iX-Men/i Prequel Just Keeps Getting Handsomer

iX-Men/i Prequel Just Keeps Getting Handsomer

This new Class of mutants is really turning into a sexy Beast.

The latest casting info on superhero prequel X-Men: First Class has Benjamin Walker taking on the role of Hank McCoy (aka Beast), alongside James McAvoy's Professor X and Rosamund Pike's Emma Frost. Rumors are still swirling that...

Amber Heard (Pineapple Express) could grab the role of Mystique, and Michael Fassbender might portray Magneto, but who knows. But that would definitely make for a smoldering cast in Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn's take on "young X-Men."

Walker's best-known for his stage work. He's current playing Andrew Jackson in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, at New York's Public Theatre, and was part of the 2005 cast of the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening.

What do you think? Was it a good idea to cast an actor with more of a theater background? And who else would be a hot addition to the franchise prequel?

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Stan Lee on Craig Ferguson

Ilan Eshkeri to score X-Men: First Class

Ilan Eshkeri to score X-Men: First Class

According to XMF Ilan Eshkeri is in final talks to compose X-Men: First Class for Mattew Vaughn and 20th Century Fox. Eshkeri has worked with Vaughn before on Kick-Ass, Layer Cake and Stardust, so this news was expected. Eshkeri has also composed the scores for Ninja Assassin, Hannibal Rising and The Young Victoria, so he has range when it comes to crafting music.

Each of the X-Men films has had a different composer which has resulted in the X-Men not really having a theme or continuity with the music. Spider-Man had the ’swinging theme’. Batman has Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard doing their thing, so I think its about time the X-Men got a theme.

You can listen to some of Ilan’s work [MORE]

Will X-Men: First Class Feature a Kick-Ass Student? - UGO.com

Will X-Men: First Class Feature a Kick-Ass Student? - UGO.com

Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson was recently spotted with X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn creating buzz about a possible role in the mutant-filled movie.

When you're a director of comic book films, any actor friends you keep company with will always be suspect for future casting. When one of these "friends" starred as the title hero in one of your recent films, then any rendevouzis a potential audition, even if its for the birth of your child.

In this case its director Matthew Vaughn, who helmed Kick-Ass and the upcoming X-Men: First Class, and his pals Aaron Johnson and James McAvoy were spotted heading to the hospital to welcome Vaughn's baby girl into the world. Filmonic.com pointed out that Aaron Johnson could be a potential candidate for Cyclops, since James McAvoy is set to play Charles Xavier.

It might not be too far-fetched. As The Playlist stated, the age difference works. With James McAvoy at 31 and Aaron Johnson at 19, the foundation for a teacher/student relationship is set up quite perfectly. After all, Johnson was convincing as a superhero with zero powers, so playing one with optic energy beams shouldn't be too difficult for the actor.

Is this just a case of friends meeting for a special occassion, or is First Class in session? Let us know what you think.

Sir Patrick Stewart Boldly Goes Under the Sword

Sir Patrick Stewart Boldly Goes Under the Sword

Captain's log: let it be known his name is Sir Patrick Stewart now.

The thespian best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, earned a major promotion today, after Queen Elizabeth II officially made him a knight in a ceremony at Buckingman Palace.

The 69-year-old Stewart earned his title for doing more than dealing with Klingons and the Borg.

Considered one of Britain's greatest stage actors of his generation, Stewart is a core member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, which he joined when he was 26. He has appeared in more than 60 productions and like many of his legendary forebears at the company, the residency helped launch an enterprising career in TV and movies.

"It was an unlooked-for honor but as I grew up as a child, falling in love with the theatre and Shakespeare, my heroes were Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Alec Guinness," said Stewart.

"The knights of the theater represented to me not only the pinnacle of the profession but the esteem in which the profession was held. And now to find myself, to my astonishment, in that company is the grandest thing that has professionally happened to me."

Which is saying a lot, considering his Emmy and Tony Award nominations and such acclaimed roles stateside as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies and the leads in the TV movies A Christmas Carol and Moby Dick.

Keep going boldly, Sir Patrick!

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News : McAvoy Is The Young Professor X In X-Men Origins

News : McAvoy Is The Young Professor X In X-Men Origins

The young Scot will star in Matthew Vaughn's reboot of the popular comic book franchise

Matthew Vaughn - director of the brilliant, independently produced comic-book adaptation of Kick-Ass - has signed up his fellow Brit James McAvoy to play the young Charles Xavier (also known as Professor X) in X-Men: First Class which is currently in pre-production over at Fox Studios.

