They made a Steel movie without directly tying him to Superman and especially the death of superman
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (Casting, Rumors, Pics till release)
- Thread starter Obiwanshinobi
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Given how hilariously awful that film was, I'm not entirely sure that it's the best example to bring up in such a conversation.
right, but they still were able to do it.
The casting of MacAvoy, who's only 31, really surprises me. This is called First Class, so I assumed the focus would be on the founding of the school and the training of Xavier's first students. That would suggest a timeframe only, maybe, 10-15 years before the first movie, and that would suggest a Xavier in his 50s. Now, maybe they intend to start earlier and move forward a couple of decades, but I'm not sure casting a 30-something actor to play 50s in the bulk of the film is such a good idea. And if he's not that old in the bulk of the film, then is it really X-Men: First Class or is it X-Men Origins: Professor X and Magneto?
The '90s X-Men animated series used Cable as a recurring character without ever mentioning that backstory. And lots of characters in the X-film franchise have had their backstories left out -- Rogue isn't Mystique's adopted daughter, Colossus isn't Russian, there's no mention of Storm having been worshipped as a goddess or Cyclops having been orphaned in a plane crash (let alone that it was caused by aliens and his father actually survived to become a space pirate).
The '90s X-Men animated series used Cable as a recurring character without ever mentioning that backstory. And lots of characters in the X-film franchise have had their backstories left out -- Rogue isn't Mystique's adopted daughter, Colossus isn't Russian, there's no mention of Storm having been worshipped as a goddess or Cyclops having been orphaned in a plane crash (let alone that it was caused by aliens and his father actually survived to become a space pirate).
or Cyclops' brother Alex aka Havok...
Bryan Singer, who conceived the story and supervised the film and the progression of the script until he had to depart as director, while still remaining as producer, has expressed that the core of this story is the dynamic and relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lenshher, meaning we'll see them at the peak of their friendship, as they form the X-Men, and then the dissolution of that friendship.
So I would imagine that we would see Xavier & Erik as somewhat young, forging their friendship for the very first time, and then progress onwards from there. I am not sure if we'll see McAvoy and the actor they choose for Erik looking older as the film progresses, or if we'll see other actors (maybe even Stewart & McKellen) play the characters as they age. I don't suspect that'll be the case -- I think we'll get McAvoy and the actor playing Erik throughout the film, and we'll just have to suspend our disbelief that whatever length of time that passes between First Class and the first X-Men movie is enough to get McAvoy looking like Stewart. Honestly, though, I think this is being trivial and slightly fickle, since we know these prequels aren't going to adhere to a specific timeline or realistic set of circumstances in the first place (after all, it is a story about mutants with special abilities), so I suggest we don't worry ourselves with the more minute details.
I think a good portion of the film we see the formation of the X-Men and Erik's falling out, but this First Class will not be a strictly speaking faithful adaptation of the comic-book, and more so be seen as a prequel to Singer's X-Men. So long as the main details are in place, I think it'll be fine. Then again, we have no idea the timeframe of the movie, and how many years this film takes place before Singer's film, so it might be a little too early to get all technical at this point.
I've mentioned this before in another XMEN FIRST CLASS thread a while back, but I said Alex Summer would be a great character to have in contrast of Scott. Sort of like your antihero archtype, much akin to how Logan was presented or I guess Gambit. But I would not place him in any love triangle with him, Jean, and Scott. (Given they are of age, although I'm assuming they will be teenagers) Maybe Lorna Dane could be in it in some capacity. Or do you think 2 people with the power of magnetism might be too much. But yeah if this is not a reboot, and truly is a prequel than they would have to find characters to replace Bobby, Warren, Hank McCoy and of course Logan. Havok would be bad ass. Although I do hope this is a reboot of some for or another, thus avoiding some of the limitations such as timeframe, use of characters, etc and just give us a solid story about Charles and Erik and their falling out in addition to the formation of the X-Men. But also if they do that, I wonder if they'll take some liberties with the backstory, such as Charles only be sentenced to his wheelchair because of something Erik did to him in their falling out, incidentally or not.
Yes, I know that. But my point is, the movie is called First Class, which implies a focus on the formation of the school and the first team of mutants. That would suggest revising the Xavier-Magneto backstory so that the bulk of it comes more recently (relative to the "sliding present") than it does in the comics. What I'm saying is that if the focus is primarily on the Xavier-Magneto backstory with the first generation of X-Men being a sidebar, is First Class really an appropriate name for the film?
I don't expect them to adhere to the earlier movies' timeline or continuity. In fact, I'd prefer a complete reboot so we can get the original X-Men team as Xavier's "first class." But I still think that, within that context, 31 is kind of young for Charles Xavier at the point that he created the X-Men. Not because of any technicalities or continuity questions, but simply considering the maturity, authority, etc. that the role calls for. Patrick Stewart is a hard act to follow whether you pretend to be his younger self or not, and I would've thought an actor with a few more years under his belt would be a more likely choice.
Logan wasn't a part of the original X-Men. He wasn't added until the "All-New, All-Different" relaunch in 1975.
