Marvel has finally locked Kit Connor to play Cyclops, aka Scott Summers, but the story of who almost got the role keeps changing. Rumors pointed to several young Hollywood actors, but recent updates make it clear who the actual runner-ups were.
According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s Newsletter, the Gen V star Asa Germann actually tested for Cyclops and came much closer to landing the role. Earlier reports from Jeff Sneider claimed Ender’s Game star Asa Butterfield was the first to come behind Connor.
Meanwhile, the new update walks it back by adding that the Butterfield connection was inaccurate. The confusion might be due to the same first name, “Asa,” shared by both actors. While Connor takes the lead, Marvel may be eyeing another role for Germann.
Further, Cooper Hoffman was also part of the process, and Marvel reportedly had strong interest in him. Some early discussions took place, but Hoffman’s scheduling issues took him out of the running. Outer Banks star Drew Starkey was also in the race, though reports suggest he did not pass the initial rounds of testing.
Why Cyclops remains a key piece of Marvel’s X-Men reboot
Cyclops has always been the core member of the X-Men, serving as the team’s field leader and Professor X’s first student. This makes the character an integral part of the franchise. For a reboot aiming to introduce the mutants to a new generation of movie lovers, casting the leader of the X-Men matters the most.
For Marvel, Cyclops’s complicated relationship with Jean Grey, strong sense of responsibility, and role as a leader can shape the team’s dynamic and give the new X-Men a clear direction. Given the casting plans and the long process with multiple actor tests, it highlights how important Cyclops is to the new team in the X-Men reboot.
For the unversed, so far, Samara Weaving has joined the cast as Emma Frost, while Kit Connor has secured the role of Cyclops/Scott Summers.
The upcoming MCU X-Men reboot is directed by Jake Schreier and produced by Kevin Feige.
