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McKellen To Play Magneto in X-MEN movie

Published at:  May 14, 1999 1:44:12 AM CDT

Hey folks, Huckleberry Hound sent me over to Variety to check on a story about Ian McKellen and how he's signed on to Bryan Singer's X-MEN to play Magneto!

Cool, Back in late March was when we first heard he was considering the part and reading the script, but to hear that he's actually been cast is a great step forward with X-MEN. Now we need to begin seeing the rest of the cast shaping up in an OFFICIAL manner. For too too long fan speculation has been running rampant, with the whimsical finding it's way throughout the internet. Let's get this casting nailed down.

We're off to a great start I think. Back on April 1st I advocated pretty heavily that Ian take this role, and I'm pleased as punch to see him in the role.

Variety went on to say that filming is expected to begin in August!



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    Readers Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 1:57:43 AM CDT

    Gravitas Indeed

    by gyrobot

    This is defintely an inspired piece of casting. Sir Ian (you forgot the "Sir" bit Mr. Knowles!)will give Magneto a great deal of gravitas. It just remains to be seen who the rest of the cast will be.
    I'm keeping my on this one.

    - Gyrobot

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 3:13:30 AM CDT

    Ian

    by endeavor

    Ok so he's a damn good actor, fine, but i still think McKellen is wrong for this part. I'm sorry but that's my oppinion & i'll be whinning about it 'till i see the movie. Same thing happened w/ Batman, i loved the movie but hated seeing that wimp play Bruce Wayne... i'm one who believes that physical appearance has to be conscidered when casting.
    One good thing about this though, due to his reputation the movie's more likelly to be taken seriously now. Let's hope this thing doesn't suck...
    P.S. Any word on Steward signing on to be Prof. X??

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:11:14 AM CDT

    Isn't he too...

    by jeebs

    Old for the role.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:33:41 AM CDT

    X-MEN should ROCK!!!

    by abking

    Endeavor, you can whine all you want about Ian as Magneto but when you see the teaser trailer in November or December, you will be saying "FUCK, was I a dip shit for opening my mouth so early". This is great news that Ian was cast because X-MEN will be taken seriously. I think the role of Xavier will go to either Patrick Stewart or Ben Kingsly. Either would be good. X-MEN looks very promising: not too much effects, serious actors being cast... I can't wait to hear the rest of the cast.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 6:18:02 AM CDT

    Richard III

    by fleshworld

    Endeavor, and everyone who has doubts about McKellan, if you haven't seen Richard III, do so. The guy is wild, and I think if you see him in this role, you'll be as excited as I am to hear this news. His Richard role is actually pretty good preparation for Magneto....

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 6:19:07 AM CDT

    Dang,

    by fleshworld

    No html, Harry? Oh well - anyway, you got the URL up there.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 6:40:04 AM CDT

    Good Start

    by mike d

    This is some pretty decent news for this "dragging" project. Ian McKellen is a solid choice for Magneto (personally, I've always wanted to see John Malkovich play him, but what the hey, right?). Now if Singer and company can get a few more commitments from top-notch talent (Not 'stars', but talent. There's a difference), we could be looking forward to an excellent film with tremendous characters. Characters who have been begging to be on screen for years.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 6:42:17 AM CDT

    I am not calling him Sir!

    by stone cold

    I am American and I am not in the military, so I am not calling anyone sir! And that's the bottom line, cuz Stone Cold said so! (joke)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 7:05:26 AM CDT

    Logan almost locked down....

    by zoombot

    Rumor has it that Brian Doyle Murray will play Wolverine.

    and Chris Reeve will shave his head to play Prof. X.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 7:20:34 AM CDT

    Ian McKellen's AGE vs Magneto's

    by bfirrera

    uhm, read your comics more closely...Magneto was a survivor of the Holocaust...before he was married to Wanda and Peitro's mother (before THEY were born, obviously, and THEY are in their THIRTIES)...let's assume he was sixteen in 1945. 2000-1945=55+16=71.

