My ideas for an X-Men trilogy are many. I'm going to attempt to type up a somewhat detailed plotline with only the necessary characters because fan casts that provide an actor for 75 different characters make little sense to me. Is it one movie? Is it two? Is this The Last Stand? What's going on? Anyway, here's my take.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE STORY. I JUST FELT LIKE WRITING ONE TO SHOW WHERE ALL THE CHARACTERS WOULD FIT. IF IT'S TL, DR.
Professor Charles Xavier - Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter series)
One of the hardest actors to replace in modern cinema is Patrick Stewart. The character was actually somewhat modeled after him so it makes sense that he is the perfect actor to play the part. However, reboots sport new casts. And personally, I would like to see an American portrayal of the character. Although Fiennes is not an American, Xavier is, and Fiennes can definitely pull off the accent and the character. His acting prowess is hardly ever questioned.
Erik Magnus “Magneto” Lensherr - Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood)
Ian McKellen is yet another acting great that is tough to replace, yet I feel Daniel Day-Lewis is the perfect actor to fill the spot. I will never be the type to post a “no comment necessary” or “duh,” but if any character needs a solid portrayal, it is hard to argue that Daniel Day-Lewis could be the perfect man for the job.
Scott “Cyclops” Summers – Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass)
I like Johnson as an actor. He’s played some great roles and brought some heart to them. But even as a person (mostly his cocky resting face), I see bits of Scott Summers in him. He’s that confident type that we need in the role of Scott Summers.
Jean “Marvel Girl” Grey – Emma Watson (Harry Potter series)
Easily one of my more unoriginal picks, I feel Emma Watson could play the hell out of Jean Grey. She knows how to portray a sweet girl and also a smarty-pants, which is what I think the character needs in her first outing with the first class at Xavier’s School. Further down the line, she could easily mature to become the infamous Phoenix.
Bobby “Iceman” Drake – Ansel Elgort (The Fault In Our Stars)
This kid is getting roles and there’s no question why. He’s charismatic. He’s funny. He’s young. Is that not what Bobby Drake deserves to be? I liked Shawn Ashmore enough, but he could have been funnier. I like my Iceman to be the comic relief.
Warren “Angel” Worthington III – Alan Ritchson (Smallville)
Don’t beat me up. I know Smallville is heresy around these parts, but are you going to tell me that Alan Ritchson can’t pull off a spoiled twenty-something? I always thought he looked the part and he isn’t a bad actor by any means. I would love to see him play the Angel and the Archangel.
Hank “Beast” Pym – Alex Russell (Chronicle)
Alex Russell may have played the least memorable role (in my opinion) in Chronicle, but he still shined. Russell played the cool guy cousin of Dane Dehaan’s emo character. I feel like he has the right look and feel to pull off that sort of goofy genius and later, a darker one.
Senator Robert Kelly - Denzel Washington
This has a little to do with the fact that I have very little diversity in my cast, but I also love Denzel. He's awesome. I didn't feel like searching for middle-aged actors all day that would fit the bill. Immediately, I thought, "Hm. Denzel."
Sean “Banshee” Cassidy – Michael Fassbender (X-Men: DOFP)
I might lose some people here, but I refuse to overlook one of the best Irish actors of our time just because he has already played a character in the first (second? Second and a half?) ever X-Men film franchise. He does play an excellent Magneto, but he could play an excellent anyone. His heritage, natural look, and acting skills are the reason I would cast Fassbender as Banshee in my dream ensemble.
Piotr “Colossus” Rasputin – Kellan Lutz (Arena)
Another questionable pick to some. Since the day I saw him in Twilight (crucify me), I saw Colossus. I have looked repeatedly for other actors and I have found none that I see in the role as I see Lutz. No acting logic, no nothing. He looks exactly like what I envision Piotr Rasputin to be.
John “Thunderbird” Proudstar – Jason Momoa (Game Of Thrones)
I’m hoping that Native Americans don’t kill me for this. He’s a decent enough action star, and he has the perfect build and look for the character. His ancestry does contain slight Native American heritage if we’re concerned about it.
Shiro “Sunfire” Yoshida – Takeshi Kaneshiro (House Of Flying Daggers)
I could have technically put anyone in this role since he wears that mask most of the time, but Kaneshiro is one of the modern marvels of Chinese cinema. He deserves some recognition for his choreographic prowess. Plus, heritage doesn’t hurt.
Ororo “Storm” Munroe – Lupita N’yongo (12 Years A Slave)
Onto the most unoriginal pick of any fan cast besides Benedict Cumberbatch as anything; no modern black actresses have the African feel to them. They all seem so high-maintenance. N’yongo doesn’t seem that way to me. She seems extremely grounded as a person. Realism is something that I would love to see with Storm because Halle Berry did not bring that with her performances.
