Now that we've seen 60s actors filling out
the first X-Men movie and
First Class, it's time for a cast that reflects the earliest Lee/Kirby comics that were already out in the 60s!
We're talking Xavier's original five X-Men vs. Magneto's original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Of course some of the characters are cast the same as in the other two casts, some are different, because I'm crazy. A lot of it has to do with casting the character based more on the comics than the movies, or sometimes I just had two really great choices for one character and wanted to get both in there.
Barry Morse as PROFESSOR X
I should note that while comics Xavier and Morse's character on "The Fugitive" were both American, Morse is actually British. Still, I think he'd make a great fit.
Ricky Nelson as SCOTT SUMMERS/CYCLOPS
I really didn't think I'd stick with this one, but it just made sense. I imagine he'd be looking to reinvent himself around the time "Ossie & Harriet" was winding down.
Katharine Ross as JEAN GREY/MARVEL GIRL
I can't decide which Jean I'd prefer, Ross or Natalie Wood. With Ross, she'd be getting a potential breakout role a few years before
The Graduate and
Butch & Sundance, so that's nice.
David Ogden Stiers as HANK McCOY/BEAST
Like I said before, there's no better Beast.
Michael Anderson Jr. as BOBBY DRAKE/ICEMAN
Jon Voigt as WARREN WORTHINGTON III/ANGEL
Christopher Lee as MAGNETO
See what I mean by not wanting to pick just one great actor?
David Hemmings as QUICKSILVER
Jacquiline Bisset as SCARLET WITCH
Both of the twins' actors were just starting to get noticed at the cinema; Hemmings in
Blow-Up, Bisset in
Casino Royale. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be to find a pair of actors suited for the roles AND close in age, and hey, also British.
Peter Cushing as MASTERMIND
I know he was basically modeled after Vincent Price, but I like Cushing better for this one.
Agnus Lennie as TOAD
Joe Don Baker as BLOB
Probably don't need Blob that much since it's already an even 5 vs. 5 (although I guess Xavier makes six), but you gotta have a powerhouse on the team and the rest of the Brotherhood was looking awfully British without him.
So there we have it! Be sure to check out the other two casts if you haven't already. Put 'em all together and you've got a nice grab-bag of characters to fill out all your Cold War-era X-ensemble needs!