And there's no reason Hank couldn't be part of the original team in an in-continuity prequel, since The Last Stand made it clear that he was an old friend of Charles' and a former X-Man. (One would have to disregard the Steve Bacic "Hank McCoy" cameo in X2, but that was minor enough that it shouldn't be a dealbreaker. Maybe he was using an image inducer to pass as human?)
Like I said, we don't know the timeframe of this film and furthermore we don't know if the film jumps from one era to another. I suspect the film will start off with Xavier & Erik becoming friends and then we'll skip some years to see them form the X-Men, and then we'll see them try and co-lead the X-Men and then something will happen and Erik will of course leave Xavier's school. I do think there'll be some time from when we first see Xavier & Erik to when they form the X-Men and we see the first class of mutants.
James McAvoy is a terrific actor, one who has shown the ability to play maturity (Atonement) and authority (Wanted) in the past. Patrick Stewart is a tough act to follow no matter how old you are, and at this point I think an actor in his 40's would have an almost equally difficult time.
Logan wasn't a part of the original X-Men. He wasn't added until the "All-New, All-Different" relaunch in 1975.
And there's no reason Hank couldn't be part of the original team in an in-continuity prequel, since The Last Stand made it clear that he was an old friend of Charles' and a former X-Man. (One would have to disregard the Steve Bacic "Hank McCoy" cameo in X2, but that was minor enough that it shouldn't be a dealbreaker. Maybe he was using an image inducer to pass as human?)[/QUOTE]
I know that. I was thinking more along the lines of what the movie x men universe established, not so much the actual origin story from 1963. That's why i mentioned Wolverine. But I too and am on board for the original roster. Hank can start off looking like his human self and maybe midway thru he runs some experiment and we see his transformation, kind of like Dr. Manhattan's transformation in Watchmen.
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Okay, now you're confusing me, because in the movie continuity, Xavier never met Logan until the first film. Unless there was some huge retcon in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which I haven't seen.
I don't think it's necessary to adhere slavishly to the characters' evolution in the comics. Comics are developed gradually over decades, but a movie adapting them is free to distill the best elements. Furry Blue Beast is cooler and less silly-looking than Guy With Big Hands and Feet Beast, so I'd be happy to see Beast furry and blue from the start.
There's also the fact that movies have to tell their stories compactly and efficiently, without comics' luxury of sprawling storylines and ever-multiplying side plots. Giving Beast two different stages of mutation would seem like an unnecessary story complication when you've got at least seven main characters to serve.
you should probably watch it. although you may not like what you see. i know i didn't haha
but I am saying if this a prequel to the movie canon it should for continuity sake, have certain x men characters on their roster, who were not already established in the previous films, with the exception of Hank only because of that one line in X3. Possibly a few others. And I only mentioned Logan because like you said, they met in the first X-Men movie. I wasn't implying he was apart of the original comic book roster from X-Men #1 from 1963, since he wasn't.
But if this is a reboot, which i hope they do, just have the core group of Scott, Jean, Hank, Bobby and Warren. In addition to secondary characters as well who are just students of Xaviers, but not quite members of the team, like say Alex Summers or Ororo Munroe.
As for Beast's transformation. That was just my suggestion that's all. Clearly it would not bold well for test audience, haha.
All in all, FOX they will some how find a way to eff this up. i hope that is not the case.
My picks for either roster
Reboot roster: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Angel and Iceman. Secondary characters not officially apart of the X-Men: Havok, Storm, Sunfire, Forge, Morph, Psylocke maybe Emma can be introduced towards the end to setup something involving the Hellfire Club in a sequel. Essentially you could place almost anybody in there. Hoping they choose from the big pool of mutants who haven't had much screen time.
Prequel canon to X Men 1 to 3: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Havok, Emma. Secondary characters not officially apart of the X-Men could essentially be pretty much whoever wasn't established in the other movies.
but I am saying if this a prequel to the movie canon it should for continuity sake, have certain x men characters on their roster, who were not already established in the previous films, with the exception of Hank only because of that one line in X3. Possibly a few others. And I only mentioned Logan because like you said, they met in the first X-Men movie. I wasn't implying he was apart of the original comic book roster from X-Men #1 from 1963, since he wasn't.
But if this is a reboot, which i hope they do, just have the core group of Scott, Jean, Hank, Bobby and Warren. In addition to secondary characters as well who are just students of Xaviers, but not quite members of the team, like say Alex Summers or Ororo Munroe.
As for Beast's transformation. That was just my suggestion that's all. Clearly it would not bold well for test audience, haha.
All in all, FOX they will some how find a way to eff this up. i hope that is not the case.
My picks for either roster
Reboot roster: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Angel and Iceman. Secondary characters not officially apart of the X-Men: Havok, Storm, Sunfire, Forge, Morph, Psylocke maybe Emma can be introduced towards the end to setup something involving the Hellfire Club in a sequel. Essentially you could place almost anybody in there. Hoping they choose from the big pool of mutants who haven't had much screen time.