Kurt “Nightcrawler” Wagner – Daniel Bruhl (Inglourious Basterds)
You may know Bruhl as the Nazi officer from Inglourious Basterds who became a movie star because he killed so many enemy soldiers from a bell tower or something. That’s how I know him. He has such a kind face and I feel Nightcrawler needs that. Alan Cummings did a great job but his face was so pointy that he looked a bit creepy. Nightcrawler is already creepy with his blue skin and tail and few fingers and yellow eyes. I think at least his face needs to align with his loving personality.
James “Wolverine” Howlett – Scott Caan (Ocean’s Eleven)
Short, hairy, beefy, and charismatic. I’m sorry; did someone just arrive with all the features of a perfect Wolverine and a decent acting career?
Victor “Sabretooth” Creed – Charlie Hunnam (Sons Of Anarchy)
This pick is kind of an impartial one because I love Sons Of Anarchy. But you’re all lucky I didn’t just cast all my favorite drama TV stars here or Michael C Hall would be Cyclops and Bryan Cranston would be Professor X. I’d love Charlie to play Sabretooth. When he has his hair and beard grown out somewhat and you match that with his ever-growing darkness on Sons, he would be the perfect Sabretooth. Plus, I think he and Caan could play off each other well.
Mortimer “Toad” Toynbee – Shia LaBeouf (Transformers series)
I’ve never understood the physical appeal that the ladies see in LaBeouf. He looks kind of silly and weird to me. That, and he’s proven time and time again that he knows how to dig himself into a hole. That’s classic Toad. Always getting into trouble he can’t get himself out of.
Pietro “Quicksilver” Maximoff – Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down)
Stolen from someone with perfect casting taste. I saw this choice on a fancast at least 5 years ago and I have never seen anyone even remotely I would like to see in the role like Gigandet. He knows how to play the thug type. Quicksilver (my personal all-time favorite comic book character) grows into much more than a thug, but his time in my perfect trilogy will be limited to make room for larger villains.
Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff – Kate Mara (American Horror Story)
I searched on Wikipedia for actresses who were born within one year of Cam Gigandet (you know, the whole twins thing). Kate Mara and Emily Blunt popped up and both really stood out. The only reason I went with Mara over Blunt is because Blunt looks more mature. I’m trying to stick with a somewhat younger group of actors and Emily Blunt just looks like the older sister of everyone. Kate Mara though, she can pull off twisted/confused really well and Wanda needs that.
Jason “Mastermind” Wyngarde – Henry Thomas (Gangs Of New York)
Thomas has been starring in movies since he was a kid. His acting is still great, and I want to cast him partially because he has that look on his face all the time like he’s had a really hard life as a child star. He just looks disturbed.
Remy “Gambit” LaBeau – Ian Somerhalder (Lost)
Ian Somerhalder has the charm and the pretty boy thing going for him, not to mention he was born and raised in Louisiana. I’m sure I’m not the first person to ever cast him as Gambit but I’m fine with that.
Nathaniel “Sinister” Essex – Wes Bentley (Hunger Games)
Sinister is still yet to be portrayed onscreen. I’m hoping they get smart and include him in X-Men: Apocalypse but I’m not expecting much after DOFP. Regardless, in my adaptation, I would make him a very key player from the beginning. I’ve seen a number of people casting older actors for the role but I imagine these immortal types to be younger looking; just my personal take. Wes Bentley certainly has the dark, evil look about him, but his acting is also spot on when he tries.
Raven “Mystique” Darkholme – Tilda Swinton (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe)
Mystique is one of the characters I feel that needs a good retelling. I want a somewhat older rendition in a white dress that relies more on her transformations and tactical planning than a naked chick kicking people all the time. I think Tilda Swinton has that heartless look to her and her acting is really classical. I’m really looking forward to her in Snowpiercer.
Marie “Rogue” D’Ancanto – Rooney Mara (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)
Rogue is a very confused (like every other X-Men character) young woman. In my cast, she doesn’t show up as much of her usual angsty orphan self until the last half of the last movie, but she does exist; powers and all. Rooney Mara has all of the traits of a great Rogue.
En Sabah Nur “Apocalypse” – Oded Fehr (The Mummy)
The titular character in Fox’s 2016 outing has yet to be seen as an adult and we have no idea who they have cast. But me, I am casting Oded Fehr. He is the man. He is a badass. He kicks ass. He gets ass. He’s just that guy that really can look deep into your soul but can also break your arm and throw you down some stairs. That’s what Apocalypse needs to be.
X-MEN:CHILDREN OF THE ATOM
We see how Xavier and Magneto come to be friends in opening flashbacks. We are to understand that the world already knows about mutants. So, they open the school and begin recruiting students. They recruit the first class of the original five students. As training begins, Charles and Erik finally realize they don't have the same vision for mutantkind. Erik leaves the school and recruits his own students. We see all of it. Not just the Brotherhood finally together, but each individual recruitment. I'd love side-by-side training shots.
