Kodi Smit-McPhee joins 'X-Men: Apocalypse' as young Nightcrawler

Kurt Wagner is returning to the X-Men film franchise, but a new, younger face will be donning the blue skin and pointy tail.

X-Men: Apocalypse director Bryan Singer revealed via his Instagram that Let Me In and The Road‘s Kodi Smit-McPhee is joining the cast as a younger version of Nightcrawler, a blue-skinned mutant who has the ability to teleport.

Nightcrawler first appeared in the X-Men film series in X2: X-Men United, making his debut during a fan-favorite sequence in the White House that still ranks among one of the most fun to watch scenes in the franchise. Alan Cumming originally portrayed the character in that film, and despite the warm reception he received, the character did not appear in any of the subsequent X-Men films.

Singer has previously revealed casting for the film via his social media accounts, announcing the actors who will play a young Jean Grey, Storm, and Cyclops on his Twitter feed.

Nightcrawler is a fascinating character in the comics, with plenty of history and pathos to draw from depending on how Singer plans to rewrite the cinematic history of the X-Men in Apocalypse. Most notable among them are his familial history with several other prominent X-Men characters, as well as his Catholic faith.

And to give fans a bit more of a look at the early in-development film, Singer also recently posted concept art that pulls from the titular villain Apocalypse’s signature color palette.

X-Men: Apocalypse is set to hit theaters on May 27, 2016.