Remember, don't call 'em X-Babies.
The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed rumors that the upcoming X-Men spinoff film New Mutants has cast Maisie Williams as Rahne Sinclair and Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin, better known to Marvel Comics fans as Wolfsbane and Magik. Reportedly, director Josh Boone has wanted the actresses for these roles since last year "but was only able pull the trigger on them once the movie was greenlighted earlier this year."
According to the article, New Mutants will "focus on the angst-driven adventures of a diverse group of teens that include Native American Danielle Moonstar, Scots girl Wolfsbane, Brazilian ladies man Sunspot, a Kentuckian code-named Cannonball and Russian teen Magik. Also in the mix will be an alien named Warlock."
Created in 1982 by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod, Wolfsbane first appeared in Marvel Graphic Novel #4 as Rahne Sinclair, a Scottish orphan raised by an abusive pastor named Reverend Craig, who beat religion into her from an early age. When she was revealed as a mutant able to shift her form between human and wolf, Reverend Craig led an angry mob, intending to burn her at the stake. Rahne was rescued and later adopted by Moira MacTaggert. Later, when she confronted Reverend Craig as an adult, she learned that Reverend Craig was actually her biological father and that her mother had been a prostitute. She was recruited by Professor X to become a student at his School for Gifted Youngsters, and to join the original New Mutants.
Created in 1975 by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, Magik first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 as Illyana Nikolievna Rasputina, the younger sister of the X-Man Colossus, who was born in the Ust-Ordynski Collective farm, near Lake Baikal, Siberia. At six years old, Illyana was called to the Limbo dimension by Belasco, who sought to bring forth the Elder Gods to rule Earth. She was raised there and frequently tormented by Belasco's underling S'ym. Later, she was rescued and tutored in the practice of white magic by that dimension's version of Storm (who turned to magic when her mutant powers waned). After getting Illyana back under his control, Belasco instructed her in the art of black magic in the hopes that it would further corrupt her soul. Illyana eventually created the Soulsword and took over Limbo as its new ruler, banishing Belasco from Limbo and claiming S'ym as her servant. She then returned to Earth, now a decade older, although very little time had passed on Earth since her kidnapping. Soon afterward, she joined the New Mutants.
This will be the first time the two characters will appear in live action, although Wolfsbane has appeared in the animated series X-Men, X-Men: Evolution (voiced by Chantal Strand), and Wolverine and the X-Men. Magik has also appeared in the X-Men animated series, voiced by by Tara Charendoff.
New Mutants is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 13, 2018.