The regular things happen like Beast's fur and Scott and Jean's relationship blossoming and Bobby's transformation into the fully iced body.
One day, Senator Kelly announces on TV that he has partnered with Trask Industries to put the Sentinel program into effect. Erik is outraged and the Brotherhood plans an assassination attempt on Kelly. It is only because Charles has been keeping tabs on Erik's recruits that he knows about the mission to Washington.
Charles sends his students to stop the assassination. A fight between the teams breaks out in front of the Capitol building in broad daylight. But as soon as the X-Men are getting the upperhand, two sentinels arrive on scene and attempt to capture them all. Cyclops and Quicksilver each manage to take out a Sentinel. The Brotherhood flees the scene but the X-Men stay behind to talk to Senator Kelly. They inform him of the assassination plan and he thanks them for trying to protect him by shutting down the Sentinel program as long as they can remain the peacekeepers.
On the flight back, Charles is watching their progress on a radar thanks to the X-Jet's homing device. Then, as they are flying over Pennsylvania, the blip disappears. Charles attempts to contact Jean telepathically but there was no connection. He panics and attempts to use Cerebro to track them down. Still no luck. Charles is flooding with guilt at the death of his friends as the credits begin to roll.
X-MEN:EVOLUTION
I know the name implies a reference to the cartoon, but I just like the title for a sequel.
It has been two weeks since the disappearance of his students and Charles is disgusted with himself. He believes that a new set of Sentinels shot them from the sky and that they are dead. Charles decides to recruit a new class of mutants to help him find what's left. He travels internationally and recruits seven new members, most a bit older than his original team. After they are all gathered back at the mansion, Charles feels Jean's presence in his mind. They find her washed up on a beach just a few miles from the school. She can't remember anything. Charles tells the new students to scour the area while he attempts to read her mind.
Jean's most recent memory is of the jet ride home and a shadowy figure with a red jewel on his forehead mysteriously appears on board and then it all goes black. Jean and Charles don't know what to make of this. When the new recruits return with no positive leads, Charles explains what he saw in Jean's mind. Banshee mentions a similar event from when he was younger but he also has no recollection of what transpired. The next morning, Wolverine wakes up to a familiar smell. He runs to the front lawn where he catches Sabretooth in the act of dropping Scott's unconscious body at the front gate.
Rather than leaving as Sabretooth was meant to do, his instincts pushed him to challenge Wolverine to a fight. After an emotional battle, Wolverine emerges victorious. Colossus drags Sabretooth inside and Wolverine explains their colorful history. The professor reads his mind and gathers some evidence as to where the other three are. After a couple days of connecting the dots, the team comes across a warehouse on a lone island in the middle of Lake Erie. The sign on the building reads "Krakoa" (fun easter egg). They bust in and see only Iceman's dead body lying on the floor of an empty room. They then notice a shadowy figure standing against the wall. Two red dots on his face instead of one. Cyclops charges at him when a glowing playing card hits him in his chest and explodes. The silhouette jumps and a string of cards flies at the team, causing the building to come crashing down. Proudstar had taken a card to the face and dies. The team mourns the two fallen members and continues to find Sinister.
The next scene is Gambit storming into a dimly lit lab and grabbing Sinister by the collar. "I did what you asked! I killed the boy and probably killed a few others! I'm done doing your dirty work! Let her go!"
"Patience, dear boy. He will be awakened soon enough. Then you can have your precious belle back. Until that time comes, you will do my bidding or she will end up just like the Drake boy."
As Gambit is storming out, we see five unconscious bodies lying on operating tables beneath white sheets. From the head of one, we see long red hair with a white streak in it. Hanging from another table is an arm covered in dark fur. From the third table, we see the tips of metallic wings. The other two tables have no defining features. Credits roll.
X-MEN:THE LAST OF US
Two days after the deaths of Warpath and Iceman, the X-Men still have no leads on Sinister's location and Jean begins tossing and turning with excruciating headaches each night. Scott is worried and upset. He heads down to the room where they are holding Sabretooth. Although Wolverine has tried to question Sabretooth, he is refusing to give up any information. Scott punches him in the face and he just chuckles as he wipes the blood away from his mouth. Scott begins to beat him senselessly until Colossus comes to restrain him. Scott, infuriated, heads to the professor to see if there is anything he can do to help Jean. Xavier attempts to fix Jean's migraines but the telepathy doesn't help. As Xavier attempts his last telepathic remedy on Jean, the mansion begins to shake like a high-magnitude earthquake. Everyone rushes outside to see a pyramid growing into the sky.
