writer and director in charge of X-Men spin-off film New Mutants was looking to cast Game Of Thrones' Maisie Williams and The Witch's Anya Taylor-Joy, among others. As the movie heads towards shooting this summer, the pair has now been confirmed.
While both the actresses were the top choices for the film, deals, of course, couldn't be done until Fox had officially agreed to make it, and the studio handed down a release date recently.
The comic series, which Boone has adapted with co-writer Knate Gwaltney, follows the adventures of a diverse group of angst-ridden teenage mutants who – as usual for X-Men characters – are dealing with personal issues while also battling threats. Williams will play Wolfsbane, AKA Rahne Sinclair, a Scottish werewolf who arrives at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters conflicted between her abilities and her religious beliefs. Taylor-Joy is Illya Rasputin, who goes by the pseudonym Magik. Colossus' sister (in the comics at least, but given his return in Deadpool, there's a good chance this'll be acknowledged), she's a powerful sorceress that can teleport between great distances and even travel in time.
Other characters to be cast include Mirage (AKA Danielle Moonstar), a Native American with the ability to create illusions, Warlock, an alien being without a true form who can change shape into anything it desires and Sunspot (real name: Roberto da Costa), who can absorb sunlight and use it for various powers. The latter was portrayed by Adan Canto in Days Of Future Past, but the hunt is on for a younger performer.
Boone will be kicking off production July and the movie is scheduled to arrive (in the States at least) on 13 April next year.
Maisie Williams And More Wanted For X-Men Spin-Off New Mutants