James McAvoy Talks X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

James McAvoy Talks X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Sharing elements from First Class that he hopes transpires in X-Men: Days of Future Past, James McAvoy discusses going bald for his mutant mentor role as the younger Prof Xavier and More.

By DCMarvelFreshman - Dec 27, 2012 12:12 AM EST
Filed Under: X-Men
Source: Total Film

As Patrick Stewart is “greatly looking forward” to reprising his respective role as the modern-day Professor Charles Xavier, Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Days of Future Past will overtly also see the First Class period iteration of the character, played by James McAvoy. The Scottish actor recently spoke with Total Film in their latest mag’ issue, where he modestly discussed the 2014 sequel.

“I thought the biggest thing that X-Men: First Class gave the franchise was a real palpable sense of humor that wasn’t just for a couple of moments,” McAvoy admits. “It was running through the thing. And I hope that continues. I don’t know how easy it will be for me to be a part of that as my

character’s going to be in a pretty [frick]ed up place. It’s a shame because I like the fact that Charles Xavier was witty and funny and a bit of a lecherous old guy trapped in a 30-year-old’s body.”

Although he played coy about Days of Future Past story details, James McAvoy did confirm that there will be an explanation as to why and how Prof. X will go bald, which the casting of Stewart, alone, affirms will occur. “[screenwriter] Simon Kinberg and I had a chat about it and we came up with a whole bunch of idea about how, why and where he might go bald. It’s got to be linked to the plot though. In the comics, he lost his hair as soon as his powers awakened, and we clearly didn’t follow the source material. It can’t just be that he looks in the mirror at the end of the film and goes ‘Oh [frick], I’m losing my hair’. Although that could be quite funny with all this shit going on... he goes ‘Arge, I’m really stressed...’”

While Fox’s Marvel Property Creative Consultant, Mark Millar, has alluded to X-Men: Days of Future Past finally featuring the giant robotic Sentinels, we’ve yet to receive confirmation; even after Total Film asked James McAvoy. The Wanted actor laughed before saying, “As a fan of the X-Men world and lexicon, I share lots of other fans’ hopes and dreams and I’d like to see Sentinels...”

In addition, Total Film also questioned two of James McAvoy’s X-Men: First Class co-stars, actress Rose Byrne and Banshee actor Caleb Landry Jones, about whether they’ll be reprising their roles in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Both thespians said they have yet to be contacted, but would “absolutely love” to return and show more of who their characters are, if asked. Anyhow, X-Men: Days of Future Past stars Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Hoult, Jason Flemyng with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. And reportedly scheduled to commence principal photography in Spring next year, Bryan Singer directs the anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past time travel adaptation into theaters on July, 18 2014 in 2D and 3D!


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kakinurmawth
kakinurmawth - 12/27/2012, 12:49 AM
Only thing good about First Class was Magneto actually using his powers and really destroying stuff and people with em.
We'll see how this goes...
kakinurmawth
kakinurmawth - 12/27/2012, 12:49 AM
Banshee was cool too
thewonderer
thewonderer - 12/27/2012, 1:41 AM
Can it with the first class is bad insults, it's pathetic. Its critically regarded as fantastic.

Yes a movie can be really good even when mostly disregarding it's source material. It's no shocker.

First Class was great, better than 80% of Cbm today At least. Tied with iron man id say.
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 12/27/2012, 1:44 AM
Sentinels mmmm did I read right
shamo
shamo - 12/27/2012, 1:45 AM
loved 1st class, top 5 cbm's to date. and fucc yeah, can't wait to see some purple mutant killing giant robots.
Kayo
Kayo - 12/27/2012, 1:57 AM
if the Sentinels is in, it's going to be awesome.
TheFox
TheFox - 12/27/2012, 2:13 AM
I am looking forward to this movie SO GODDAMN MUCH. Seriously, this is gonna be the biggest film in 2014 for me-- especially since the only competition it seems to be facing is Captain America 2 (a VERY close second) and Guardians of the Galaxy (a solid "I don't care" until I actually watch the damn thing).

(And no DC movies at all, naturally-- which would usually be my big "OMG I can't wait!" pick, since I'm a huge DC fan. Seriously, Warner Bros., it's f%$#ing embarrassing that you can't keep up with Marvel Studios when you've had a good THIRTY YEARS to develop movies for your characters.)

But this sounds like it could very well be the greatest of the X-Men movies, what with cast members from BOTH timelines and the potential for a Sentinel-filled future. As long as Bryan Singer can bring the quality he managed for the first two movies, and steer away from the sub-par kind of stuff he's been doing lately, this could well be AWESOME.

Z
FireKnightRises
FireKnightRises - 12/27/2012, 2:22 AM
"we clearly didn’t follow the source material."

