Relatively unknown, up and coming actor Kevin Pennington has been consistently, and at times falsely, connected to high profile superhero films. At first, he was rumored to have landed an undisclosed role in Marvel Studios' Avengers. Lately he's said to have been looked at for both Marvel Studio's tentative Iron Fist film and Fox's "Fantastic Four" relaunch. Now, another rumor has surfaced linking him to the latter's Mutant prequel, X-Men: First Class.
While Marvel Studios may be considering him for Danny Rand, aka Iron Fist, Fox is considering Pennington for Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch, in the "F4" relaunch, AvengersNews reports that Fox has made a deal for Pennington that is just waiting to be signed. That role is presumably for the character of James Madrox, aka Multiple Man, in the Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class film.
A recent CBM exclusive confirming the "Multiple Man" character getting a seat (or seats) in "First Class" may lend some creditability to this AvengersNews report. If this so-called deal is waiting to be signed, Kevin Pennington came to a final decision out of the characters both Fox and Marvel had to offer.
Whether or not Pennington chooses "X-Men: The First Class," the prequel's cast is so far outfitted with Michael Fassbender as Magneto, James McAvoy as Professor X, and Alice Eva as Emma Frost, with more to come. Directed by Matthew Vaugn, the film begins production soon, with a June 3, 2011 release date.
DCMF - While AvengersNews has had some reliable scoops before, they've had more that turned out false. And with Kevin Pennington being an active Tweeter, we can expect him to carry on this rumor, or debunk it being that hes done so in the past. In the meantime take this with a grain of salt, as you will.