We’ve known for awhile that The New Mutants was being delayed by Fox for almost a whole year, but only recently discovered the “real” reason for the delay. Although the official explanation for film’s extensive reshoots was an upping of the ante of the horror element (after test screenings showed that audiences were responding to the scarier aspects of the Josh Boone-directed film) it turns out, in fact, that the movie is adding another character.

This was confirmed on Friday by actress Anya Taylor-Joy, who plays Illyana Rasputin (a.k.a. Magik). Taylor-Joy told Playlist (via Bloody Disgusting), “I don’t think it being delayed is a bad thing because it’s definitely more important to make sure that we get it right than rushing to make a date. So, hopefully, all of these reshoots and adding of the new character that will give the fans an altogether satisfactory, wonderful product.”

The new character is rumored to be none other than Warlock. The character (not to be confused with Marvel’s Adam Warlock—different character) is a young mutant alien with a contorting black and yellow mechanical body that can transform into any shape. In the comics, the character was often used for visual gags and puns, and other kinds of humorous moments. He is definitely a character that would need a long time to perfect in terms of special effects, could explain the year-long delay.

In the original New Mutants comics, Warlock is a member of the alien Technarchy, a race of mechanical organisms that survive by infecting living creatures with the techno-organic virus before draining the life energy out of the infected organism. Warlock is different from others of his race, however, as he is the only member of his species to develop any degree of compassion, preventing him from killing other beings. This makes him a mutant of sorts to his race, and his father, his people’s ruler, therefore sends him to Xavier’s school on Earth. Warlock always refers to himself by the pronoun “self,” and he refers to almost all of his teammates as “self friends.”

There were rumors that Warlock was in an earlier draft of the script but that Josh Boone cut the character out for budgetary reasons. Maybe the studio changed their mind, realizing what a visually arresting character Warlock is, and would therefore likely become a fan favorite? Hopefully the addition of a major new character to the film won’t change the final product too much from what was originally intended.

Are you excited to see the New Mutants’ alien mascot be a part of the movie? Be sure to let us know what you think of the alien mutants big screen debut down below in the comments.

Images: Marvel Comics

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