Peter Claffey, known for his role as Sir Duncan in HBO's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is reportedly set to portray Beast in Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men film reboot, according to a report from Knight Edge Media. The Irish actor is expected to join a cast that already includes Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier, Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister.
Claffey's path to acting followed a professional rugby career. He graduated from Bow Street Academy for Screen Acting in 2020 and has since appeared in television shows such as Bad Sisters. Charles Melton was previously considered for the role of Beast but reportedly withdrew to focus on the live-action Naruto movie.
The character of Beast, first introduced in Marvel Comics' X-Men #1 in 1963, is recognized for his dual nature as a physically imposing, bestial mutant with a genius-level intellect. The role has previously been played by Kelsey Grammer in the original X-Men film series, with Grammer slated to reprise the character in Avengers: Doomsday. Nicholas Hoult portrayed a younger version of Hank McCoy in the X-Men prequel films.
In addition to Claffey's casting, reports suggest Renate Reinsve may have met with Marvel about playing Moira MacTaggert, a geneticist and mutant with reality-altering abilities. However, Reinsve has publicly expressed doubts about her suitability for a Marvel film.
The new X-Men film, scheduled for release on May 5, 2028, aims to establish a fresh iteration of the mutant team within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The reported cast also includes Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm, and Asa Germann as Angel. This ensemble suggests a significant departure from the previous Fox-produced X-Men movies.