Since 2000, Fox has continually pushed ahead with their X-Men universe. Unfortunately, the reception of every film has not been as well as they have hoped. While both X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past were financially successful and well-received, the conclusion to this trilogy, X-Men: Apocalypse, did not have a similar reception. It seemed as though the young versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, and Storm would move into prominent positions in the franchise moving forward, but the project that has continued to get positive news has instead been New Mutants.

Josh Boone has been attached to direct the project for over a year, but with no confirmed release date, Fox appears to be taking its time developing this new installment in the cinematic X-verse. While there have yet to be any confirmed cast members, with the recent reveal of an animatic video for the project, one new potential lead has been revealed that already has ties to Boone.

Coming Soon is reporting that Fox and Boone are looking at Nat Wolff to play Sam Guthrie aka Cannonball. Wolff is no stranger to working with Boone, after having appeared in the filmmaker's YA adaptation, The Fault in Our Stars. Wolff's other credits include starring in Paper Towns and he has a number of other projects in development at the moment. While he has not yet officially joined the project, his familiarity with Boone certainly gives him an advantage in the casting process.

New Mutants Brings Aliens into X-Men Movie Universe

The involvement of Cannonball is not new information, with him having long been one of the reported members of the team in New Mutants. Should this report stay true, Cannoball will be joined by Wolfsbane, Magik, Mirage, and Sunspot. There have so far not been any official casting announcements for New Mutants, but Maisie Williams for Wolfsbane and Anya Taylor Joy for Magik has previously been rumored.

With production reportedly starting early next year, casting announcements should be on the horizon. Given the lack of contrary reports for actors in the running for Wolfsbane, Magik, and Cannonball, it seems likely at this point that all three of the previously reported actors will get their respective roles. If they are, they should be joined by James McAvoy's Charles Xavier in New Mutants, unless his contract has not been extended.

Plot details for New Mutants continue to be secretive, but now that multiple drafts of teh script have been completed, Fox and Boone should have a very clear idea of what the story is going to be. How the New Mutants team plays into the rest of the X-verse remains to be seen, but the project appears to be in good shape at the moment, especially if Wolff signs on.

NEXT: Fox Sets New X-Men Movie Release Dates

Source: Coming Soon

Key Release Dates