First Class will tell the story of the beginnings of the saga, before the extant X-Men trilogy, and therefore before Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr took on their alter-egos of Professor X and Magneto, before they became sworn enemies, when they were close friends who worked together with other mutants to protect the world from the greatest threat it had ever known.

Bryan Singer - director of the first movie will be producing and has conceived the story which should please fans ahead of this re-boot but what we all really want to know is whether McAvoy will be sporting a shiny shaved noggin a la Patrick Stewart who played Professor X in the trilogy.

Shooting kicks off in London this summer with the production eyeing up a June 3, 2011 US release.

Announcing X-Men Day on July 8

A new era for the X-Men begins on Thursday, July 8 with the release of X-MEN #1 and Marvel is proud to celebrate with the inaugural X-Men Day! In the first X-MEN #1 in almost 20 years, Marvel's mighty mutants enter the Heroic Age to face a deadly new threat, courtesy of fan favorite creators Victor Gischler and Paco Medina! Mark your calendars and be the first person on your block to score great X-Men Day commemorative items like the exclusive limited-edition cover print featuring Paco Medina's "We Are The X-Men" images, exclusive variants, mini-posters and more! Plus, fans can't miss the chance to add their own heroes to the X-Men lineup by sketching on the X-MEN#1 BLANK VARIANT!

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The Weekly Watcher: May 21, 2010

Alexa Mendez recaps the latest news on the continued success of "Iron Man 2," the new Super Hero Squad game, and much more!

Deadpool & Friends

http://www.deadpoolandfriends.webs.com/

Jane Goldman brought in to rewrite X-Men: First Class | Filmonic

Jane Goldman brought in to rewrite X-Men: First Class | Filmonic

As with most directors Matthew Vaughn likes to work with the same people. He has used Ben Davis as his cinematographer for all of his films, as well as composer Ilan Eshkeri. Another member of the Vaughn team is Jane Goldman who co-wrote both Stardust and Kick-Ass.

Last week we heard from Thor writers Zack Stentz and Ashley Edward Miller who had been working with Bryan Singer on the latest draft of X-Men: First Class, so it seemed the scripting side of things was pretty much sorted. However, a recent tweet from Goldman’s husband suggests otherwise.

From Jonathan Ross’ (UK TV/radio host) Twitter:

G;night all. The wife is away writing X Men 4 so I am off to bed with little Sweeney alone

Also, for those who need to know, my wife IS currently writing X men First Class. It’s just referred to as X men 4 around the house…

I am afraid I better not answer any more queries re X Men First Class for fear of spoilers and also possible divorce. Thank you.

On May 5th Ross tweeted saying that his “wife has just taken on a big new exciting movie. So I’ll be doing the cooking for the next 10 weeks. Wish the kids luck…”. All of this suggests that Vaughn has brought in Jane Goldman to rewrite X-Men: First Class with him, which is pretty cool. As a duo they work well together (both Stardust and Kick-Ass have 76% on Rotten Tomatoes) so it is looking likely that we will be getting an above average X-Men movie!

No word on whether Zack Stentz and Ashley Edward Miller still have script writing duties, or whether Jane will now be taking over as head writer. What we do know, however, is that 20th Century Fox is giving Vaughn creative freedom. With X-Men 3 and Wolverine Fox gave the writers notes and they had to form a script around them (hence the suckage), but now it seems Vaughn and Bryan Singer are in control of the story with Fox just providing the funds. I hope that’s the case anyway.

With filming expected to begin in less than 2 months time we can expect casting news over the upcoming weeks.

X-Men: First Class Director, Release Date and Plot Revealed | WorstPreviews.com

X-Men: First Class Director, Release Date and Plot Revealed | WorstPreviews.com

Since "Kick-Ass" director Matthew Vaughn previously declined to helm 20th Century Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand," it was assumed that he was also going to decline the chance to helm "X-Men: First Class." It turned out that he did, but as soon as Fox started having talks with other directors, Vaughn reconsidered and returned to negotiate a deal.

The studio is now happy to announced that Vaughn has been signed to direct "First Class" and that the new movie will hit theaters on June 13th, 2011 (less than thirteen months from now). In addition, Fox has also unveiled the official plot synopsis for the film.

