Stranger Things alum Charlie Heaton has begun training for his role as Cannonball in the X-Men spinoff film The New Mutants. Heaton's trainer, Marc Bevan, indicated as much in a post to Instagram, writing, "Been an absolute pleasure training @charlie.r.heaton for his upcoming role in X-Men : The New Mutants. Check out @xmenmovies for regular updates on filming. Here I am dwarfing both @charlie.r.heaton and his agent!"

It was reported back in May that Heaton was "in talks" for the Cannonball role; this latest social media post seems to confirm his presence in the film.

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The New Mutants is described by the director as “a full-fledged horror movie set within the X-Men universe." A reported plot synopsis reads: “Held in a secret facility against their will, five new mutants have to battle the dangers of their powers, as well as the sins of their past. They aren’t out to save the world — they’re just trying to save themselves.”

The New Mutants is expected to begin production in July in Montreal, ahead of its release on April 13, 2018. The film stars Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) as Wolfsbane, Anya Taylor-Joy (Atlantis) as Magik, Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things) as Cannonball, Blu Hunt (The Originals) as Dani Moonstar and Henry Zaga (13 Reasons Why) as Sunspot. Rosario Dawson, known for her role on Marvel’s Netflix dramas, is reportedly in talks to play Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who will serve as the team’s mentor, in place of Charles Xavier.

(via ComicBook)