' X-Men: The New Mutants' movie news: Production to begin in 2017; Professor X included in film

New MutantsMarvel Comics

"New Mutants," a brand new spin-off of the "X-Men" films which focuses on a younger team of mutants fighting for mutant equality and peace with humans, is set to include Professor Charles Xavier aka Professor X. The confirmation comes from writer-producer Simon Kinberg, who recently sat down for an interview with Collider.

"Right now, as the movie exists, Professor X would be a part of a 'New Mutants' movie," Kinberg explained. 

However, it is pointed out that Kinberg does not state if this iteration of Professor X will be played by James McAvoy or Patrick Stewart. Collider states that Kinberg did explain in the past that the film will be set in the 1990s, which has many fans speculating they will be bringing in James McAvoy to play a younger Professor X. 

This does not entirely rule out Patrick Stewart, although the character is already set to make his appearance as the character in the upcoming "Wolverine 3" and this may be his final appearance as the character, allowing McAvoy to keep the role for future "X-Men" films and their spin-offs.

Kinberg also explained that if possible, production for the new film should begin by early 2017. The film is set to be helmed by Josh Boone, who directed the highly successful and critically acclaimed film "The Fault in Our Stars." At this point, no official casting has been announced although Maisie Williams and Anya Taylor-Joy are rumored to join the film as Wolfsbane and Magik respectively.

The writer also explained that the movie would have a strong "young-adult" genre vibe to it, allowing the characters to focus more on smaller missions and keep a "coming of age" story given that the main characters are signfiicantly younger than the main X-Men team.

As stated in the report from Collider, the main X-Men members such as Cyclops or Jean Grey may be making a cameo appearance in "New Mutants."