The remaining able-minded team members hurry to the base of the pyramid to see Angel mounted on a horse at the entrance. But his skin is blue and he's wearing bizarre uniform and his wings are now made of sleek metal. He doesn't recognize them. Scott shouts at him from the ground, trying to sway him, but nothing comes of it. Then Wolverine, who doesn't know who Angel is, rushes toward him, claws drawn, and attempts to attack. Angel quickly and effortlessly throws Logan with a flap of his new wings. He then turns and rides into the pyramid. All the mutants attempt to destroy the door: Scott's blasts, Sunfire's flames, Colossus' strength, Banshee's screams, Storm's lightning, Wolverine's claws, every bit of power inside of them. But none of it leaves a scratch. So Nightcrawler teleports back to the mansion to tell Professor X of what's happening. Moments later, before Nightcrawler returns, the door opens again. A towering, muscular figure emerges. Apocalypse. Angel rides out behind him on his horse alongside Beast, who was covered in darker fur then they had seen, and an evil look upon his face. Apocalypse gestures down to the mutants. Angel charges.
The X-Men are on the ground attempting to take on Angel without killing him but his power has been magnified and he has become ruthless. Nightcrawler returns with Charles. They are both shocked at what's happening. Charles tries very hard to enter Warren's mind but it is blocked somehow. Apocalypse becomes bored, walks down to the battlefield and kills Sunfire and Storm by crushing them with his bare hands. Cyclops hits him with a blast that barely affects him. As he's walking over to Scott to kill him next, Jean shows up. She has a glowing red aura about her. She slams Apocalypse, Archangel, and Beast into his pyramid. Realizing her power, Apocalypse walks back into the pyramid with Dark Beast, and the door shuts behind them. A rumble is heard from within. Nightcrawler teleports inside and the tomb is empty. When he teleports back out, he informs them of what he saw and they hypothesize that Apocalypse and Beast teleported somewhere.
Archangel is lying crippled on the ground as Colossus has hold of his wings so he can't fight or escape. Jean focuses and breaks the mind control Apocalypse had over him. He faints from such mental trauma and the X-Men try to figure out where to go from there. But it didn't take them long. There were reports from Chile, Egypt, and China of pyramids suddenly rising from the ground and horsemen waiting outside them. The cameras show that the other three horsemen are Magneto, Rogue, and Mystique. Nightcrawler who recognizes his mother as one of the horsemen, teleports immediately for China where she stands guard. In Chile, the news is showing that the Brotherhood has already made it there and is trying to stop Magneto.
The team takes Sabretooth and Angel on the X-Jet to confront Mystique alongside Nightcrawler. When they arrive, Nightcrawler is lying on the ground, unconscious. Mystique didn't recognize him as Angel hadn't recognized Scott, so she took him down. Jean did the same thing to Mystique that she had done to Angel and she collapsed. But this time, the door to the pyramid opened and Apocalypse emerged with Gambit, Sinister, and Dark Beast. An epic battle occurs. Gambit decides to help the team and Scott leads his X-Men to a victory over Sinister, but Jean and Apocalypse are dueling overhead. Eventually, Apocalypse slams her into the ground, creating a massive crater. He once again decides to flee, but not before dragging Gambit against his will inside with him. Jean survives but is heavily wounded.
The team and their captives fly to Magneto's position in Chile. They attempt to take him down with the help of the Brotherhood, but before they can, Magneto crushes the X-Jet with Sabretooth on board and kills Colossus. Jean is too wounded to concentrate and convert him so Quicksilver and Wanda join together to kill their father. They succeed and stay to mourn their loss. Nightcrawler tells them all to stand in a circle holding hands with him. The remaining X-Men, along with Toad and Mastermind, teleport to the fourth pyramid in Egypt.
Once they arrive, they see Apocalypse standing atop the pyramid with Gambit and Rogue standing in his hands, brainwashed. He sends them down to fight. After a lengthy battle, they subdue the two remaining horsemen. Finally, Jean limps onto the battlefield and hovers to Apocalypse's position. She takes a deep breath, tells Scott she loves him, and uses all of her force to tear Apocalypse to pieces. In doing so, she falls from the sky and dies. Scott holds her and strokes her hair, crying. Gambit and Rogue wake up from their brainwashing and hold each other. They dig graves to bury their fallen friends, then after a short ceremony, the remaning X-Men gather together and teleport home. Roll credits.
Heads up in the comments section. You can tell me I'm awesome or that I'm the dumbest idiot in the world for any and everything I have posted here. I don't care. You can even tell me a pick or two aren't right and who you would rather have. BUT DO NOT TYPE OUT EVERY SINGLE X-MEN CASTING IDEA YOU HAVE EVER HAD ON MY FANCAST. YOU CAN EITHER a.) GET OVER YOURSELF or b.) POST YOUR OWN ARTICLE.