Ben Wang, known for his role in The Long Walk, is reportedly in discussions to portray Iceman in Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men reboot. According to Deadline, Wang is among a few actors who have tested for the part of Bobby Drake, with other names like Gabriel LaBelle, Jackson Kelly, and Rhenzy Feliz also rumored to be interested.
Wang's potential casting suggests that Iceman will be a part of the 2028 X-Men film. While not as prominent as characters like Wolverine or Cyclops, Iceman has been a significant figure in the X-Men comic lore for decades. He has appeared in various animated projects and video games, and was previously portrayed by Shawn Ashmore in the original X-Men film series.
Wang has accumulated notable roles in a relatively short time. Following smaller parts in shows like the MacGyver reboot and The Last O.G., he appeared in the 2024 film Mean Girls and Karate Kid: Legends. His performance as Hank Olson in the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King's The Long Walk garnered attention, and his role in The Hunger Games prequel is expected to further increase his visibility.
Marvel has already confirmed several cast members for the X-Men film, including Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Adam Driver as Mister Sinister, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Maya Boyd as Storm, and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost. Asa Germann was also reported to have joined the cast as Angel.
The X-Men film is slated for a May 5, 2028 release and will be directed by Jake Schreier. Whether Wang ultimately lands the role of Iceman remains to be seen. In the interim, the original X-Men team is set for a final outing in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. It is currently unknown if Shawn Ashmore's Iceman will appear in that film.