When I interviewed Josh Schwartz in March, I sheepishly asked how the “X-Men: First Class” screenplay was coming along. You know, the movie that would chronicle everyone’s early years at Professor Xavier’s school for the gifted? Well, his answer — “It’s going great, I really can’t talk about it” — was basically what I expected.
Thankfully “X-Men” uber-producer Lauren Shuler Donner has finally spilled a few details (via) about what — and who — us X-fans can expect to see whenever this bad mama-jama comes out.
“It is the first class of Xavier’s school, way back when, so it’s young Scott, young Jean, young Beast and that’ll be really fun,” she said. “I think (the plan) is to follow some of the characters into their own stories, and weave them back into the X-Men world.”
I’ve thought this was an awesome idea from the word go, and hearing that “X-Men: First Class” really will be about the original class — ie: our faves — pushes the film so far up my anticipation meter, the idea has sprouted wings, flown off the charts and is currently circling the heavens. But here’s what I want to know — will this new installment do away with existing “X-Men” movie mythology? If not, these new films won’t be able to include Iceman and Angel (as the comics did) since both roles were aged down for Shawn Ashmore in “X-Men” and Ben Foster in “Last Stand.”
Personally, I think “First Class” producers should wipe the slate clean since the new “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” appears to do the same thing to include a young Cyclops. At least judging from the trailer.
So, now let’s totally get ahead of ourselves and talk casting! I’m going to back Evan Rachel Wood as Jean Grey, “Friday Night Lights” star Scott Porter as Scott Summers, Scott Caan as Beast. I also demand that Patrick Stewart be brought back to play Professor Xavier.
Unless they need a younger actor for that part too — in which case they should just shave Christian Bale’s head and hand him a script, because what would a Hollywood franchise reboot be without Mr. Bale?
Who do you think should play these parts? Or do you think they should be making “X-Men 4” instead?