Ben Wang is looking to play Iceman in the upcoming X-Men movie from Marvel Studios. He’s currently promoting The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, but Deadline is reporting that Ben Wang is in talks for the role of Iceman. They’re also reporting that Gabriel LaBelle, Jackson Kelly, and Rhenzy Feliz are some of the other actors who tested for the part.
If you’re wondering who Iceman is, he’s Bobby Drake in the comics, and a founding member of the X-Men. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and appeared in The X-Men #1 in September 1963. Like his name states, Iceman has the ability to generate and control ice and cold.
He was previously played in the 2000s X-Men films by Shawn Ashmore.
If the deal with Wang goes through, he’s joining Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, Asa Germann as Angel and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey.
Most of the cast was previously announced earlier this year at D23 and Sadie Sink was revealed in the blockbuster hit Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Jake Schreier is directing the film with a script from Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo. Kevin Feige is on board to produce the film that’s slated for release in theaters on May 5th, 2028.
Who Is Ben Wang?
Ben Wang has been a rising star in recent years with roles in movies like The Karate Kid: Legends and The Long Walk. He also starred in the series American Born Chinese and Brian. That’s not all for him though, he’s also been in Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, Mean Girls, Chang Can Dunk, and For All Mankind. This would be his biggest role yet if he does end up getting it.
Marvel is entering one of its biggest and most important stretches in the company’s history. Avengers: Doomsday is coming out next month and they’re also beginning work on Avengers: Secret Wars. The X-Men film is likely their next biggest tentpole release, entering a new era of characters and actors for those characters. If the film saga is to continue thriving, they’ll have to get younger people interested and new young actors for older characters is the way to go.
They also have a likely fifth Spider-Man film coming out and plenty on the TV side with Daredevil: Born Again, and even a secret meeting with WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes about a possible role. They also have the upcoming Ghost Rider film with Ryan Gosling. That film recently added Connor Storrie as the villain. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a Marvel fan, especially with this news that the X-Men team is coming together.
We’ll keep you updated on this story as it develops.
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Source: Deadline
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