The X-Men helped kick off the Marvel Age in the early 60s and the film series helped kick off the superhero movie craze in the early 00s, so I thought it would be cool to imagine how an X-Men movie might look featuring a cast from around the time the whole thing began.
Turns out there are a few different ways to go about this.
First up, let’s see how a Cold War-era X-Men cast might look using the original 2000 film as a template.
When I consider which directors could’ve handled this property back in the day, the first name that comes to my mind is Robert Wise. This would find him right smack in between
West Side Story and
The Andromeda Strain, over a decade after
The Day the Earth Stood Still and over a decade before
Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Besides being able to wrangle big scale sci-fi, this would definitely call for a director who’s not ashamed to work with outwardly silly material and bring forth the big ideas and real human drama.
Now then, on to the cast:
John Cassavetes as WOLVERINE
A lot of people might suggest Jack Nicholson (who probably would be great), but I like Cassavetes for he would bring those leading man good looks with just the right amount of edge to him.
John Gielgud as PROFESSOR X
You’re pretty much required to go for that Shakespeare vibe when casting Xavier and Magneto. More on that later.
Natalie Wood as JEAN GREY
Robert Redford as CYCLOPS
Why yes, the two stars of
This Property is Condemned. Might as well get actors you know will have chemistry.
Nichelle Nichols as STORM
It was down to her or Cicely Tyson. Plus I really like the idea of Uhura finally getting the chance to kick all kinds of ass.
Linda Harrison as ROGUE
This was a lot harder than I expected. Eventually I stopped looking for an Anna Paquin type and went for someone a bit more in line with the comics character.
Michael Anderson Jr. as ICEMAN
I came across him in
The Sons of Katie Elder, and he turned out to suit the role better than most any young actor around at the time.
Laurence Olivier as MAGNETO
Nothing but the best for one of the greatest comic book villains ever.
Ursula Andress as MYSTIQUE
Richard Kiel as SABRETOOTH
Throw in a couple of James Bond alums, natch.
Angus Lennie as TOAD
Cliff Robertson as SENATOR KELLY
A lot of actors could play Kelly, but he should be handled in such a way that he could come down on either side of the Mutant Registration issue.
That’s it for round one! If you like that, check out
my 60s cast picks for X-Men: First Class, as well as my picks for an
X-Men movie based on the classic Lee/Kirby comics!