‘New Mutants’ Casts Cannonball, Sunspot, And Danielle Moonstar [UPDATED]
Update 2:Heat Visionreports that relative newcomerBlu Hunthas been cast as Danielle Moonstar, a Native American mutant who can create illusions based on the fears of those around her. This completes the casting of the core cast ofNew Mutants.Update:Deadlinereports that13 Reasons WhystarHenry Zagahas also joinedNew Mutantsas the mutant hero Sunspot, who can manipulate solar energy. Our original article follows.Charlie Heatonmay not be the first name that comes to mind when you think about young actors from Netflix’sStranger Things, but he’s on the verge of securing the highest-profile new movie role of any cast member since the first season aired.
Heaton is currently in talks to play Cannonball inThe Fault in Our StarsdirectorJosh Boone’slong-developing X-Men spinoff filmNew Mutantsfor 20th Century Fox.
THRreports that Heaton, who plays the loner photographer Jonathan Byers on the breakout Netflix series, is in negotiations to joinGame of Thronesstar Maisie Williams andThe Witch’sAnya Taylor-Joy in theNew Mutantscast.Rosario Dawson(The Defenders) is also in talks to star in the movie.
If all of the paperwork is signed, Heaton will play Sam Guthrie, aka Cannonball, a Southern teen who possesses the power to fly at supersonic speeds while encasing himself in a protective force field, which he can also wield to protect others. In the comics, Cannonball is a founding member of the New Mutants.
To me, Heaton seems like a solid fit for the X-Men universe. So far in the X-films, mutant characters have often expressed feeling like outsiders, and Heaton’s depiction of Jonathan Byers' borderline-creepy behavior around his crush Nancy Wheeler has shown that the actor has the ability to easily conform to that mold. And since we knowNew Mutantswill be a horror movie set within the X-Men universe, we also know Heaton can run from supernatural beings with the best of them.
Maisie Williams is already officially on board to play Rahne Sinclair, aka Wolfsbane, a young woman who can transform into a wolf. Meanwhile, Taylor-Joy is playing Illyana Rasputin, aka Magik, a young sorceress who has the ability to teleport through time and space. Boone is looking to do something “very, very different” with this movie, going as far as to say there are no costumes or supervillains that appear in this version of the story. Here’s theunofficial synopsis that came out last week:
Held in a secret facility against their will, five new mutants have to battle the dangers of their powers, as well as the sins of their past. They aren’t out to save the world — they’re just trying to save themselves.
Boone is directing and co-wrote the screenplay with his writing partnerKnate Lee. Filming begins in Boston this July, andNew Mutantsarrives in theaters onApril 13, 2018.
