The X-Men are finally on their way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing with them everyone's favorite mutants, prepped for a brand-new introduction to the moviegoing audience. Where and when they first appear may be unknown, but fans know that they draw nearer with every new film and streaming series.
While every mutant coming to the MCU deserves excitement, fans are particularly eager to see core X-Men team members like Bobby Drake's Iceman join the sprawling mega-franchise. As such, Redditors have begun to voice their opinions on who should play the sub-zero mutant.
Dylan Sprayberry
On the topic of X-Men recastings, Redditor halfeatenreddit suggested Teen Wolf alum, Dylan Sprayberry, for the role of Bobby Drake, writing "Dylan is familiar with playing a supporting role as one of the younger characters within a team and can bring all the charm of the Bobby Drake from the comics."
There are many theories regarding the mutants' introduction into the MCU, but among the top is an all-out reboot of the Fox franchise with fresh faces taking on the roles that have become beloved over time. Dylan Sprayberry, as the above Redditor shows, has the right presence for a younger Bobby Drake, and could grow into a leading role in the MCU well if given the chance over several films.
Nick Robinson
In a franchise fan-casting that included Ralph Fiennes as Professor X, Jason Isaacs as Magneto, and Jodie Turner-Smith as Storm, Reddit user jbl031806 listed their choice for playing Iceman as Love, Simon star Nick Robinson.
The 27-year-old star has made a name for himself in the romantic comedy genre over the last several years, but has often struggled to find the right project when it comes to action and adventure. After appearing in flops like The Fifth Wave and Shadow in the Cloud, Robinson could leverage a leading role in the MCU into more action-heavy roles with greater merit.
Dacre Montgomery
Commenting under a post that included a fan-edited picture of Stranger Things actor Dacre Montgomery as Bobby Drake, Redditor FreemanC17 wrote that they could "totally see it. He was fantastic in Power Rangers, [a] really grounded interpretation of Jason Scott. He'd fit perfectly in the MCU."
Montgomery has laid rather low over the last few years, not appearing in any projects since 2020. However, with rumors that he will return for the fourth season of Stranger Things and an appearance in this year's Elvis biopic, the Australian actor may be poised to return to the screen in a major way, a comeback that would certainly be aided by bagging a coveted role in the MCU.
Charlie Hunnam
Redditor Kraacatoa has their own ideas for a new X-Men cast that skews slightly older than in the original comic books. In their list of fan casts, which included Ed Harris and Jeremy Irons as Professor X and Magneto respectively, they suggest that Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnam play the Iceman.
Despite several false starts with films like King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and the 2017 Papillon reboot, Hunnam has proven himself to be a reliable lead when given the chance, whose charisma could play well with Bobby Drake's signature personality from the comics. Though much older than most fan casts, Hunnam could surprise audiences with his portrayal of the iconic X-Man.
Joe Manganiello
CrusaderZero6 has a suggestion from out of left field when it comes to Bobby Drake's Iceman. Citing their admiration for Spider-Man's introduction into the MCU months after his spider-bite, they suggest the X-Men be added without the origin story, with the "Ultimate" version of Iceman, who is "an elemental force completely at ease with who he is and what he's capable of." For this wisened and grizzled version of the Iceman, they suggest Joe Manganiello.
Though an unusual pick for the typically teenaged Drake, Manganiello could certainly pull off an older and less childish version of the character. After the actor's minor role in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films as Flash Thompson and his ill-fated turn as Deathstroke in the DCEU, such a role could finally give Manganiello another chance at the superhero genre.
Mike Faist
PhilAsp recognizes that, given Iceman's recognition as one of Marvel's several teenage superheroes, there tends to be a ticking clock when it comes to casting. As such, they write "Depending on how soon we'll get Iceman, I think Mike Faist could be a good pick."
Mike Faist, known for his role in the original Broadway cast of Dear Evan Hansen and, more recently, in the Academy-Award winning reboot of West Side Story has the general air about him that fans would expect from Iceman. Though he is getting older, he still has a youthful energy that, as it matures, could easily set Bobby Drake up to be a leader in the MCU.
Dave Franco
"Dave Franco for Iceman," writes Reddit user PatrickD8 when prompted to provide their own casting for the future X-Men series. Franco is best known for his roles in Now You See Me and The Disaster Artist; the latter of these also stars his older brother, James.
Franco may be a bit older than most Bobby Drake fan casts, but he has the general aura about him of a boisterous youth with more energy than he knows what to do with, not unlike Drake's early comic book days. One of the few things working against Franco, however, is that he may simply be too recognizable for such a role, which will likely be passed down to an up-and-coming star rather than a well-established one.
Colton Haynes
While discussing possible actors to play Bobby Drake, Redditor discordantreflection writes that they "think Colton Haynes looks the part," though they later admit that they have only seen him in one project, likely referring to his recurring role in Arrow, playing the vigilante Arsenal.
Haynes, a veteran of the superhero genre, could very well make the leap from DC to Marvel now that his role as Roy Harper has definitively come to an end with Arrow's final season. Though in his early thirties, Haynes could still certainly pull off a college-aged Bobby Drake, giving fans the younger version of the character that they've been hoping for.
Aaron Ashmore
JargonJohn likely floated their own tongue-in-cheek suggestion with a smirk, as they wrote that "Aaron Ashmore" would make a good Iceman for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Aaron Ashmore happens to be the younger brother of Shawn Ashmore, the actor who portrayed the mutant in Fox's X-Men franchise.
Though likely suggested as a joke, there is some merit to the idea of Aaron Ashmore filling his brother's shoes. There are any number of wacky multiversal explanations that could explain an eerily identical Iceman to the one fans know and love, especially if Multiverse of Madness includes the reality-warping "House of M" comics storyline, which would allow all types of meta hijinks on the part of Marvel Studios and their casting committee.
Dylan O'Brien
Not all casting choices require a long and fleshed-out argument. This is the approach that LearnHumility took when pitching their own casting choice for Bobby Drake's Iceman, simply writing "Dylan O'Brien" in a thread dedicated to finding the next actor to take on the role.
Dylan O'Brien is a solid choice for the iconic character. Having established himself as a bankable star over the early years of his career, the actor is only in need of a single iconic role that will ensure he is remembered by all generations of movie fans. Given his propensity to play youthful and heroic roles, O'Brien could be among the very top candidates to play one of the founding X-Men.