Following his recent performances in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" and the latest installment of "Karate Kid," actor Ben Wang is circling another major franchise. Reports indicate he is currently in negotiations to portray Bobby Drake, the character known as Iceman, for Marvel Studios' reboot of the X-Men.
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Iceman was one of the founding members of the mutant team, first appearing in "The X-Men #1" in September 1963. If the agreement is finalized, Wang will join an expansive cast that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Inde Navarrette as Rogue. The ensemble also features Maya Boyd as Storm, Asa Germann as Angel, Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, and Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige unveiled this new lineup at the D23 convention in August, following Sink's debut as Jean Grey in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." This project marks the first reboot of the mutant team since the 2019 Fox film "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" and represents their inaugural outing under the Marvel Studios banner. The film is directed by Jake Schreier, who previously helmed "Thunderbolts," based on a script by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo. It is set for release on May 5, 2028.
Wang's recent credits include playing Wyatt Callow in "Sunrise on the Reaping," where he starred alongside Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy. His filmography also includes Lionsgate's "The Long Walk," an adaptation of Stephen King's classic by Francis Lawrence, as well as Will Ropp's "Brian" and David Wain's "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass." Additionally, he appeared in the 2024 reboot of "Mean Girls" and Disney+ projects "American Born Chinese" and "Chang Can Dunk." He is represented by Stewart Talent, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello. Deadline first reported on Wang's potential involvement, though Marvel Studios could not be immediately reached for comment.
Sources: Variety.