While X-Men: Apocalypse is still a few weeks away, 20th Century Fox appears to be shifting gears towards the New Mutants adaptation. The New Mutants casting rumors were shot down by Fox, but X-Men producer Simon Kinberg has said that at least one familiar face will be in that movie!

“Right now, as the movie exists, Professor X would be a part of a New Mutants movie,” related Kinberg during an interview with Collider. Kinberg added that New Mutants could begin filming early next year, which suggests that Fox may have it on a fast track for release.

Kinberg didn’t say who would play Professor X in New Mutants, but it would probably be James McAvoy reprising his role from the X-Men prequel trilogy. There is also the question of when the New Mutants movie would take place. Kinberg recently said that the next X-Men film would be set in the ’90s, and it’s possible that New Mutants is the movie that he was referring to. That would mean that some of the younger heroes from X-Men: Apocalypse could also return for New Mutants.

If New Mutants takes place in the present, that would open the door for Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus to appear, and possibly even Deadpool himself. But it’s far more likely that New Mutants will focus on the characters from Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod’s early run on that title. New Mutants director Josh Boone seemed to confirm that when he recently posted images of several classic New Mutants characters.

If the original characters are used, the New Mutants film will probably take its cues from Claremont and McLeod’s origin story for the team. However, that tale would definitely need to be updated with a modern spin, even if it is taking place two decades ago.

Are you excited to see Professor X in the New Mutants movie? Which characters do you want to see in the film? Escape the Danger Room and share your thoughts in the comment section below!

How might the X-Men TV series fit into the greater cinematic universe?

Image: 20th Century Fox/Marvel