A look at The New Mutants characters in the upcoming X-Men horror movie
On April 13th, 2018, the X-Men movie universe will step away from its sci-fi roots and introduce the mutant horror genre onscreen with The New Mutants. Director and writer Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars) is envisioning a horror trilogy, starting with his new film that is based off of Bill Sienkiewicz’s comic book arc that Boone describes as “Stephen King meets John Hughes.” Boone says that the movie also “kind of incorporates some stuff from later issues in the ’80s,” and that the goal is to “examine the horror genre through comic book movies” making them their own distinct horror film while “drawing from the big events” they loved from the comics.
The New Mutants comics began in 1982, created by writer Chris Claremont and originally drawn by Bob McLeod; the story follows a handful of teen mutants that are heroes in training in the Marvel Universe.
In Volume #3 of the New Mutants comics, the Demon Bear character is introduced. The villain is described as a giant bear with incredible strength who “draws his power from negative human emotion,” and can also teleport and corrupt souls. Even though the story is inspired by the Demon Bear comic arc, it won’t be the main antagonist in a film that Boone promises will be connected to the X-Men universe.
The recently released trailer provided fans with a first view of The New Mutants, as well as a brief glimpse of the characters being introduced into Marvel’s cinematic world:
Illyana Rasputin / Magik
Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, Split) plays Magik, capable of teleporting anywhere she desires thanks to teleportation discs created by her powers. The Russian mutant, or sorceress, also happens to be the younger sister of Colossus, a member of the X-Men. In the trailer, Illyana is shown alongside another mutant, Sam Guthrie, possibly experiencing a vision or illusion of what looks to be a young Illyana clutching a stuffed animal dragon before the moment takes a terrifying turn thanks to a creepy man in a mask.
Rahne Sinclair / Wolfsbane
Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones, Cyberbully) plays Wolfsbane, whose powers make it possible for her to turn into a wolf. Rahne suffered from an abusive childhood at the hands of a pastor that raised her, and her religious beliefs make the Scottish mutant question her abilities. The church she grew up in made her believe that her powers were satanic. Rahne is seen screaming at one moment in the trailer, potentially about to shift into her wolf form.
Sam Guthrie / Cannonball
Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things, Shut In) plays Cannonball, a Kentucky native raised in a family of coal miners who can manifest energy that acts as an indestructible shield as he flies like a rocket through the air at high speeds. In the trailer, Sam is shown walking through what appears to be another vision that takes place in a coal mine before he is attacked by one of the miners. Earlier in the trailer, you can also hear a voice-over of Sam saying that the facility “isn’t a hospital,” but a “haunted house.”
Dr. Cecilia Reyes
Alice Braga (I Am Legend, Elysium) plays Dr. Cecilia Reyes, one of the doctors that actually works at the secret facility the teenagers are being held. Besides being a trauma surgeon, the character is also a mutant, one able to create a force field around her. Dr. Reyes is said to be something of a mentor to the young mutants, but in the trailer, she comes off as a possibly sinister character.
Danielle Moonstar / Mirage
Blu Hunt (The Originals) plays Mirage, able to create illusions that manifest other people’s darkest fears or greatest wishes due to the Native American mutant’s psychic abilities as well as her emotional state. In the comics, Dani has a connection with the Demon Bear that haunts her, making her an even more critical component to the movie. In the trailer she is shown undergoing many tests and questions, and seems to be experiencing terrifying visions.
Sunspot / Roberto da Costa
Henry Zaga (13 Reasons Why, Teen Wolf) plays Sunspot, a Brazilian mutant who acquires superhuman strength by manipulating and absorbing solar energy. In the trailer, it looks like Sam witnesses Roberto activating his powers in one particularly scary moment. Roberto is also seen slowly making his way through the dark hallways of the mysterious facility where the New Mutants are trapped.