They even admits it.
KnobGoblin
KnobGoblin - 12/27/2012, 2:26 AM
Since they seem so keen on connecting this prequel franchise with the original trilogy by bringing back the original cast, then how are they going to explain the fact that he was paralyzed in First Class, yet was walking in the beginning of X3? I had previously thought they planned to disregard X3 altogether and only hold the first two movies in canon like Superman Returns with the first two Superman films, but The Wolverine seems to have direct ties to X3 by picking up after the events in that movie.

I'm assuming the events of DOFP will take place after First Class, so I fail to see how the time travel could fix this issue. Someone would have to travel to before the time Xavier were paralyzed, prevent that from happening, only to then have him paralyzed again at some other point in the series so that he eventually does end up in the wheelchair in the OG trilogy. All because Matthew Vaughn jumped the gun on when/how Xavier gets paralyzed.

The only way I could see the issue being fixed, is if Xavier were to undergo an operation that restores the use of his legs for awhile, but slowly they degenerate over time to the point where he can no longer walk again. That could explain why he's able to walk in the opening flashback of X3, yet ends up in the wheelchair again in the first two films.

This franchise is just as screwed up as the comics continuity.
loki668
loki668 - 12/27/2012, 3:00 AM
There's a "crippling" sense of anticipation for this film.

Lord Loki has spoken
deathclock
deathclock - 12/27/2012, 3:11 AM
As a comic book fan, first class was entertainment, not right at all but entertained me if i just kept thinking it wasnt wolverine orgines and another fox movie. How that team was the first xmen team is terrible but i was entertained none the less. I borrowed the movie from a friend cause watching it in theaters was a no for me, hell downloading it was a no for me. Deadpool in wolverine orgines killed downloading fox movies. I bought for my wife to watch, cause she wanted to see it, on black Friday for 4 bucks at walmart. Ive just givin up on fox movies. They dont care about the comics and focus purely on the money. The next one might entertain u but some a-hole at ur work will tell u how much? he knows about the x-men and quote garbage from that movie. It still happens to me from the first
one...and x3s Phoenix saga :(
gambgel
gambgel - 12/27/2012, 3:13 AM
great to see James discussing about the sequel again.
And nice to know he wants the Sentinels too :D
GetsugaTensho22
GetsugaTensho22 - 12/27/2012, 3:26 AM
source material, schmourse material.
A good movie's a good movie, regardless of how it follows the material. Since the material's already laid the foundations and mapped out a general framework of a property, it's safe to follow it, but not impossible to make a great [frick]ing movie that moves away from it.

But why am i arguing, you guys would rather see a roided up gorilla in a luchador mask as bane or a BDSM slut as catwoman.
mctrinket
mctrinket - 12/27/2012, 4:15 AM
Screw continuity! I'm so sick of hearing about it. Does the Batman franchise trouble itself with continuity? What if Nolan had had to work off the established stuff in Batman & Robin? How would that have been?

Different directors, different writers, different actors--based on existing characters from the X-Men comics. It does not all need to be linked. I'd like to see all the old movies scrubbed entirely and a whole fresh batch of people start from scratch not unlike they did with Spider-Man. Why not?

GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 12/27/2012, 4:45 AM
ITS MOVIES..THEY CARE ABOUT MONEY AND FLASH, NOT SOURCE MATERIAL. SOME DIRECTORS FIGHT TO KEEP IT NEAR SOURCE........BUT ITS FOX PEOPLE. ITS FOX.
pepe
pepe - 12/27/2012, 4:55 AM
Crap movie... No thanx
sikwon
sikwon - 12/27/2012, 5:10 AM
They already said that First class and the Wolverine are basicly year 1 for the X movies. The continuity is going to be jacked up no matter what simply because they strayed so far from the source. Im not one that needs it to be watchmen faithful but there really should be some source material structure. Theres a reason these storys and characters have been around for so long. If they want to tell an original story thats great but damn make it a good one. Ive said many times im a huge xfan and i havent loved any of the movies yet. I have high hopes but low expectations for DFP. I wish Joss was in charge, how great would the Breakworld story be as a movie? Age of Apocolipse is to much to hope for. And Cable. They suck now that i think about it. And for the love of god can we get an actor with some testosterone to play Cyclops.
mgeoff88
mgeoff88 - 12/27/2012, 5:32 AM
Ha ha, James McAvoy has a great sense of humor.

And yes! Bring on the Sentinels!





toco89
toco89 - 12/27/2012, 5:40 AM
@gunsmith

All I've read is that it was Vaughn who decided to forgo continuity for a well crafted story that he could build along with his writers and lead actors. Which he accomplished with style and class, but was also the farthest from comic continuity.


