Here's a thought: maybe an out actor should get to play an iconic queer character for once!
Reports and rumors have been swirling around the web recently that Shia LaBeouf is being eyed by Marvel Studios to play gay superhero/X-Men character Bobby Drake (aka Iceman) in an upcoming MCU movie, and while we admit that the Transformers alum does have the capability to get back into an action-movie role, we'd actually really, really, really like it if, for once, a beloved queer role actually went to an openly queer actor, especially since, you know, there's still so few of them in the industry.
But who, you ask? Here are a few suggestions!
First of all, who is Iceman?
Iceman (whose civilian name is Robert "Bobby" Drake) is one of the OG X-Men characters created by comic legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The X-Men #1 back in 1963. In more recent comics in recent years, Bobby is portrayed as a gay man, and in a groundbreaking 2017 issue of the All-New X-Men, Bobby finally got to kiss his romantic partner (and rival inhuman) Romeo.
This wouldn't be the first time Iceman has appeared in a live-action X-Men flick...
Canadian actor Shawn Ashmore played the beloved comic character in Fox's series of live-action X-Men films, but that was before Bobby Drake's queerness was confirmed as canon in the comics, so Bobby being gay was obviously never explored on-screen. (A lot of those live-action X-Men movies from the early '00s weren't that great either, but that's besides the point...)
So which openly queer Hollywood actors would be able to serve us Mutant, superhero realness as Iceman?
Colton Haynes
Out heartthrob Colton Haynes would be perfect for the role of Iceman! An alum of MTV's Teen Wolf and The CW's Arrowverse, Colton has already proved he has the chops to star in an action-packed role, and plus, he kinda has an uncanny resemblance to Bobby Drake in more recent X-Men comics! And according to Twitter, Colton wants the Iceman part just as much as we do!
Justice Smith
With his sense of humor and acting talents, Detective Pikachu and The Get Down star Justice Smith, who came out as queer during Pride Month 2020, would definitely bring a freshness to the decades-old Iceman character!
Brandon Flynn
Though he's most known for teen dramas, some fancasts on Reddit have already expressed interest in seeing out actor and 13 Reasons Why star Brandon Flynn take on the role of Bobby Drake, and we'd totally love to see what he could bring to the MCU if given the chance!
Chella Man
The trans actor and deaf activist already played a superhero (Jericho) in DC Universe's live-action Titans series, so seeing him take on another superpowered role would probably be a piece of cake for him!
Scott Evans
His older brother Chris famously played Captain America in the MCU, so we already know out actor and Almost Love star Scott Evans can take on the family superhero legacy and kick some serious bad guy ass as Iceman! (Plus how cool would it be to have two brothers in the MCU?!) Scott even tweeted the same sentiment we have about wanting a gay man to play the icy Mutant!
