As we know with X-Men First Class, the story will revolve around the early relationship of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr. And while some CG touchups youngified Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan for a flashback scene, it was doubtful they would attempt this for an entire film, so the daunting task of replacing these iconic actors with younger versions was under way.
And today we find they have picked their Professor X. James McAvoy!
James McAvoy will play the character popularized by Patrick Stewart in “X-Men: First Class,” the origins take on the Marvel tale to be directed by Matthew Vaughn.
The “Wanted” star will play Charles Xavier as a young man discovering his powers along with Erik Lensherr in “X-Men: First Class.” Before they took the names Professor X and Magneto, the duo were close friends. They worked together with other Mutants to stop a threat to the world, but in the process, a rift opened between them, leading to the war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men
Honestly, I think this will be a GREAT choice to play the younger Charles Xavier. I just wonder if he will sound more British than Scot for the role so we don’t have to pretend that gaining powers also changed his accent. I also wonder at what point Professor X pulled out the Bic and went cueball? Will McAvoy be sporting a shiny dome, or will young Charles be sporting a wavy frock of hair?
What do you think of Avoy taking on an earlier Professor X?
gosh!i’m so happy for james.i can’t wait for the movie!i know he will do great and i’m excited to hear him w/ his natural tongue.
The question now is will he in the wheelchair the entire movie? Or will the show why he has to use the wheelchair
I imagine he will be walking. In the comics when showing the flashbacks to them in a younger day he is on foot at first, and in the wheelchair later.
“First Class” can have many connotations.
Obviously, the first group of X-men would be the correct assumption but there are others.
First Class – the first breed of heroes in X and Magneto
First Class – the first class of X-men and the first class of the Brotherhood
I’m not an english major but I’m sure you guys could figure other meanings toward “First Class”
Who will play Erik Lensherr? If were going back in time then it has to be someone young about the same age as McAvoy.
Good pick. If I’m not mistaken Xavier simply went bald at early age which it totally possible (my roomate in my second year of college was a guy that was 21 years old and he was going bald so quickly that he just kept his head shaved).
Chances are the most of the First Class (Summers, MacCoy, Drake, and Worthington) will not show up until near the end of the movie however I think Grey may come up sooner since I think X and Magneto met her before they parted ways (and assuming they keep with the comics which movies don’t always do).
I dont think prof x ever had hair even in the comic books he was like a lex luthor kind of guy always bald I think it would just be weird if he had hair.
I can’t find any fault in this casting.
It also seems my hunches were correct: the film will be a melding of the Magneto script and the one they previously had for First Class.
But now it makes me wonder who else we might be seeing in the film.
I think McAvoy is a great pick for Xavier. I really liked him in Wanted and he definitely has the ability to play this role. As you know Xavier is an intellectual with a very calm demeanor, which is something McAvoy can easily express. I’d say he’ll sport a bald head. I think its more authentic to the character and if McAvoy wants people, especially the hardcore fans, to take him seriously he’ll go bald. As for the accent that is also not a problem. Since he is Scotish a talented actor such as himself could easily disguise his voice. Ewen McGregor has done it several times before. For some reason its easy for certain Scots to do that.
Here’s one thing I don’t understand. Calling the film X-Men: First Class gives the impression that the film will center on the original group…Cyclopes, Beast, etc. It’s a bit misleading. I am looking forward to this movie theres no doubt about that, but I think another name would also work. With that said, seeing the relationship of Xavier and Magneto develop and then crumble will be very interesting.
I imagine calling on the name First Class will suggest that this early story of Chuck and Erik will lead to them forming the school and introducing their first class.