The X-Men universe series from creator Matt Nix and director Bryan Singer has added a few new cast members, including at least one character very well known to fans of the X-Men comics who has never made it into live-action before. According to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Amy Acker, best known to Joss Whedon fans as Fred Burkle/Illyria from Angel and from other Whedon projects like Dollhouse, Agents of SHIELD, and Much Ado About Nothing, has joined the cast as one of the leads.
Acker’s character is a seemingly new one named Kate Stewart, described as “a woman who is struggling with her separation from her husband, Reed (Stephen Moyer from True Blood) and her increasingly challenging teenage children. When her family situation takes a dark turn, she finds that she’s stronger than she thinks.” By “dark turn,” we imagine that, based on the series description, both of her teenage children turn out to be mutants.
Of bigger interest to longtime comics fans is the casting of Emma Dumont (Bunheads) as longtime X-Man Lorna Dane, a.k.a. Polaris. In the comics, Polaris was the seventh member to join the team back in 1968, one of the first outside the original five. Known for her magnetic powers and bright green hair, Polaris was originally introduced as the daughter of Magneto, and though that was later said to be false, more recent comics have countered that she is indeed Magneto’s offspring. She later became a long standing member of X-Factor, along with her long-time boyfriend Havok.
Also added to the cast is actor Percy Hynes White (A Night at the Museum) as a character named Andy, described as “a sensitive kid and bit of a loner, who keeps to himself to avoid the turmoil he faces at school and at home.” Whether or not Andy is an established mutant from the Marvel Comics is still unknown. So far, aside from Polaris, the only other confirmed X-Men comic book character is Blink, who will be played by Jamie Chung. But they could be keeping the identities of some of the others under wraps for now.
The as-yet untitled X-Men universe show is set to go before the cameras soon, with a possible 2018 premiere date.
Are there any other long standing X-Men characters you hope make it into this new series? Let us know who you’d like to see in the comments below.
Images: 20th Century Fox / Marvel Comics
