Ben Wang in Talks to Play Iceman in Marvel's X-Men Reboot

Ben Wang, the actor behind Wyatt Callow in "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping," is in negotiations to play Iceman in Marvel Studios' "X-Men" reboot, according to Deadline, which first reported his potential involvement. Marvel Studios could not be immediately reached for comment.

Wang would portray Bobby Drake, a founding member of the X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character first appeared in "The X-Men #1" in September 1963. The role would mark Wang's third major franchise in quick succession, after "Sunrise on the Reaping" and the latest "Karate Kid" installment.

Who else is joining the mutant team?

If the deal closes, Wang would join a sprawling ensemble that Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige revealed at the D23 convention in August. The cast includes:

• Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
• Kit Connor as Cyclops
• Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
• Inde Navarrette as Rogue
• Maya Boyd as Storm
• Asa Germann as Angel
• Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier
• Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister

Sink's Jean Grey debuted earlier in the blockbuster "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," which preceded the full cast announcement.

What does this change for the franchise?

The film reboots the mutant team for the first time since the 2019 Fox release "X-Men: Dark Phoenix." It is also the team's first outing under the Marvel Studios umbrella, closing a chapter that began with the Fox-era films and their separate continuity. Jake Schreier, who oversaw last year's "Thunderbolts," directs from a script by Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo. "X-Men" is set for release on May 5, 2028.

Wang's rising profile

In "Sunrise on the Reaping," Wang plays Wyatt Callow, one of the District 12 tributes alongside Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, who anchors the "Hunger Games" prequel. His other credits span a range of studios and genres:

• Lionsgate's "The Long Walk," Francis Lawrence's adaptation of the Stephen King classic
• Will Ropp's coming-of-age comedy "Brian"
• David Wain's comedy "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass"
• The 2024 "Mean Girls" reboot
• The Disney+ projects "American Born Chinese" and "Chang Can Dunk"

Wang is repped by Stewart Talent, Artists First and Schreck Rose Dapello.

A deal is not yet signed, and Marvel has not confirmed the casting. But the negotiation signals the studio's pattern of building its new mutant roster from young actors with recent franchise momentum, and an announcement could follow as production moves toward the May 2028 release date.