I have recently promised to stop ripping the X-Men franchise until after the release of X-MEN: First Class. So, to occupy my time as it were … I actually sat down and attempted to figure out if their was a way to logically wrap up Bryan Singer’s version of Marvel’s mutant universe with what are currently two fan fictions.
I’ve received positive results from the first Fan Fiction and mixed results on the 2nd installment on another site.
So here is a breakdown on the choices I made and the thoughts behind the look of this fictional new series.
PROFESSOR X & MAGNETO:
The X-Men franchise needs heavyweight actors that can bring the necessary class and provide an anchor for this fan cast. Someone who could definitely draw big money if this was an actual project.
Ralph Fiennes
Fiennes would be excellent in the role of X-men mentor and father figure, Charles Xavier. This man is an amazing actor and even if he brought half of his A-Game to the proceedings, the franchise would be blessed.
Liam Neeson
Neeson would make a picture perfect Magneto as anyone whose has seen, Taken, Class of the Titans and Batman Begins would know. Neeson definitely has the necessary range and can exude infinite wisdom and menace at the drop of a hat.
THE X-MEN (Original Class / 60’s Version)
I would definitely like to see the ORIGINAL five students depicted in Stan & Jack’s original 1963 comic. I believed showing these students in their teen years would be essential to reestablishing trust with the movie going audience and capturing many more young people and older more cynical fans. I decided to pick an eclectic mix of young actors who are all popular or noted in their own rights. I also picked young stars for their marketing value.
It is my intention to show the original X-men take the heroes journey through an initial three installments before expanding the teams roster to include the second version of the team which includes storm and most notably …Wolverine.
Aaron Johnson
I was disappointed when Aaron Johnson was not announced as a cast member for First Class. I was sure he would make an excellent Scott Summers. Some people may balk at this choice, but Scott didn’t start out as the ultra confident leader of the X-men. He was developed for years from a withdrawn, sullen teenager into his current version as the point man and leader for the mutant contingent of the Mutant Nation within the Marvel Comics Universe (Version 616).
Emma Stone
Emma Stone is a very attractive and versatile actress. While she has appeared in a large number of teen-oriented comedies, I believe she would be an ideal version of the teen-aged Jean Grey. She has a wholesome look that is reminiscent of what was considered attractive in the 60’s.
Zac Efron
Some may groan when they see Zac Efron, but who would be better cast as Warren Worthington a.k.a “The Angel”. I feel that Zac definitely could pull this role off and become identified with the character the same way Wesley Snipes is considered by most to be the penultimate cinematic version of Blade. Besides, this would definitely boost traffic on mainstream websites like face book and other teen trafficked websites. Marketing wise, this is the right choice to make.
Billy Crudup
Billy Crudup has shown that he can elevate four colored material to an art form with his portrayal of Dr. Manhattan in Zack Snyder’s epic CBM “Watchmen”. I would definitely cast Hank McCoy a little bit older as he was always presented this way in the earlier comics. Crudup also has that eclectic “IT” factor shared with other actors like, Johnny Depp, Edward Norton and to a lesser extent, Robert Downey Jr.
Michael Angarano
I feel that Michael Angarano has all the makings of a great character actor as evidenced by movies like Almost Famous, Sky High and television shows like 24. Angarano’s extensive work-out and training by Yuen Woo-Ping for “THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM” show that he has the necessary dedication to be a part of this type of franchise.
THE ORIGINAL BROTHERHOOD of EVIL MUTANTS
Notes: When I was working on the second installment of this fan-fiction, I took a look at past issues of the first 50 X-Men comics where the team had numerous run-ins with Magneto’s version of the X-men. For the most part, these fights were pretty much even so I thought that it would be more beneficial prose wise and cinematically if the Brotherhood were presented as a group of older and more experienced individuals who naturally work together in concert to achieve goals and combat enemies.
OLIVIA WILDE
What can you really say about Olivia Wilde? She has the “look” and the acting chops to do justice to Wanda Maximoff a.k.a “The Scarlett Witch. Anybody who feels that her exotic features would take away from an X-Men film should brush up on a few episodes of season 3 and Bryan Singer’s own series “House”.
