Casting rumors for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s X-Men reboot continue to heat up. The latest name making the rounds is Charles Melton, known for his role in Beef Season 2, who is reportedly being considered to play the blue-furred mutant Hank McCoy, also known as Beast. Industry insiders suggest that Melton is one of several actors in the running for the part, though no official decision has been made yet.
Charles Melton Joins the List of Beast Contenders
The rumor started when insider MyTimeToShineHello first mentioned that Charles Melton was in talks for an undisclosed role in the X-Men reboot. Soon after, industry reporter Jeff Sneider shared more details in his newsletter, The InSneider. Sneider confirmed that Melton is being considered for the role of Beast, but he also noted that other actors are still in the mix.
“Of course, others are still in the mix, such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms star Peter Claffey, while even more actors are still waiting to read for the plum part.”
Peter Claffey, who stars in the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms series, was previously rumored to be up for the Beast role. This means Marvel appears to be exploring multiple options before making a final casting choice.
Who Is Charles Melton?
For those who may not know, Charles Melton is a 35-year-old actor of Korean-American descent. He first gained widespread recognition for playing Reggie Mantle on The CW’s long-running series Riverdale, a role he held from 2017 to 2023.
More recently, Melton starred in the second season of Netflix’s anthology series Beef, which premiered in April 2026. In the show, he played Austin Davis, a biracial personal trainer working at a luxury country club. His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Melton also received strong praise for his work in Todd Haynes’ drama May December, where he acted alongside Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. His performance in that film helped him win Best Supporting Actor awards at several festivals, including the Gotham Awards, New York Film Critics Circle, and the National Society of Film Critics.
The Beef and X-Men Connection
There is a clear link between Beef and the X-Men reboot that makes this rumor more believable. Lee Sung Jin, the creator of Beef, is currently co-writing the script for the new X-Men movie alongside Joanna Calo. Director Jake Schreier, who is helming the X-Men reboot, also worked on Beef Season 2.
Filmmakers often prefer to work with actors they already know. Since Melton already worked with Schreier and Lee Sung Jin on Beef, it makes sense that his name would come up during casting discussions.
Other Casting Rumors for the X-Men Reboot
The Beast role is not the only casting rumor circulating. Jeff Sneider also mentioned several other names being considered for key mutant roles.
Odessa A’Zion, who starred in Marty Supreme, is reportedly being looked at for the role of Rogue. Cynthia Erivo, known for her work in Wicked, has been widely rumored to play Storm. However, it remains unclear if Erivo would accept the role or what her salary demands might be.
There is also talk about villain casting. Wagner Moura, who received an Oscar nomination for The Secret Agent, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a villain role in the film.
Hunter Schafer from Euphoria continues to be linked to the role of Mystique. The core team is expected to include original comic book mutants like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Angel, and Iceman. Other popular characters such as Gambit, Rogue, and Jubilee are also expected to appear in some capacity.
What We Know About the X-Men Reboot
The X-Men reboot is being directed by Jake Schreier, who previously directed Marvel’s Thunderbolts. The film will feature a completely new cast and will not connect to Fox’s old X-Men movies. It is set to be released after Avengers: Secret Wars, which is scheduled for 2027.
The movie is currently in the casting phase, with production expected to begin either late this year or early next year. According to Sneider, the film is moving into pre-production during the fourth quarter of 2026.
Director Schreier has confirmed that he is having conversations with potential cast members. However, he also mentioned that most of the rumors circulating online are not accurate.
“We’re talking about things, we’re thinking about things. I can tell you most of the stuff that gets posted online, I don’t know where it comes from, because it doesn’t come from our room, and it isn’t what we’re discussing. But there is a process.”
Fans should expect official casting announcements to come from trade reports later in 2026. San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is also seen as a likely place for Marvel to make major announcements about the film.
The screenplay is being written by Michael Lesslie, with Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo brought in to write a new draft. Lee Sung Jin has expressed his excitement about working on the project, calling it a dream come true for someone who grew up reading X-Men comics.
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Previous Actors Who Played Beast
Beast has been portrayed by two actors in previous X-Men films. Kelsey Grammer played the older version of the character in X-Men: The Last Stand and *X-Men: Days of Future Past. Grammer is set to return as Beast in *Avengers: Doomsday*.
Nicholas Hoult played a younger version of Beast in X-Men: First Class, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix.
The MCU version of Beast is expected to be created using CGI, similar to how the character appeared in The Marvels’ post-credits scene. This means the actor chosen for the role may have his face and body hidden behind visual effects for most of the film.
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