    Granted, he's been de-aged and turned into a baby, etc, over the years, but a man in his fifties or sixties isn't really pushing too far...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 7:34:59 AM CDT

    McKellan

    by helpy helperton

    To all those who are questioning the man's physique for the part, you cannot expect the actors to look exactly like the comic book characters do. The vast majority of comic book heroes look well-toned and buff because thats the way they're drawn all the time. Its impossible for real life to simulate this in all cases. (I've even seen professor X looking buff in many comic books, and he's usually in a wheelchair). So, as long as Ian can get the self-proclaimed mutant messiah overtone of Magneto right, I will be happy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 7:42:08 AM CDT

    A query, por favor.

    by helpy helperton

    I'm not exactly in the mainstream with the status of this movie, and I was just wondering if anyone knows what is the final list of x-men members that will be portrayed in this movie. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Frye? Frye?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 8:04:10 AM CDT

    script?

    by doctor a

    I want to read the script! Does anyone have it??????

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 8:25:41 AM CDT

    A simple resemblance does not a good role make.

    by loxhig

    What's the deal with everyone getting their dicks in a knot about the X-actors having to look like the comic book characters?

    Isn't talent more important than someone looking like the Paul Smith Storm or B. Fraser having the same haircut as Cyclops? Someone earlier mentioned Ben Kingsley as Prof. X. Why? Cuz he's bald? puh-LEASE! Kingsley has such a wimpy voice and weak demeanor, he is completely unsuited for the part. I still think Martin Landau would make an intense and brooding Xavier. Does anyone at all see that but me?

    As much as I would have loved to have seen Terrence Stamp in the Mags role, I think Sir Ian will be fantastic and lend the film the credibilty it so desperately needs.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 8:57:52 AM CDT

    Sir Ian..

    by jackstar

    Cool. If you ever get the chance.. see him in a live performance. He is an incredible actor, and if his casting signals the X-Men flic will feature no ( or at least fewer) unconvincing muscle suits, the better.

    By the by, if you check the Variety article, it's followed by a bit on how in Singapore, Austin Powers II title was changed to The Spy Who Shioked Me.. Shioke meaning nice and good in the native tongue since Shag was too offensive.

    The Spy Who Nice and Good-ed Me.. doen't that sound a little worse?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 9:47:49 AM CDT

    X-Men start date confusion

    by whitey

    Variety's McKellen says the film has an August start date but every other trade and publication, incl. today's Hollywood Reporter, says production begins 7/19 in Toronto. I think Variety may mean McKellen doesn't begin work until August.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 11:02:36 AM CDT

    Casting

    by fire engine

    This isn't a cartoon, it's real people. The best one can hope are are the physiques drawn in "God Loves, Man Kills." Not only do I think that that would work better for a half-serious comic book film, but I think Mr. McKellan would work well as Magneto.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 11:19:21 AM CDT

    RE: Fire Engine

    by mike d

    I've been waiting for someone to bring up GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS. That happens to be the single greatest X-Men story there is, and I would love to see it played out on the big screen. However, I think that story would be very difficult to base the film around. I believe the movie itself MUST posess some sense about how the group originated.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 11:31:38 AM CDT

    X-Men Schmex-Men

    by mr_noodle

    Don't get me wrong, I think that there have been some cool comic-book adaptations, but no matter who they get for this project and how much they spend, I have the feeling that it's going to be a botched job. Not only that, but I simply don't think it will any appeal whatsoever outside the fanboy base if they even stay somewhat true to the comic book. People are going to look at it and shrug it off as another "superheroes-in-tights" movie. Sorry, but it's just not going to cut the mustard. I can't believe that McKellen actually signed on for this role, either, although he may lend some respect to the project. Ugg.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:08:04 PM CDT