Fox doesn't seem to meddle as much as other studios like sony and WB. TASM was full of things that just seem tacked on last minute by somebody who didn't understand the overall context of the movie, and well GL was had so much of it that it was ridiculous.
datNAMEtho
datNAMEtho - 12/27/2012, 5:51 AM
Very excited for Days of Future Past!
marvel72
marvel72 - 12/27/2012, 5:57 AM
x-men first class had its moments but an average comic book movie to say the least.

pros

-erik & charles the only two stand out performances of the movie

-a few good scenes i.e the opening where a young erik loses it,the siege of the c.i.a building & at the end where erik puts coin through shaw's head.

-the soundtrack was good

cons

-respecting the source,zero effort.

-movie continuity,its a complete mess.

-characters,it features a bunch of mutants that i actually couldn't give a shit if they lived or died,it was like they were draw from a hat.

the only reason(s) i'm remotely interested in x-men days of future past storyline is 1.the sentinels & 2.the original cast members returning.
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 12/27/2012, 6:01 AM
Just for the sake of Odin, keep Remy Lebeau and Anna Marie the hell away from it, please.
gambgel
gambgel - 12/27/2012, 6:09 AM
@mgeoff88

Those pics are


E P I C ! ! ! ! ! ! !

:O

if Singer, Millar and Fox give us that level of action, Im gonna Scream on the threatre, Lol
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/27/2012, 6:55 AM
Lets just say nothing, well maybe MARVEL STUDIOS

: P
CherryBomb
CherryBomb - 12/27/2012, 7:09 AM
I hope they don't make him lose his hair yet.
They need to stop rushing things, I wish he didn't end up in the wheelchair either!

:/

KeefNCookies
KeefNCookies - 12/27/2012, 7:25 AM
Did not care for First Class at all except for Fassbender, but even he couldnt hold the movie together. McAvoy was ok, but wow, everybody and everything else was so bad.

Boycott FOX & SONY for life.
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 12/27/2012, 7:26 AM
"Unidentified Mutant acquired. Halt, Mutant! Prepare for registration!" lol. They won't do that.... You know it...

Nice avvy, Intruder. [frick]ing hate Cyclops, lol.
XavierLehnsherr
XavierLehnsherr - 12/27/2012, 7:29 AM
I bet Cerebro causes a sort of electrolysis that makes his hair fall out.
PeterParker1991
PeterParker1991 - 12/27/2012, 7:30 AM
Yeah, I still got mixed feelings about Charles already being paralyzed. Feel like it happened too soon. Especially if this is supposed to be an alternate timeline, would've made more sense to have him go on more missions with his team and have him get paralyzed later leading into the other movies.

But... I'm still excited for DOFP. Bring on the Sentinels! Particularly something more than just the head of a Sentinel like in the terrible X3
Gunslinger
Gunslinger - 12/27/2012, 7:41 AM
@Intruder - they will probably be even shorter than that. Same height as an average person. And if they decide to do Master Mold, it will probably be a purple cloud, thus connecting X-Men to FF.
gambgel
gambgel - 12/27/2012, 8:07 AM
@XavierLehnsherr

Ive thought about that possibility too. at least Id like to see a scene like that
Boogie138
Boogie138 - 12/27/2012, 8:11 AM
can i just ask why when fox doesn't follow the source material geeks freak, when marvel does it? well thats no problem!

marvel studios has not adhered to source material, sorry kids. 100% faithful films will never or should never exist. whats the point? making a worthy companion piece, now wer're talkin'!

people don't like the fox x-men because it has gotten to the point where the characters don't seem to be their comic book counterparts. those arguments are valid. saying it not like the comic, it sucks! - just makes you look stupid.

i hate when someone tells me that iron man was like the comic. lets go read iron man #200
PenditaMarah
PenditaMarah - 12/27/2012, 8:19 AM
Fanboys always ruined the cbm.go to hell.
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 12/27/2012, 8:20 AM
Palpable sense of humor? I don't remember laughing once while watching the movie and I definitely won't be watching it again.
thebatspider
thebatspider - 12/27/2012, 8:44 AM
People dont understand that these movies dont try to be 100% like the comics, becuase what kind of story will tell us? I mean, i dont want to go to the cinema knowing the plot, i want see something new and first class is an example of that.
gambgel
gambgel - 12/27/2012, 8:48 AM
really solid point, thebatspider
toco89
toco89 - 12/27/2012, 8:55 AM
A movie carrying a sense of humor doesn't necessarily mean it intends to make you laugh. But rather give a feeling of levity to what, as the other films have well established, a very serious matter that can possibly end(and did) in life or death situations(Magneto wanting to turn the missile attack around to the ships that fired them).

The movie was about young people finally finding others like themselves and making the most of it. I think McAvoy is intelligent enough to know the difference between maintaining a tone and getting a laugh.
xstryker
xstryker - 12/27/2012, 9:00 AM
Purple Sentinels will look ridiculous on screen. I expect they'll create some great looking robots that are not purple, fans will complain, and no one will care as long as they look good in and of themselves.
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