Kit Connor is reportedly Marvel Studios’ choice to play Cyclops in its upcoming X-Men film, potentially placing the Heartstopper star at the head of the MCU’s new mutant team.
According to Deadline, Connor emerged as the studio’s preferred choice after director Jake Schreier and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige met with several actors. A smaller group reportedly completed screen tests following the 4 July holiday, with Marvel ultimately selecting Connor last week. Marvel Studios has not yet officially announced the casting. Connor would play Scott Summers, a founding member of the X-Men who can fire powerful beams of energy from his eyes. His signature visor allows him to control those abilities, and the character has regularly served as the team’s field leader throughout Marvel’s comics.
James Marsden previously played Cyclops across the original X-Men films and is returning to the role in Avengers: Doomsday. Tye Sheridan portrayed a younger Scott Summers in the later prequel series, beginning with X-Men: Apocalypse.
Connor is best known for playing Nick Nelson in Netflix’s Heartstopper, recently returning for the concluding film Heartstopper Forever. His recent credits also include Alex Garland’s Warfare, and he is set to reunite with the filmmaker for A24’s adaptation of Elden Ring.
The report follows news that Samara Weaving has been chosen to play Emma Frost in the same film. Marvel has been meeting with actors for several major mutant roles, suggesting further casting announcements could follow as the new team begins to take shape.
Jake Schreier, who directed Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, is leading the new X-Men film. Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and The Bear showrunner Joanna Calo are currently developing the screenplay.
A release date and official title have not been announced. It is also unclear which characters will make up the main team or how the reboot will connect to the returning Fox-era mutants elsewhere in the MCU.
For CultureCues, Kit Connor is an X-citing choice for Scott Summers. We love him, he is an incredible actor and we can already see the vision of him as Cyclops, quite literally. We cannot wait to discover which mutants will join him next. Marvel’s new X-Men are beginning to assemble. To us, our X-Men.
Marvel Studios has not yet announced a release date for its upcoming X-Men film.
Nikki Murray is a UK-based writer, screenwriter and founder & editor of CultureCues, covering film, television, music and pop culture. Her work focuses on storytelling and the moments shaping modern entertainment.