Prequel canon to X Men 1 to 3: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Havok, Emma. Secondary characters not officially apart of the X-Men could essentially be pretty much whoever wasn't established in the other movies.
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I made a mistake...Nathan is Scott's son with Madeline Pryor (The Jean Grey clone) not Jean! Anyways with regards to the Erik and Charles relationship and what part it plays in forming the X-Men I suspect that they actually will fall apart prior to Charles actually putting the team together. Perhaps like we saw in X-Men The Last Stand we'll see them recruiting Jean, and then Charles rescuing Scott and recruiting him, the same with Ororo and the others and then they have their falling out by the end of the second act of the movie.
The third act starts out with the X-Men training and all of it's first class now recruited I'm guessing we'll see Hank, Jean, Storm (she was mentioned in X-Men as being part of his first team of X-Men), among others we've not seen yet in the franchise as they learn about their powers. Then we hear about an attack of some sort perpetrated by a group of mutants who have taken to calling themselves the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Magneto. The codename rings a bell for Charles who of course makes the connection with Erik's powers and then in act four...the game's afoot!! As the new X-Men face Magneto and his Brotherhood for the first time.
The third act starts out with the X-Men training and all of it's first class now recruited I'm guessing we'll see Hank, Jean, Storm (she was mentioned in X-Men as being part of his first team of X-Men), among others we've not seen yet in the franchise as they learn about their powers. Then we hear about an attack of some sort perpetrated by a group of mutants who have taken to calling themselves the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Magneto. The codename rings a bell for Charles who of course makes the connection with Erik's powers and then in act four...the game's afoot!! As the new X-Men face Magneto and his Brotherhood for the first time.
Films usually abide by a three-act structure.
If this is a reboot, I'm never watching movies ever again.
The only 'rebooting' in the X-Men franchise that needs to happen is just to give us X-Men 4 with a few new mutants and a cool villain and if they're hellbent on giving is the totally unnecessary back story to Xavier and Magneto, do it in flash backs.
The only superhero franchise in need of a reboot is the Fantastic Four, but even that can get by by just recasting.
I didn't know he was British. Hid the accent pretty well in Kick-Ass. What if Vaughn casted other people from his other movies, like Robert DeNiro or Michelle Pfeifer or Daniel Craig, who could they possibly be. Maybe Daniel Craig as Captain Britain
Speaking of which Excalibur movie would be interesting.
Speaking of which Excalibur movie would be interesting.
This isn't a reboot...and even if it was I wouldn't care as long as we got a good movie. The creative team involve has me excited that it will be great.
New information has leaked revealing some interesting tidbits about X-Men: First Class. First off, Claudia Schiffer (Matthew Vaughn's wife) revealed to Yahoo UK that she looks forward to vacationing in Berlin, Germany which is a possible location for First Class. This makes sense, given Erik Lenshher's WWII-related history.
Secondly, according to another website, First Class has a start date of August 2010 with an anticipated budget of over $100 million. Also, since the website primarily deals with film locations, it lists a few locations that the film production is currently scouting: Cafe's and bars in Argentina and a yacht harbour in Miami. Most interestingly, the website says that all locations must have a "1960's look and feel", of course alluding that either most of the film or a portion of the film will be in the past, the first unofficial confirmation that this will be a period piece (which we kinda, sorta already knew, but still cool nevertheless).
Links:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/35/20100525/ten-claudia-schiffer-names-baby-764dee7.html
http://rgvfilmcommission.com/casting/index.php?action=casting&castid=12
Also, some new crew additions: Ben Davis (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Hannibal Rising, Layer Cake) is onboard as cinematographer for X-Men: First Class and composer Ilan Eshkeri (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake) is onboard as the film's composer. It appears Vaughn is bringing onboard his regular collaborators for this, which is no surprise.
Links:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1023204/
http://xmenfilms.net/blog1/?p=4694
Secondly, according to another website, First Class has a start date of August 2010 with an anticipated budget of over $100 million. Also, since the website primarily deals with film locations, it lists a few locations that the film production is currently scouting: Cafe's and bars in Argentina and a yacht harbour in Miami. Most interestingly, the website says that all locations must have a "1960's look and feel", of course alluding that either most of the film or a portion of the film will be in the past, the first unofficial confirmation that this will be a period piece (which we kinda, sorta already knew, but still cool nevertheless).
Links:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/35/20100525/ten-claudia-schiffer-names-baby-764dee7.html
http://rgvfilmcommission.com/casting/index.php?action=casting&castid=12
Also, some new crew additions: Ben Davis (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Hannibal Rising, Layer Cake) is onboard as cinematographer for X-Men: First Class and composer Ilan Eshkeri (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake) is onboard as the film's composer. It appears Vaughn is bringing onboard his regular collaborators for this, which is no surprise.
Links:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1023204/
http://xmenfilms.net/blog1/?p=4694
Not sure a 1960s setting is reconcilable with the prior X-Men films, which purported to be in "the near future," probably the 2010s or so. However, aside from that, it's a fitting timeframe for a film about the beginnings of the X-Men, because it's when the X-Men comic began.