Peter Claffey has reportedly been cast as Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, in Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot. Marvel has been assembling a fresh batch of mutants, and the lab coats have been waiting patiently for a genius with a serious gym membership. The role stayed open longer than anyone expected, which only fueled speculation. Now the search seems to have ended, and the answer arrives with a recognizable face.

While fans spent months pinning blue fur on every tall actor, one outlet claims to know who gets the claws.

Knight Edge Media reports that a knight is trading armor for blue fur, with Peter Claffey, a Game of Thrones universe star, landing Beast. Before acting, the Irish actor played professional rugby for Connacht, so taking hits for a living is nothing new. He rose to fame as Ser Duncan the Tall in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. At about six feet five inches, he certainly has the height for the part.

Knight Edge Media reports that the role became available after Charles Melton reportedly stepped away to play Kakashi Hatake in the live-action Naruto movie. Melton had reportedly tried to make both projects work, reuniting with director Jake Schreier for D23, but ultimately could not make it happen. Claffey, meanwhile, had already been linked to Beast by insider Jeff Sneider in April. Marvel has not commented on the latest casting report. If confirmed, Claffey would follow Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Hoult, who previously portrayed Beast in live-action.

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As Beast waits to turn from rumor into reality, the rest of the mutant team has already officially signed up.

Marvel Studios announced the X-Men reboot cast at D23 2026, starting with Sadie Sink as Jean Grey and Kit Connor as Cyclops. Christopher Abbott takes on a younger Professor X, while Samara Weaving plays Emma Frost. Inde Navarrette joins as Rogue, and Maya Boyd, a Broadway newcomer, steps in as Storm. Asa Germann flies in as Angel, confirmed after D23. Adam Driver lands the main villain role as Mister Sinister.

Sink debuted as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Marvel reportedly offered her the X-Men part without an audition. Jake Schreier, who directed Thunderbolts*, leads the film, with production expected in the UK in early 2027 and a May 5, 2028 release. Kevin Feige also noted at D23 that more names, including the remaining original five members, are still coming. Peter Claffey’s Beast stays a rumor until Marvel itself speaks.

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What are your thoughts on Peter Claffey playing Beast in the X-Men reboot? Let us know in the comments.