    Re: Truck

    by mike d

    GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS was Marvel Comic's Graphic Novel #10, I believe. It was an X-Men story of a fanatical preacher-like villian who was obsessed with ridding the world of muntants. His efforts stretch both in the political world as well as means of taking the heroes out one by one. And by the end, both the X-Men and Magneto have joined forces to stop him. It's truly an excellent story. A lot of great action and dialogue. Professor X, Storm, and Cyclops, however, aren't really showcased that much in it, I'm afraid. But Wolverine has some of his best lines in this story.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:15:37 PM CDT

    X-men Thoughts

    by corran fox horn

    I've been struck with quite an idea. So far nothing about this movie has been comic-booky at all. Why try to follow the comic book exactly? Let Ian McKellen play Magneato like a normal old guy, with special powers. He doesn't have to be buff, and trading Arnold Schwazenegger-style quips with the X-men. For that matter, get the best people for the other roles, not the ones who look the "cartoony" part. Take the idea, and essence of the X-men, and make a serious movie out of it. Bryan Singer can do this, and hopefully he is doing this. If so, this movie could be better then Blade because, while that movie followed the comic-book, doing so made it fast, and cool, and fun, but ultimately dismissed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:28:53 PM CDT

    A few points

    by moviet00l

    1) Trying to dress Magneto up in his comic costume for a live action movie would be ridiculous. The younger cast members will get the tights, and even in their case I wouldn't go for a direct translation of the comics - remember those nipples on the bat-suits? Ugh.

    2) Ben Kingsly is perfect for professor X. Patrick Stewart was fun as Picard, but let's face it, the man overacts a tad. Ben Kingsly has a "weak demeanor?" First of all, I don't see it, second of all PROFESSOR X HAS A WEAK DEMEANOR! The post-Claremont Professor aside, Xavier has always been deep and brooding. It's that kind of thinking that gave us a wise-cracking, one-liner ridden Arnold as Mr. Freeze, instead of a deeply disturbed, sociopathic yet sympathetic villian like the cartoon series gave us. Imagine this - cut and paste Kevin Spacey's role from Seven onto Arnold's abortion of a performance and tell me how improved Batman & Robin would have been. Ugh.

    3) Why am I even writing this when I'm convinced that this movie will be a disaster just like Batman & Robin?

    Get ready for one-liners("you;re not sending me to the cooler;" "I don't leave home without it), underdeveloped characters(Poison Ivy, Kane, Batgirl), overdeveloped plotlines(Poison Ivy, Kane, Batgirl), incredible coincidences(Freeze just happens to have developed a cure for the EXTREMELY rare disease which is killing Alfred), Godzilla-sized plot loopholes(Alfred just happens to have made a costume and weapons in case she wants to quit school for no reason and become a crimefighter), and the tossing of 98% of the X-Men's history in order to get straight to the Pheonix Saga. I wish I could be optimistic, I really do. But everytime the studio sees a possible franchise, they screw it up. EVERY TIME. Who wants to lay odds they kill of Magneto at the end of the movie? Anyone? Ugh.

    But I'm not bitter.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:33:42 PM CDT

    what is god loves man kills

    by the other mike

    its the first x-men graphic novel by chris (x-men, fantastic four)claremont and brent (astro city) anderson. its about a tv evangelist stirring up mutant hysteria inciting violence against mutants and mutant sympathizers. the x-men try to stop the madness.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:35:00 PM CDT

    Re: Corran Fox Horn

    by mike d

    You think that THE X-MEN could be better than "BLADE"? Let's set our goals just "a little" bit higher. I could film salamanders mating in my back-yard and it would be better than BLADE.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 12:52:58 PM CDT

    mckellan as who?!

    by 2000

    this guy is too old , they should have just gone with rutger hauer or that tall platinum haired german terrorist from die hard 1

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 1:53:17 PM CDT

    Rutger Hauer?

    by whitey

    Have you seen him lately? He is The Blob now. Stop thinking he looks like he did in Nighthawks. Those days are almost twenty years and forty pounds ago!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 1:57:35 PM CDT

