Per Deadline, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has found its new Cyclops actor. Ever since it was announced that the X-Men were coming to the MCU, rumors have swirled about who would play Scott Summers, the team’s field leader and one of Marvel’s most important mutants. Early on, rumors swirled that Jack Champion would be playing Cyclops, and most recently, there was speculation that Cooper Hoffman would be hired for the role. However, according to Deadline, the character will be played by Kit Connor, though Marvel Studios is yet to confirm.
Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts*, will helm the first X-Men film in the MCU. The script is being written by Beef creator Lee Sung Jin and The Bear co-creator Joanna Calo. It will be the first X-Men movie since Dark Phoenix in 2019, when Disney acquired Fox. Most of the Fox X-Men will be returning in Avengers: Doomsday, including James Marsden as Scott Summers, but Deadline’s report suggests that the search for the MCU Cyclops is now over.
Kit Connor Will be Playing the X-Men’s Fearless Leader in the MCU
Reports claim that sources have been following several meetings and auditions for the past couple of months, seemingly confirming that Connor is now the third actor to be cast as an X-Man, joining Sadie Sink as Jean Grey and Samara Weaving as Emma Frost. While there have been rumors about Beef co-stars Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny as Beast and Rogue, respectively, nothing has been confirmed yet. Adam Driver has been rumored to play the X-Men movie’s villain, with fans initially thinking he would play Magneto before sources shifted towards Mister Sinister.
Connor played young Elton John in Rocketman, Reb Kid in Ready Player One, and Pantalaimon in His Dark Materials.
Much like Sadie Sink is best known for her role in the Netflix original Stranger Things, Connor is most known for his role in Netflix’s Heartstopper. He played Nick Nelson, Charlie Spring’s love interest, across 24 episodes and in the 2026 sequel movie Heartstopper Forever. Connor also recently played Tommy in A24’s Warfare and was cast in the lead role of the studio’s Elden Ring adaptation. Connor’s star power is clearly growing, and Marvel seems to have cast the English actor at the perfect time if it wants the X-Men to be its next long-running flagship filled with young talent.
The MCU’s X-Men Movie is Highly Anticipated
Kevin Feige is clearly going all in on the X-Men for the MCU. With a proven superhero team director in Schreier and talented writers penning the script, hype is only growing, and every casting announcement brings fans one step closer to seeing the iconic team on screen once again. Spider-Man: Brand New Day surpassed Avengers: Endgame for the biggest domestic opening weekend in history with $360 million and grossed $1.155 billion in its first 7 days. A big part of that success may have been Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey.
Although Marvel did its best to keep Sink’s role a secret, fans quickly, and correctly, guessed her role. Hype around the X-Men is at an all-time high, and so is Cyclops, further proven by the release of X-Men ’97 Season 2. Additionally, the captain of the X-Men received another boost in popularity when Cyclops was added to Marvel Rivals. Now the MCU seemingly finally has its Cyclops in Kit Connor, fans are waiting with bated breath as more casting news comes out.