Plot: "X-Men: First Class," following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Source: 20th Century Fox

Pick Your Cameo: 'X-Men: First Class', or 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2' | CinemaSpy

Pick Your Cameo: 'X-Men: First Class', or 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2' | CinemaSpy

As part of a recently-announced charity auction, one lucky winner will have their choice of a walk-on cameo in either X-Men: First Class, or X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2. The auction, which benefits Worldwide Orphans, is being managed by Charitybuzz, and the text at their site suggests Wolverine is the more likely option.

"Although cast info has not yet been announced, the next 'X-Men' film will likely find the series' previous stars returning for more action packed thrills," states the release. "This once-in-a-lifetime experience will also give the winner a chance to meet some of the actors who may be on set that day."

One thing to bear in mind: the Wolverine sequel starring Hugh Jackman looks to be further along in the production process than First Class, and the press release does say filming is anticipated to begin in 2011.

Either way, whoever submits the winning bid on April 1 will have helped children in need, and that’s more important than any movie role (unless it’s Batman, of course).

‘Kick-Ass’ director in negotiations to helm ‘X-Men: First Class’

‘Kick-Ass’ director in negotiations to helm ‘X-Men: First Class’

As anticipated, Kick-Ass Director Matthew Vaughn is in negotiations to direct X-Men: First Class for Twentieth Century Fox. Vaughn had received an offer last week but creative control concerns stymied the progress of the deal. Over the weekend, however, those issues were resolved and talks resumed for Vaughn to helm the movie, which tells the story of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the other X-Men in their younger years, played by younger actors (no word yet on whether Hugh Jackman would reprise his role as Wolverine since his character doesn’t age as the others do). The script comes from Jamie Moss based on Bryan Singer’s treatment.

The deal is surprising because Vaughn turned down directing X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2005 after he had negotiated a pact with the studio. Fox later hired Brett Ratner to helm the most successful of all X-Men films while Vaughn went on to direct the disappointing Stardust for Paramount and, just three weeks ago, released the fanboy favorite Kick-Ass.

'X-Men' Exclusive: Fox offers Matthew Vaughn 'X-Men: First Class'

'X-Men' Exclusive: Fox offers Matthew Vaughn 'X-Men: First Class'

In a move that may tilt the axis of fanboys worldwide, Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn is in talks to direct X-Men: First Class for Twentieth Century Fox. Why is this so bizarre? Because Vaughn is the very director who turned down directing X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2005 after he had already negotiated his deal with the studio. (Fox later hired Brett Ratner to helm the most successful of all X-Men films.) Vaughn went on to direct the disappointing Stardust for Paramount and, just two weeks ago, released the well-reviewed R-rated Kick-Ass.

Of course, considering Vaughn’s history with the X-Men franchise, he could very well turn down the First Class offer, as well (sources say the studio is also speaking with other possible directors). Should a deal come together, however, Vaughn would be helming an origin story of the X-Men crew, one that tells the story of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and the other X-Men in their younger years, played by younger actors. (No word yet on whether Hugh Jackman would reprise his role as Wolverine since his character doesn’t age as the others do.) The script comes from Jamie Moss based on Bryan Singer’s treatment. Though the studio had wanted Singer to direct once again, the director is only signed on to produce, since he’s preoccupied with directing Jack the Giant Killer for Warner Bros.

After 10 years of waiting, here it is,...

Marvel Video Games | Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk and all Marvel Video Game News, Trailers, Pics, Previews and more

FIRST LOOK: Marvel vs. Capcom 3
After 10 years of waiting, here it is, your first look at 'Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.'

Get your fighting fingers ready, Marvel gamers. "Marvel vs. Capcom 3" is official and coming soon!

Yes, you read that correctly. This is no belated April Fools' Day prank. This is no cruel, cruel joke. This is reality.

Headed to Xbox 360 and PS3 in Spring 2011 as a full-fledged retail release, "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds" tornado whirlwind kicks the blockbuster series--dormant for 10 years aside from the 2009 digital re-release of "Marvel vs. Capcom 2"--into the 21st Century with massively updated graphics, new characters, new levels, a new story...almost new everything! Don't worry though, many old favorites return with "MvC3." But before we tell you more, hold onto your seat and watch the teaser trailer for "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds."

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