Scottish actor James McAvoy (Wanted, Atonement) is pairing up with British director Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake, Kick-Ass) for the next iteration in the X-Men franchise for Twentieth Century Fox. McAvoy has closed his deal to star as Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class, the film that chronicles the younger years of Xavier and Erik Lensherr before they became archenemies Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellan).
X-Men: First Class centers on the two young men when they first discovered their powers. At first the two are the closest of friends, working together to stop a huge global threat, but Xavier and Lensherr then become enemies, leading to an eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
Fox is expected to announce the actor who will play Lensherr shortly. No word yet on whether Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine. Bryan Singer, director of both the original X-Men and its sequel X2 will produce along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg. Production is set to begin this summer in London. Fox has set June 3, 2011 for its release.
LOVE HIM
Conceivably, Wolverine could still be present, since he’s old as hell. Didn’t his origin movie show him fighting in the Civil War? Obviously, Magneto was a kid during WW2, so Wolverine could show up.
Wolverine was born in the 1880s, so Hugh Jackman could easily play Wolverine in this movie.
They would be wise to leave Wolverine out of this movie. Maybe just a cameo.
After the horror that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine, I almost hope to never see Wolverine again.
X-Men Origins: Wolverie wasn’t terrible. But it just wasn’t close to the source material. There is really no true indicator from the comics that Victor Creed is Logan’s brother. It ticked me off a bit. And The Dark Knight raised the bar so high that Wolverine seemed mediocre in comparison.
No, it was pretty bad. It was bad on its own merits, not because it diverged from the source material in the comics.
I really like the idea of McAvoy playing Xavier. Interested in knowing who’ll play Lensherr. It would be cool to see Hugh Jackman do a cameo, maybe as a WW2 soldier liberating the concentration camp that Lensherr is in. That would be cool.
That would definitely be cool! Good idea.
I like that. A small, in-canon cameo would be a perfect use of Wolverine in this movie.
When out of ideas, do a prequel. Lame.
sweet huge comic book fan
Sounds good!
James McAvoy is great! This gives me hope for the movie…
I was hoping the rumors that he would portray Bilbo Baggins would’ve come true. FOX rushing yet another XMen movie into production doesn’t sound promising although I have some faith in Matthew Vaughn directing.
I thought the same thing about James playing Bilbo when I heard this news! With the “Hobbit” being green lighted (lit?) this week and all. Rats! He is incredible in anything he does so I’m sure he’ll elevate this film as well.
He will be so perfect as Bilbo!!! Please please please!!!
As long as there is at least one hot guy in each X-Men movie, I’m good. That’s why I loved X Men Origins. Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Kitsch in one movie? I’m so in.
Don’t forget Liev Schreiber. Yum.
Ew.
Great casting choice. McAvoy is good in everything he does.
Uh…I thought First Class was about the original first class in X-Men: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, etc.
So we’re going to see a guy who levitates and only uses his hands to manipulate metal, and a guy who stands there while is mind does all the work? …yeah.
Actually, maybe less action will be better.
Solid choice with McAvoy but not sure how this’ll pan out. I’ve lost my faith in the X-men films.
I was thinking the same thing…I thought the movie was going to focus on the first X-Men to attend Xavier’s school…I didn’t realize they were actually focusing on the early years of Xavier and Magneto. Still, McAvoy is a great choice for the role, and with Vaughn behind the wheels this movie could turn out pretty darn good.
Same here. I thought First Class was about the younger mutants: Cyclops, Jean Gray, etc. in their early years. I’m kind of upset that it’s only about Xavier and Magneto. Before I was really excited and now I’m kind of worried about the film. I just don’t want another Wolverine / origin story.
Yeah, if this isn’t about, you know, the FIRST CLASS of mutants at Xavier’s academy, then all cleverness is lost on the title. This is like Mock Trial with J. Reinhold.
every day’s a good day for an A.D. reference.
Don’t forget about the William Hung Jury
From what I understand, this will include the “First Class” of X-men as young children. It will center around Prof-X and Magneto, but they will not be the only mutants. The end-game will result in the division between Prof-X and Magento, and Prof-X’s creation of his school for the ones that go with him.
Sounds like they are trying to go closer to “The Dark Knight” and the like compared to how the other X-Men movies have been, which sounds like a good thing. I’ve also heard rumblings we’ll see the original “First class” as kids, so that still helps the title make sense since in most forms of the comic, Xavier has been a part of Jean and Scott’s lives since they were very young. James MacAvoy is a solid actor and there’s a good director at the helm and if the script is good, this could be a helluva movie.
I didn’t see this coming! He’ll be perfect as Professor Xavier. I hope they don’t shave his hair, though–maybe they’ll explain how Prof. X happens to be bald and in a wheelchair. Is there a love interest involved?
Is there a love interest involved? Yeah, me! LOL.
I also volunteer.
Me too! I love James McAvoy!
eeep!! I love x-men and I luuuv McAvoy!! I don’t see how this can suck!!
Does this mean no James for The Hobbit?
I was wondering the same thing. I was really hoping for him in The Hobbit.
I absolutely LOVE James McAvoy. I’ll watch any movie he makes. Lucky for me I like the X-Men movies too so it’s a win win!
Ditto! If somehow Iron Man / RDJ could be involved, my head might explode.
Sorry, X-Men movie rights still owned by FOX, and Iron Man (& the other Avengers) owned by Marvel Studios. FOX, traditionally, doesn’t play nice with others.
awesome possum!!! McAvoy is awesome!!
Now I can go see this movie!
Happy to see Brian Singer attached to the movie in some way. X2 is still my favorite comic book movie of all time.
*Bryan
YES!!!!!!
I LOVE JAMES MCAVOY!!!!
HE IS A SEXY BEAST!!!!
You are absolutely correct. Mr. Tumnus is sexy and a beast. He is a fawn.
Actually, Mr. Tumnus is a faun, not a baby deer.
He would still be hot even if he WERE a baby deer!