X-Men: First Class Fills Roster Spots
It’s official! More of the casting for Marvel’s upcoming X-Men: First Class has been solidified with some names you may recognize, paving the way for the next mutant free-for-all. Fans are ready, though some with warranted skepticism, for this next installment in the series which will actually serve as a prequel in the X-Men movie storyline. With a release date set for next year, the film has begun gaining momentum in the rumor mill, although there are some things we can verify. We’ll see a younger Magneto and the introduction of some mainstay characters left out of the original trilogy (such as the lovely Emma Frost).
If there’s one thing about that original trilogy, it’s that it is not likely to withstand the test of time. Heck, they already look hokey only four years to a decade after their cinematic release. The writing was questionable and the casting looked good on paper, but didn’t cut the mustard in the final products. Anna Paquin is a perfect fit on True Blood but was a poor pick for Rogue. Ian McKellen always delivers his dialogue with a dominance of the screen, but was a bit too old to play the role of the polymer-challenged bad guy. With the way things are shaping up, here is to hoping the roster below is the formula for success in X-Men: First Class:
Director: Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass)
Emma Frost: January Jones (Mad Men)
Young Magneto: Bill Milner (Son of Rambow)
Adult Magneto: Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds)
Young Mystique: Morgan Lily (2012)
Adult Mystique: Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)
The Man in Black (?): Oliver Platt (Frost/Nixon; 2012)
Angel: Zoe Kravitz (yes, the daughter of Lenny Kravitz)
Just to add a little more information that has come out…this movie will be set in the 60’s and the villains of the film will be the Hellfire Club,featuring Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw,and Emma Frost. Other cast members include Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggert, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Lucas Till as Havok, Edi Gathegi as Darwin, and Jason Flemyng as Azazel.
I liked the first trilogy and I don’t think they are dated. I think the first one didn’t have a lot of money to spend but the second one was excellent and the third was ok but could have been a lot better if it had been directed by Bryan Singer. I’m trying to keep an open mind for this prequel but I’d prefer another x-men movie to continue where 3 left off but maybe with a different roster.
Although I am not a fan of the xmen movies, I’m curious about where they will go with this and happy to see Emma Frost. 🙂
I just want to see an X-Men movie where Wolverine isn’t the one mutant who can solve every problem. I’m a fan of a lot of what’s going on here, I just hope the film isn’t overstuffed with mutants and isn’t as rushed as it seems to be, given the film is supposed to come out next June.
Aaron I don’t think that’s entirely fair. True, Wolverine is a fan favorites and has a prominent role in the movies, but in no way is he the one character that solves everything. The only time I can think of where he did something all by himself without help from one of the other x-men was stopping Dark Phoenix at the end of X-Men 3. Not only did that make sense, as he was the only one with recuperative powers that could survive her but also because of the character’s relationship to Jean Grey which had been developed over three movies. I don’t have a problem with you complaining about the focus on Wolverine (although I’m ok with it) but without the aid of the other x-men, he would have failed alone in each movie.
Yes, I’m exaggerating a bit about Wolverine’s role in the films, even though the focus was way too heavy on him, but there have been four X-men related films, let’s take a break from him. I enjoy seeing Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and would be one of the few to argue why I thought X-Men Origins was fun, but it’s time for a fresh take on the X-Men (although the less Cyclops the better).
And Wolverine may not have been alone every time (besides Phoenix, Deathstrike fight, X-Mansion Soldiers take-down, Mystique fight), but he’s certainly the Frank Sinatra of this Rat Pack, taking on all the big and tough duties.
It sounds like you will like First Class then. No Wolverine in that and we will have him in another solo film with him going to Japan where I’m sure he will thrash some more bad guys.
Hey, we’ll see. Of the Marvel movies coming out next year, Thor is the one that most intrigues me. Camp vs. Epicness, talented cast vs. the costume pictures we’ve seen so far. It’s on.