New Mutants kicks off a big year for X-Men fans in 2018, with the tale of super-powered teenagers due to be followed up by Deadpool 2 and X-Men: Dark Phoenix that same year. In a continuing effort by 20th Century Fox to change up the comic book movie genre, New Mutants writer/director Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) is putting together "a full-fledged horror movie" that finds our young heroes fighting to save themselves -- not the whole world.

A flurry of New Mutants casting news began arriving this past spring, with Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) signing on as Wolfsbane and Anya Taylor-Joy (Split) as Magik. Rounding out the core characters of New Mutants are Henry Zaga as Sunspot, Charlie Heaton as Cannonball, and Blu Hunt as Mirage. In a role originally offered to Rosario Dawson, Alice Braga (Queen of the South) will be taking on one of the few adult roles in the film, as Dr. Cecilia Reyes, a medical doctor with mutant abilities.

With the primary cast in place, and a release date fast-approaching, actual filming on New Mutants is kicking off this month as planned. As Boone announced via Instagram, which you can see below, shooting begins on Monday, July 10.

Gag gift from @peter_deming We start shooting tomorrow! Wish us luck! #newmutants #xmen A post shared by Josh Boone (@joshboonemovies) on

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The picture shows a "gag gift" clapboard with original cast members of '80s TV show Growing Pains, with an added X-logo in the title as well as on star Kirk Cameron's shirt. It's an amusing play on the New Mutants working title, which is also "Growing Pains." As a bonus, the vintage photo includes a young Leonardo DiCaprio in one of his first major acting roles.

The sitcom Seaver family never experienced anything like New Mutants, however. The film will follow the five teen mutants, held in a secret facility against their will, struggling to survive the demons of their past as they try to learn the extent of their potentially-destructive powers and how to control them. The movie's actors have already gotten together for some bonding time before filming kicks off today, important preparation for a story that's intended to be far more intimate and personal than the typical action-hero comic book movie.

Between New Mutants starting production today, Deadpool 2 already filming and a new X-Men: Dark Phoenix casting rumor popping up every other week, there should be plenty of news to keep X-Men fans busy too - while they wait to see some actual footage from any three of these impending X-Men films.

NEXT: 20th Century Fox Confirms SDCC 2017 Panel

Source: Josh Boone

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