Maisie Williams defends The New Mutants over its "really bad rep"

The New Mutants star Maisie Williams has spoken out in defence of the new X-Men film following two years of delays.

The film was originally scheduled for release in April 2018, but was later pushed back again and again, and is now finally on track for its release in April 2020.

But while fans have been left concerned that all these delays could be a sign that the film may not be very good, star Maisie Williams has defended The New Mutants, saying she's "really proud" of it and adding that a huge reason for its delayed release was the merger between Disney and Fox.

Related: The New Mutants has a "very unique" tone, according to Anya Taylor-Joy

"It's been a long time coming, we shot it many years ago, but I'm really proud of it finally coming out," Maisie said during Sky's recent Up Next Event (via Radio Times).

"It was a lot to do with the merger, I think [the film] had a really bad rep and people thought there was going to be something wrong with it, but I honestly think it was just really badly affected by something that was out of our control."

And the good news is that it sounds like the film has finally come together, with the actress admitting that she was able to see the final cut of the movie a "couple of weeks ago".

"There's so many things about it that are progressive and new for a story of this kind," she added.

Related: The New Mutants features a familiar X-Men face

"We've seen so many superhero films and I think New Mutants really prides itself on being more of a thriller… we're not heroes, we're kids that are trying to figure it all out and I think that's really relatable to the young people of today."

Maisie stars as Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane in the film, appearing alongside a cast that includes Split's Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin/Magik and Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton as Sam Guthrie/Cannonball.

Speaking to Digital Spy on a set visit on the film back in 2017, Maisie admitted that she thought that X-Men fans didn't want her to appear as Rahne.

"If people like you, then great, but you've still got to do a good job. And if people don't like you, then great, but you've still got to do a good job. From what I thought, people didn't really want me," she told us.

"I think to get any role as an actor is great, and to get something this big after Game of Thrones, I'm thrilled about. It's really gonna help push me as an actor."

The New Mutants is scheduled for release on April 3, 2020.

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