Nicholas Hoult, who played Hank McCoy/Beast in Fox's X-Men series, has joined Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie's Mission: Impossible franchise.
McQuarrie posted a photo of Hoult to his Instagram, writing, "Say, @nicholashoult, care to raise a little hell?" Hoult replied, "Love to. Though why stop at a little?" According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hoult will play a villain in the series. Additional details about his role were not provided.
In addition to his time as Beast in Fox's X-Men films, Hoult also had starring roles in 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road and 2019's Tolkien. He was, at one point, in talks to replace Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the DC Extended Universe, though that role eventually went to Twilight star Robert Pattinson. Hoult is one of several new faces for the franchise, as Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Shea Whigham (Joker) will also join the series.
McQuarrie has already helmed two Mission: Impossible films: 2015's Rogue Nation and 2018's Fallout, both of which were positively received by critics. The latter became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, grossing $791.1 million globally. Following that movie's success, McQuarrie was announced for the franchise's seventh and eighth films.
Mission: Impossible 7 will arrive on July 23, 2021, followed by Mission: Impossible 8 on Aug. 5, 2022.