Karate Kid: Legends star Ben Wang is circling Iceman in Marvel's X-Men, Deadline reported. If he signs, Beast would be the last of the original five X-Men without a reported actor.
Marvel's new X-Men may have found its Iceman, and he already has a Disney+ show on his resume.
Ben Wang, star of Karate Kid: Legends and Disney+'s American Born Chinese, is circling the role of Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, in Marvel Studios' X-Men, Deadline reported Monday, Nov. 2.
"Circling" is Hollywood-speak for front-runner with talks underway. It doesn't mean a signed deal. Marvel hasn't confirmed anything, and JoBlo noted the casting remains unconfirmed.
Wang reportedly beat out three other actors who tested for the part: Gabriel LaBelle of The Fabelmans, Jackson Kelly and Rhenzy Feliz of Marvel's Runaways.
Who else is in Marvel's X-Men?
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige announced the first wave of the cast at D23 in August:
Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
Kit Connor as Cyclops
Christopher Abbott as Professor X
Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
Inde Navarrette as Rogue
Maya Boyd as Storm
Adam Driver as Mister Sinister
Since then, Comics Beat has listed Asa Germann as Angel. Nerdist reported that Marvel is still auditioning actors for Beast.
That makes for some fun math. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's original five X-Men from 1963 were Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman. With Wang circling Iceman, Beast is the only one of the five without a reported actor.
What is Ben Wang known for?
Wang has been busy, and a lot of it has Disney ties.
American Born Chinese (Disney+, 2023): Wang led the series as Jin Wang, opposite Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan. The show came from Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Marvel's Shang-Chi. Disney+ canceled it after one season.
Karate Kid: Legends (2025): Wang starred as Li Fong, a kung fu kid who gets training from both Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio.
The Long Walk (2025): He co-starred in the Stephen King adaptation with David Jonsson.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping: Wang plays Wyatt Callow, a District 12 tribute, TheWrap reported. The movie opens Nov. 20, which is 17 days from now.
So in about one month, Wang could go from Hunger Games tribute to front-runner for Marvel mutant. Not a bad November.
Is Ben Wang officially cast as Iceman?
Not yet. Deadline's word was "circling," and Marvel hasn't announced a deal.
Marvel tends to save big cast reveals for a stage, like it did with the first X-Men names at D23. With Sunrise on the Reaping press coming up, expect interviewers to ask Wang about ice powers anyway. He'll probably dodge.
Who is Iceman in the X-Men?
Bobby Drake is a mutant who can create ice and turn his body into living ice. He's one of the founding X-Men from the very first X-Men comic in 1963, and usually the team's youngest, jokiest member.
Movie fans know him from Fox's X-Men films, where Shawn Ashmore played Bobby starting with X-Men in 2000. Marvel's reboot is a fresh start, so Wang wouldn't be stepping into that version of the story.
When does Marvel's X-Men come out?
May 5, 2028. Feige announced the date at D23. That's about 18 months away.
Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts* for Marvel, is directing. Marvel hasn't announced a writer in the coverage we found.
It's Marvel Studios' first X-Men team movie. Fox held the X-Men movie rights for decades, until Disney bought 21st Century Fox in 2019.
If Wang signs, he'd be part of a young cast that includes Sink, Connor and Navarrette. Marvel clearly wants a team that can stick around for a while.
Wang has already been a Karate Kid and a Hunger Games tribute. Ice powers would at least be a nice change of temperature.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Deadline (Nov. 2, 2026), the original report that Wang is circling Iceman (read via Comics Beat, Nerdist and JoBlo)
Comics Beat (Nov. 2, 2026), Wang's credits, the Sunrise on the Reaping date and Asa Germann as Angel
Nerdist (Nov. 2, 2026), the other actors who tested and Beast casting
JoBlo (Nov. 2, 2026), the "circling" wording and unconfirmed status
Bleeding Cool (Aug. 14, 2026), the D23 cast list, director and May 5, 2028 release date
TheWrap (May 15, 2025), Wang's Wyatt Callow casting and the Nov. 20, 2026 release date
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