X-Men’s Reported Top Choice for New Cyclops Is Totally Unpredictable

Marvel’s reported top choice for Cyclops in the X-Men reboot is someone nobody saw coming. The MCU’s mutant team may have found its leader in an unexpected rising star.

Cooper Hoffman from The Long Walk is rumored for X-Men reboot

Industry scooper MyTimeToShineHello posted on X that “Cooper Hoffman (The Long Walk) is the top choice to play Cyclops in the MCU X-Men reboot.” The post, shared on July 15, described the claim as an “insane X-Men scoop.” However, Marvel Studios has not confirmed any casting for the reboot film.

Hoffman is the son of late Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. He made his debut in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza and earned a Golden Globe nomination for the role. Most recently, his theatrical release was The Long Walk, Francis Lawrence’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 1979 novel.

The 23-year-old actor played Ray Garraty in the dystopian survival thriller. Notably, the film grossed $63 million worldwide on a $20 million budget and holds an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. He also won the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award for his performance.

Meanwhile, in June 2026, Deadline reported that Hoffman will star in Hulu’s drama pilot Durango alongside Kathryn Newton. He also has several films in post-production, including Luca Guadagnino’s Artificial and The Chaperones. His upcoming slate signals a rapid rise in Hollywood.

Elsewhere, Jake Schreier is directing the X-Men reboot after helming Thunderbolts*. Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo are writing a new draft of Michael Lesslie’s original script. Reports suggest the reboot will build around the original comic book lineup featuring Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Angel, and Iceman.

Other scoopers previously linked Harris Dickinson and Jack Champion to the Cyclops role. Multiple casting rumors continue to swirl ahead of San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Marvel Studios has not set an official release date for the X-Men reboot.