Ahead of his appearance in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as District 12 tribute Wyatt Callow, Ben Wang has entered talks to play Iceman in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men feature film, deadline.com reported.
The deal places Wang alongside a growing roster for the reboot, which Marvel Studios schedules to land in theaters on May 5, 2028. Kevin Feige is producing the project, with Jake Schreier directing from a script co-written by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo.
What to Know About the Casting and Production Schedule
- Ben Wang entered negotiations for the role of Bobby Drake, known as Iceman, ahead of his appearance in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.
- The character of Iceman was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, making his debut in September 1963 within The X-Men #1.
- Marvel Studios has slated the theatrical release of the film for May 5, 2028, with Kevin Feige producing.
The Origins of Bobby Drake on Screen
Iceman stands as a founding member of the mutant team created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963. The character wields cryokinesis, allowing him to generate and control ice and cold.
Garrett Wareing wants to play Iceman in the #MCU.“I wanna play Bobby, Iceman, so badly. That’s what I’m hoping for.”(via @Collider) pic.twitter.com/nAzhcssZsx
In the X-Men films of the 2000s, Shawn Ashmore portrayed Bobby Drake. Marvel Studios’ new project now brings the character into the pipeline under the direction of Jake Schreier.
Assembling the Cast for the X-Men Reboot
Should negotiations finalize, Wang joins an ensemble cast announced across recent Disney events. Christopher Abbott is attached to play Professor X, alongside Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister and Kit Connor as Cyclops.
The cast also includes Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, Asa Germann as Angel, and Sadie Sink as Jean Grey. Marvel revealed Sink’s casting during the theatrical run of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while other principal roles were disclosed at D23.
Wang’s Recent Projects and Upcoming Slate
Wang’s recent credits span major studio features and television projects. He stars in Karate Kid: Legends and appeared in Disney+’s American Born Chinese and the SXSW comedy Brian from Will Ropp.
Additional credits include Lionsgate’s Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk directed by Francis Lawrence, the David Wain comedy Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, the 2024 Mean Girls reboot, and Disney+’s Chang Can Dunk. He is also set to appear in the sixth and final season of Apple TV’s For All Mankind, alongside independent features Kate Must Die and Admissions. He is represented by Stewart Talent, Artists First, and Schreck Rose Dapello.
| Role / Key Figure | Talent Attached | Project Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Iceman / Bobby Drake | Ben Wang (In Talks) | Negotiations reported ahead of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping |
| Director | Jake Schreier | Directing from script by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo |
| Producer | Kevin Feige | Theatrical release set for May 5, 2028 |
Representatives for Marvel could not be reached for comment regarding the ongoing negotiations.
