X-Men: Why Arrow’s Colton Haynes should play Iceman in the MCU

Colton Haynes did a swell job on Arrow, but here’s why he should play the X-Men’s omega level mutant Iceman.

Recently, rumors have been circulating around the internet about Shia LaBeouf being a possibility  to play the X-Men’s omega level mutant Iceman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Now, LaBeouf is a great actor more than capable of playing him, but he’s not the best choice for the role. There are multiple reasons why a number of fans have trouble picturing him as Iceman – some simply hold grudges over Transformers, would you believe? – but one of the more legitimate gripes revolve around his age.

Since Iceman is a notoriously young and enthusiastic hero and Shia is 34 as of right now, time is a major factor here. Production would have to start this year if we were going to see him for more than a few movies.

However, if he’s not the best pick to play Iceman, who is?

This is going to shock the uniformed fan, but Iceman does more than make jokes and make ice. He has layers to him. He has a very Deadpool vibe to him. If you only know the surface of the character, you won’t get him. It’s doubtful that people knew Deadpool was more than a vessel of jokes and violence until they saw the movie.

If Marvel Studios is going to use Iceman in their X-Men franchise, it would be a great idea to cast someone who can do everything Iceman can do (well, minus the ice powers!). With that in mind, we may have already seen the perfect actor for Bobby Drake in the superhero scene – Colton Haynes.

Why should Colton Haynes play Iceman in the MCU’s X-Men?

Colton Haynes has an advantage over a lot of actors. One in particular is his experience in the world of superheroes. He played Roy Harper/Arsenal in the CW TV series Arrow for the vast majority of its run, appearing regularly in seasons 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8.

It may not seem like a big deal, but comic book movies are physically demanding. You have to be in shape. Look at Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt. Both of these guys had to essentially resculpt their bodies to look like the comic book characters they were portraying. Well, Colton Haynes already has that look. And, more importantly, he has the experience of maintaining his physique while working on a popular superhero project.

Another thing that sets Haynes apart from other actors is his inspirational journey to coming out as gay. Before he officially came out, he spent time getting treatment for his anxiety over his past. He later came out as gay during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. During the interview he revealed that he was “happier than [he’s] ever been, and healthier than [he’s] ever been, and that’s what [he] cares about.”

Why is this an important factor in casting him as Iceman? Well, it’s something the character had to deal with in the comics.

For decades, Iceman had to keep his feelings hidden from the world and his teammates. In Uncanny X-Men No. 600, young Iceman confronted his older self about being gay. He said being a member of the X-Men and constantly being in danger was one thing, but he wanted one part of his life where he wasn’t persecuted. Eventually, he said his true feelings out loud. It was an emotional moment to read, and this writer can’t imagine what it’s like in real life.

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Colton Haynes has experienced all of this first-hand. Given his experience, he could add a personal touch – an authenticity – to the role that would be virtually impossible to replicate. When certain aspects about Iceman’s life come up throughout the films, he may be able to take a personal experience and throw that emotion into the scene. Furthermore, he could also assist the creative team in crafting a narrative that accurately represents what it’s like to be a member the LGBTQ community.

Things like this are important to the character and it’s important that the community of people Iceman is representing are represented properly. And Haynes would be capable of adding emotional nuances and layers to the character that, again, just can’t be replicated.

The truth is that this article was originally going to feature a number of potential actors who could portray the role of Iceman. But the more this writer wrote, the more it became apparent that Colton Haynes is the way to go.

He’s got the heart, the experience, the dramatic acting chops and he’s also more than capable of pulling off a scene where he’s believably making silly, funny, and annoying jokes in the middle of a fight just like Iceman would. Does he have what it takes to make ice puns while throwing ice shards at Juggernaut or Magneto? This writer believes so!

What do you think? Is Colton Haynes the way to go with the X-Men’s Iceman in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below.