    Oh, and by the way,

    by whitey

    that platinum-haired German terrorist in Die Hard 1 was Alexander Gudonov and he DIED four years ago from acute alcoholism!!! So I don't think they'd have cast him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 2:35:01 PM CDT

    I Want Rutger Hauer Dammit!

    by dlr

    I'm sorry people, but Ian Mckellan is NOT Magneto!! He is 1 of the greatest actors whosse ever lived but he is just a tad too old for this part. If anybody ever saw him in BLADE RUNNER and BLOOD
    AND SAND then you'd know he was born to playMagneto!!
    He might be 40 pounds heavier as the who posted whose name I dont remember but he's still a great Actoe/Villian Actor!

    P.S. he was also great in "Merlin" the mini-series.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 2:49:24 PM CDT

    Sir Ian is a fine actor, but....

    by jason dean

    He's not Magneto. He's far too old and isn't capable of the physical nature this film really needs.
    Rutger Hauer is far too fat and far too gone to play anything other than the middle of the lane direct to video titles he has been.
    Alexander Godunov is dead and never would've been a decent chocie anyway.
    Someone mentioned Julian Sands? I think not. "Warlock" anyone?
    My only choice would be either Ralph Finnes or Geoffrey Rush or Gary Oldman.
    Magneto is an easy character to cast and I'm sorry to see that the first official choice is already a bad one.
    I can't wait until Wolverine is announced as being played by Skeet Ulrich and Cyclops is Freddie Prinze Jr.
    This film is going to worse than "The Avengers". There's no way it can possibly be good.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 2:49:34 PM CDT

    Magneto

    by v3kt0r

    Please tell me why Jurgen Pronchow (yes, i butchered the name) isnt perfect for Magneto? I guess it would be the German accent..... :P
    Anyway, that dude rocks.

    Terrance Stamp would have been a good choice as well.
    "KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 3:31:57 PM CDT

    JUDGE ITO AS MAGNETO...

    by uncapie

    eating a cheeto would be sweeto! But, this movie is going to smellshito! Uncapie has spoken. Word to your mother.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 4:57:12 PM CDT

    Beefcake

    by aartvark

    Ian McKellan isn't buff enough? Exactly how muscular does a man have to be if he has the power to pick up an ocean liner by flexing his will?
    Fer chrissakes, if all of the characters in the movie have to look like they do in the comics, even the EXTRAS will have to come from fitness centres.
    The entire point of the X-Men is that they are otherwise normal people who have been blessed/cursed with extraordinary powers. I'm all in favour of the casting following that ideal...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:00:17 PM CDT

    Jurgen Prochnow--great choice man!

    by primemover

    Yes! He really does have the face (and acting ability) to capture the part. Damn. Ian MacKellan--he woudl be better for playing the Vulture.

    :)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Ian McKellan as Magneto is inspired casting, no doubt about it. I am also in the Ben Kingsley-as-Professor X school of thought. Patrick Stewart can't be expected to hog all the bald, over-fifty roles, can he? Besides, who would you want matching up to Ian McKellan? The Oscar winning actor of Gandhi and Schindler's List, or the guy who was in Masterminds? I do agree that the casting of McKellan ups the ante in casting the rest of the film although I have a feeling that the rest of the cast will be made up of Captain Picard and various Dawson's Creek/Buffy hangers-on. Ah, well. Its the thought that counts when all is said and done.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:13:33 PM CDT

    Good News

    by bth

    McKellan is fine by me; good to see a comics film that can actually begin to get its act together! (BTW, anyone else see the Superman Postponed news at Cinescape?)

