Director Bryan Singer has announced via Twitter that newcomer Lana Condor has been cast as Jubilee in the next episode in the X-MEN franchise.
Jubilee (Jubilation Lee) debuted in Uncanny X-Men #244 by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri, and has the power to generate pyrotechnic energy blasts from her hands. The character started out as a teenage ‘mall rat’ sidekick for Wolverine, yet quickly outgrew the role to become a popular and much-loved member of the X-Men and other mutant teams. She rose to prominence as a central protagonist in the X-Men animated series during the 90s. It is currently unknown if the character will don her trademark yellow trench coat.
The character has previously cameoed in three previous features in the franchise: X-Men portrayed by Katrina Florence, and in X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand played by Kea Wong.
Lana Condor is the latest in a long line of young newcomers to join the feature, with the others being: Ben Hardy (in an unknown role), Tye Sheridan (Scott Summers/Cyclops), Alexandra Shipp (Ororo Munroe/Storm), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Kurt Wagner/ Nightcrawler), and GAME OF THRONES’ Sophie Turner (Jean Grey).
The returning cast from X-MEN: FIRST CLASSÂ and X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PASTÂ includes: James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Jennifer Lawrence, (Raven Darkholme/ Mystique), Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy/Beast), Michael Fassbender (Erik Lehnsherr/ Magneto), with Oscar Isaac joining the cast as the titular villain.
Sir Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry and Channing Tatum are also rumoured to appear in short cameos.
X-MEN: APOCALYPSEÂ is set to arrive in cinemas in May, 2016.
