Nicholas Hoult has announced he will miss his scheduled appearance at the upcoming New York Comic-Con after undergoing knee surgery that has left him unable to walk or fly

He said: "I'm so sorry to tell you that I won't be able to join you this time. Unfortunately, I had knee surgery a couple of weeks ago and I can't walk or fly yet, so I'm not going to be able to make it.

"I was really looking forward to it, so I'm sorry."

Nicholas continued: "I hope you have a wonderful weekend and hopefully I'll be joining you in the near future and get to see you all soon."

The actor was due to appear on a highly anticipated X-Men reunion panel alongside his former co-star James McAvoy.

Nicholas first portrayed mutant scientist Hank McCoy - known as Beast - in X-Men: First Class in 2011 and went on to reprise the role in several sequels, including Days of Future Past and Dark Phoenix.

He was also set to discuss his latest role as Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor in the upcoming film Superman, part of the new DC Universe series of movies.

His casting was announced earlier this year, generating significant attention from both comic-book fans and film critics.

While Nicholas did not reveal details about his surgery, medical experts often advise against flying soon after knee operations due to the potential risk of deep vein thrombosis.

Recovery times can vary depending on the procedure, with some patients advised to wait up to three months before travelling by air.

New York Comic-Con runs from 9 to 12 October and attracts thousands of attendees each year.

Nicholas had been expected to participate in fan events and interviews throughout the weekend.

Away from his superhero roles, Nicholas has built a diverse career across film and television.

He began acting as a child and gained early acclaim for his breakout performance in the 2002 film About a Boy alongside Hugh Grant.

He later became known for his role as Tony Stonem in the teen drama Skins, before establishing himself in Hollywood with major roles in Mad Max: Fury Road, The Great and The Menu.