Director Bryan Singer has found the young Nightcrawler for his upcoming superhero film "X-Men: Apocalypse." The teleporting blue-skinned mutant is back several "X-Men" movies later and his younger version will be portrayed by "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. Singer broke the news via his Instagram, posting a photo of the young actor as he expressed his excitement to have him onboard.
"X-Men: Apocalypse" will be set in the eighties so this time, the mutant heroes in their preliminary years will be seen in action. Smit-McPhee will be doing superhero duties alongside young stars picked to retell the past of the mutants. Sophie Turner was chosen to play as the young Jean Grey, who was originally portrayed by Famke Janssen.
Tye Sheridan will be the younger counterpart of James Marsden, who is Cyclops in previous "X-Men" films. Lastly, Halle Berry will see a younger version of her character, Storm, in Alexandra Shipp. Nightcrawler, the devilish-looking agility-outfitted hero now owned by Smit-McPhee was previously portrayed by Alan Cumming in "X2: X-Men United."
Another newcomer, Oscar Isaac, will play the malevolent force Apocalypse, the ancient mutant born a thousand years ago that will bring massive demolition in the upcoming movie. It is also rumored that Channing Tatum will debut as Gambit, the bloodshot-eyed mutant endowed with the ability to charge matter with explosive bio-kinetic energy. Fox has a spin-off with the character on the cards.
"X-Men: Apocalypse" will also mark the return of James McAvoy as Professor X, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, and Nicholas Hoult as Beast. Discussions are still ongoing for the appearance of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in the film. The film will also look further into Mystique's relationships with Beast and Magneto.
Filming is set to start in spring. Simon Kinberg wrote the script based on a story dreamed up by himself, Singer, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris. "X-Men: Apocalypse" will hit the silver screen on May 27, 2016.