    And one more thing: notice how none of the Cool News stories today involve SW in any way this close to the movie...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:16:37 PM CDT

    Pseudo-Retraction

    by bth

    alright, so Thumb Wars is sorta Star Wars news, but as a SW loyalist, uninspired parodies with crappy character names don't do it for me...

    anyways, anyone know what's the date that they're supposed to have X-men all casted by?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:31:46 PM CDT

    ** FEAR ATTRACTS THE FEARLESS **

    by darth maui

    I'm really sick and not able to go out to see The Mummy as I planned to so I guess I will jump into this conversation. Ian McKellan is a BAD choice for Magneto. My main arguments

    1) too old
    2) built like a stick
    3) david bowie was born for it

    Oh yeah, before I forget, I think Sir McKellan is a fantastic actor, but something tells me that acting wont be the focus of this flick and why should it be? Why should plot, acting or anything else be the focus? Why beg for Ben Kingsley and an "understated" performance rather than Patrick Stewart's "overacting"? Do you know what The X-Men is about? Do you realize that there are flying chicks, guys in blue tights that shoot lasers out of their eyes, grumpy neanderthals with retractable claws, and a metallic purple villain who flys around shooting magnetic rays? Am I talking about the same movie as a lot of you others? Because The X-Men was born to be over the top. If Ian McKellan takes the part you can forget about any awesome fights like those you saw in The Matrix. He's going to stand around "brainwashing" everyone like the Emperor. That's fantastic in Star Wars, but I want to see Magneto kick some X-Ass. I am ready, I am ready for you fanboys to tear me apart and I know what you're going to say. First you will say "but in the comic book his parents were killed by the nazis so he should be about 72" That's bullshit. BULLSHIT!!! I don't think the timeframe applies here considering that the X-Men are now in their early 20s. If Magneto is 72, shouldn't Wolvie be in his 50s??? In 2050 when they make a new X-Men movie should they get a 200 year old to play Magneto? No, and that's precisely why we don't need a sexagenerian to play Magneto. David Bowie was born to play the part. He's strange, OVER THE TOP, and a fantastic actor. You can take the comic book and shove it up your ass, because I want an ass-kicking action movie. I want something that I can have fun with. Not something that will make me think or something that will win Oscars. X-Men should be senseless fun. Making a "serious and underplayed" X-Men movie is as plausable as making a bad Star Wars movie. Neither will ever happen and both would be a big disappointment... right???

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 5:59:23 PM CDT

    How about Christopher Walkin?

    by defiant

    I would have liked to have seen him in the role of Magneto. He is not to old or yound and can be both scary and compassionate. I also would have not minded Rutger Hower myself. The Fat thing is rediculas as actors have lost far more certain roles.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 6:33:26 PM CDT

    Get over it..

    by killogical mind

    Ian McKellen is cast, people, get over it. These physical problems people keep mentioning can be easilly eliminated by the right costume (not in the eyes of the die-hard purists, but fuck em, there's NO pleasing them anyway) Why don't we all just wait until we see the costume design until we start fuming...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 8:28:32 PM CDT

    you know, stuff...

    by wolverines dad

    Ian McKellen is the perfect choise for the role of Magneto. I heard this as a rumor a while back, and I thought it was too good to be true. Also, "God loves, Man Kills" would be an awesome movie. But not as the first one. The first one needs to be more introductorary(sp). I think that it would be good for a sequal. Then the next sequal would be a Dark Phoenix adaption. And Jean would die at the end. And the Avengers wouldn't find her at the bottom of the damn ocean.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 9:10:26 PM CDT

    Serious Question

    by sterling wolfe

    I know how frivilous this sounds, guys and gals, but I really need to know this. Is it pronounced Magneeto, or Magnehto (soft or hard e). Thanks much even though I did not say why I need the info.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 9:19:11 PM CDT

    By the way

    by sterling wolfe

    As to the person who posed the question about casting. I can tell you that as of this week, and maybe just today, they started actively casting Cyke and Jean. As for the others, I don't know. Have not heard a peep about Wolvie. Jean auditioners are reading off of 8 pages of sides. And, check this out. Cyke readers are first reading off of only *two* pages. Quite a curiosity for a first read for a 65 Mill studio film.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 9:26:39 PM CDT

    Sterling Wolf

    by bth

    Mag-NEE-to...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 10:12:18 PM CDT

