X-Men: First Class Casting Update

X-Men: First Class Casting Update
Catch up on all the recent casting announcements for X-Men: First Class!

Take your seats, True Believers, because things have continued to get more exciting for the cast of "X-Men: First Class."

The film, set to debut June 3, 2011, will follow the formative years of the X-Men and the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto.

Deadline Hollywood had news earlier this week that January Jones, the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress who plays Betty Draper on AMC's "Mad Men," will play Emma Frost. Jones will undoubtedly bring a chilly air to the telepathic villainess-turned-X-Man also known as the White Queen!

Also reported was Rose Byrne, set to play Moira MacTaggert, Xavier's longtime love interest in the X-Men comics. Byrne, who stars in the TV series "Damages" also seen in "28 Days Later," "Sunshine" and "Knowing," will undoubtedly make things interesting for the young Professor X, played by James McAvoy.

The demonic Azazel will be brought to the silver screen by British actor Jason Flemyng. Having previously worked with "First Class" director Matthew Vaughan on "Layer Cake," "Stardust" and in a brief cameo in "Kick-Ass," the two have clearly developed a rapport that will continue here!

Mystery surrounds Oliver Platt's Man in Black-in fact, we can't even tell if he'll help or hurt our merry band of mutants! Given Platt's stellar performances in "Frost/Nixon" and Showtime's "Huff," though, you can bet he'll wow audiences no matter how malicious or heroic his character!

The young Zoe Kravitz joins the cast as Angel Salvadore, a character who first appeared in Grant Morrison's run on NEW X-MEN. Kravitz may not have many credits to her name just yet, but she's sure to make an impression on moviegoers and comics fans alike with her turn as this interesting mutant!

And on an even younger front, Bill Milner and Morgan Lily will portray Young Magneto and Young Raven, but as to just who the latter is we can't say!

The latest cast members will join James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee), Edi Gathegi (Darwin), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Lucas Till (Alex Summers) and Kevin Bacon, who will play an as-yet-unrevealed villain that will menace the young mutants.

Keep your eyes on Marvel.com for the latest news on "X-Men: First Class" as we prepare for its release on June 3, 2011!

Jason Flemyng and Rose Byrne Join X-Men: The First Class

Jason Flemyng and Rose Byrne Join X-Men: The First Class

Jason Flemyng has officially signed on for Matthew Vaughn’s upcoming superhero film X-Men: First Class, according to Empire. The British actor will portray Azazel, the father of Nightcrawler, in the X-Men universe. Here’s an excerpt from the site’s article.

“Matthew showed me my costume just the other day. Now I swore I’d never be in heavy make-up again, but this role is going to involve it. But at least they said, “Don’t worry, we’ll add the tail in post”. I am Azazel, and I can teleport by waving my arms [gestures like a cross between a flamenco dancer and a Bollywood star].”

The site was also able to confirm that Flemyng’s Azazel will be red, as opposed to Nightcrawler’s blue-skinned character. It wasn’t clear at this time how big Flemyng’s role in the film will be. In other news, apparently Rose Byrne will be playing the role of Moira MacTaggert, a scientist and an authority on genetic mutation. She’ll be the love interest of James McAvoy, who plays mutant telepath Charles Xavier. We thought this role had already been cast with Rosamund Pike set to play this character, but apparently that was premature. Thanks Production Weekly, for being wrong. Byrne is known for her role in the hit FX show Damages, but recently was seen as Jackie Q in Get Him to the Greek.

We are not clear on how big these roles will actually be in the film, but it seems as if Vaughn’s film will be very mutant-heavy with all the various castings happening. Presumably we will see Mystique being played by Jennifer Lawrence giving birth to her son, eventually dubbed as Nightcrawler.

Here is the current cast as we know it so far:

- James McAvoy — Professor Charles Xavier

- Michael Fassbender — Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto

- Alice Eve – Emma Frost

- Nicholas Hoult — Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast

- Caleb Landry Jones — Sean Cassidy/Banshee

- Kevin Bacon — Mr. Sinister (rumored role)

- Edi Gathegi — Darwin

- Jennifer Lawrence — Mystique

- Rose Byrne – Moira McTaggert

- Jason Flemyng — Azazel

We are still waiting on casting confirmations on mutants like Storm, Cyclops, and Jean Grey as part of the First Class, but also what other big ones will show up based on the origin set-up by the previous Wolverine film, such as Sabretooth and Gambit.

Jane Goldsman has penned the script, along with Ash Miller & Zack Stentz, based on the idea by Bryan Singer. 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. Regarding the film’s story, Vaughn said, “The story that Bryan Singer came up with is very, very smart … It’s very clever when you see how he has integrated the characters into the time period where the film is set. I’ll put it that way. I just don’t want to give it away. … It’s a very clever way of getting these characters involved in recent history, in recent world events.” It has also been confirmed that it is a prequel to the first three movies.

Rose Byrne will be Prof. Xavier's love interest in 'X-Men: First Class'

Rose Byrne will be Prof. Xavier's love interest in 'X-Men: First Class'

Mutant scientific expert Moria MacTaggert makes it to the big screen.

Matthew Vaughn's "X-Men: First Class" is only a few weeks away from shooting, but there are a number of key roles that still need to be cast. So far, the prequel has recruited an impressive list of actors including James McAvoy (Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), Kevin Bacon (possibly Mister Sinister), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Nicolas Hoult (Hank "Beast" McCoy) and Alice Eve (Emma Frost, aka The White Queen). Now, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Rose Byrne is in negotiations to join the group as mutant scientist Moria MacTaggert, a longtime character from the "X-Men" comic book series.

First appearing in Uncanny X-Men #96 way back in 1975, MacTaggert is a former flame of Xavier's who lead a Mutant Research Center on the fictional Muir Island off the coast of Scotland. A supporter of mutant rights, she has a long history with many of the "X-Men" characters including Jean Grey, Magneto and Banshee. How she will fit into the cinematic "X-Men: FIrst Class" remains to be seen.

Byrne is best known for her Emmy and Golden Globe nominated role in the series "Damages" (she recently received her second Emmy nod for the series), but has also appeared alongside Russell Brand in "Get Him to the Greek," "28 Days Later" and "Troy." She's currently shooting the comedy "Bridesmaids" for Universal.