EastEnders star Ben Hardy is going to be swapping Borehamwood for Hollywood after reportedly being cast in X-Men: Apocalypse.

The 24-year-old hunk - who plays Peter Beale in the BBC One soap - is reported by Variety to have landed a "significant" role in the next instalment of 20th Century Fox's mutant superhero saga.

Details of his part have not been revealed, but he is expected to play a younger version of an existing mutant - since the movie will be introducing a number of new actors as familiar characters.

Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan and Alexandra Shipp have been added to the cast as Jean Grey, Cyclops and Storm respectively.

Hardy filmed his EastEnders exit scene yesterday (24 February), with his character opting to move to New Zealand following the big Bobby Beale murder reveal last week.

The movie is due for release next Spring.