Ben Wang, who led Karate Kid: Legends, is in talks to play Iceman in Marvel Studios’ new X-Men film, according to an exclusive Deadline report. A deal has not been announced.
Wang’s Karate Kid role was Li Fong, a young kung fu talent finding his feet in New York with help from Jackie Chan’s Mr Han and Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso.
The Iceman role would make Wang Bobby Drake, one of the original X-Men, whose mutant powers let him create and control ice. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the character in the team’s first comic in 1963. Shawn Ashmore played him in the earlier X-Men films.
Wang would join a cast that includes Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Scott Summers and Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier. Disney presented the ensemble at its D23 event in August, alongside Samara Weaving’s Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette’s Rogue and Maya Boyd’s Storm.
Thunderbolts filmmaker Jake Schreier is directing the new X-Men, with Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo writing the screenplay. Disney lists a May 5, 2028 cinema release.