LUKE GOSS
Sometimes when I see this guy, I wonder why he isn’t a bigger star. Luke Goss can put some serious beat downs on opponents (See Blade 2, Hellboy 2 and to a lesser extent Hong Kong’s CBM “Silverfox). He can wring emotional content out of the flimsiest of material and has essayed two sensitive, yet tough as nails villains in BLADE 2 and HELLBOY: The Golden Army. I dare anyone to find a better actor to portray Pietro Maximoff., otherwise known as Quicksilver.
ROBERT KNEPPER
In X-men lore, Mastermind is usually portrayed as a les than reputable schemer and has a scavenger like attitude when it comes to combat situations. His powers being less physical lend themselves to this kind of indirect combat. I tuned him up a bit by having the character as an anchor guy for the Brotherhood and using his power of illusion to disorient opponents while the rest of the team picked off opponents. Robert Knepper exudes a sense of dishonesty with the slightest of smirks and evidence of his effectiveness for this type of character can be evidenced as Samuel Sullivan in season 4 of NBC’s failed super hero drama “Heroes”.
ETHAN SUPLEE
Ethan Suplee has been around for quite some time and is an established character actor. He makes an ideal Fred Dukes. I feel that he could bring some subtlety to the character and it would be a kick to see him portray an outright villain. Check out his work in American History X and to a lesser extent, The Butterfly Effect.
EDWARD FURLONG
I decided to go with Edward Furlong because like it or not he has an indelible place in pop culture as the adolescent version of John Connor in Jim Cameron’s “Terminator 2” and has distinguished himself in smaller projects like the aforementioned American History X. Ray Park was okay as the Toad, but wasn’t really given a whole lot to do as a character.
I see this version of the Toad as a petty thief and small minded criminal out to distinguish himself in Magneto’s group while simultaneously resenting the other powerful beings around him. He would be paired with Suplee’s Blob in a rift on John Steinbeck’s George Milton and Lennie Small from the classic novel “Of Mice and Men”.
Toad would also be presented as a considerable physical threat and the superhuman strength in his legs would be played up by giving him a capoeria type fighting style as a counter to the hyper athleticism of Hank McCoy’s “Beast” alter-ego.
OTHER CHARACTERS
STEPHEN LANG
There’s no better way to put it than … “Stephen Lang is Cable” This actor has portrayed some serious Bad-Asses in other films (See; Tombstone, Avatar and for future reference the 2011 version of Conan the Barbarian).
IDRIS ELBA
I’ve been a fan of Elba since he starred in the UK television show “Ultraviolet” and his work on cable television’s “The Wire”. Elba definitely has the right amount of grittiness to portray Bishop nuff said.
AMBER TAMBLYN
Ms. Tamblyn would be a lock as the character and her stunt casting could possibly draw in a few women who remember the SISTERHOOD of the TRAVELING PANTS films.
BOLIVAR TRASK
I feel that John Slattery was not given enough to do in Favreau’s sequel to Ironman and the X-Men franchise would certainly benefit from this actor portraying a 60’s era version of Bolivar Trask.
LINDA DOBSON
Sela Ward is an extremely well traveled actress and has the credibility to pull off a serious mature relationship in a pairing with Billy Crudup’s Hank McCoy. She definitely isn’t too bad on the eyes either.
PHIL SHELDON
This would probably be the BEST cameo Stan “THE MAN” could pull off in the history of all his cameos in the various Marvel themed movies.
Well, there you have it … my thoughts and interpretation on what the X-MEN could have been. For further reference, please read and comment on the 2 FAN-Fictions and give me your feedback positive or negative.
…shadowgeek10 returns to the shadows once more….
http://comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Shadowgeek10/news/?a=29673
X-MEN: Children of the Atom
http://comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Shadowgeek10/news/?a=30216
X-MEN 2
Note: A third fan-fiction will wrap this series up before I continue with a new X-men universe centered on the Uncanny X-Men.