    Magneto's age

    by endeavor

    This is regarding the comment BFIrrera made about Magneto's age.
    I'm sorry but you're mistaken in one detail: Magneto was not married when he was imprisoned by the Nazis. Nowhere has there ever been any book indicating so(prove me wrong if you can, give me the issue #). Fact is, the only thing we know is that his family was killed while he was imprisoned(as we all should know, Magda was not killed by the Nazis). Most likelly he a was either a boy or an adolescent. Besides, you mentioned yourself he's been de-aged. He could be 150 yrs old for all i care but his looks & body frame are that of a man in his 40's. I think we all agree Ian is a great actor & he can play Magneto's personality, but as for LOOKING the part, no way in hell...unless they CGI him which we know would be stupid & is never going to happen. But alas, i'd better get used to the idea of that mummy being Mags...(the very thought of him in tights is nauseating)

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 10:26:25 PM CDT

    As for the others........

    by crimson fury

    Now that ian is casted for magneto, which i really don't agree with, for that he's too damm old.(my pick would have been christopher walken!) As for the other X-men characters, my picks would be as follows....

    Wolverine/Michael Keaton, after seeing how buffed he was in desperate measures, i can see him pull logan off. He's short enough to play logan, and is capable of playing a wild man.

    Prof.X/Patrick Stewart, nuff said! He just looks like xavier.

    Cyclops/Vince Vaughn
    Jean Grey/Ashley Judd
    Storm/N'bushe Wright
    Rogue/Denise Richards

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 10:54:47 PM CDT

    villains as people

    by havok2000

    I had no idea when I mentioned "God Loves, Man Kills" in a post a few days back that so many people would remember that story, but I'm glad. It would make an excellent film. The thing to remember, alhough it gets harder every year, is that films based on comic books do not, by virtue of their nature, have to suck. It's just that a) their makers only care about money b) they don't know why people respond to comic books and c) they think that they do. They constantly and consistently disrepect the stories, the characters, the feelings that cause such work to be produced, reproduced and discussed in the first place and therefore, they themselves produce work that is fleeting and inconsequential. To those who would put down "Blade" I would offer that, Stevem Dorff notwithstanding, this was one of the very few attempts to realize a book with a real and complex main character that was not flat out goofy, since the first two (only good) Superman films back around 1980. Those films had their kitsch element, but it was balanced against a respect for the character and what he represented. And it told a straight story and was made as if it was a real film about somebody's life. Many of you will think this sacrilege, but all the Batman movies, including the Tim Burton ones, have been shit. The goofball elements, the kitsch, the schtick, overwhelmed the story. Someone should have the guts to make like those movies never happened and film Frank Miller's Dark Knight series, where Bruce Wayne's internal monologue while he's putting down a felon goes: "There are 17 classical responses to the punch he's just thrown. 5 kill. 11 subdue. 1 ... hurts." What always rankles me is, these characters are so great, they have survived in our mythology for decades and decades and they are so poorly though expensively served when they finally make it to film. It's too easy to believe that the subtleties of the characters just get lost in all the explosions. Still, it is somewhat hopeful when something like "The Matrix" comes along - smart, cool, visually designed, mind-blowing. A movie that realizes what is great about comics in a new way. A movie that ACTUALLY improves on what's on the page instead of merely ruining it. Okay. Regarding Magneto, you can't do better than McKellan. He's perfect. All the posters who worry about how he'll look in tights should be forced via the Ludovico treatment in "Clockwork Orange" to watch a Barbarian Brothers film festival. Magneto is a world leader, not a world wrestling federation leader. He is a visionary who will sacrifice your life to save his people from extinction. He is as good a character and as complex as has been seen in any pop art American film in history. Think Vaclav Havel meets Uri Geller ... forget that. Don't think that. The point is, Rutger Hauer and Val Kilmer are only believable as leaders in a world where Meg Ryan is a cardiac surgeon. I may visit that world occasionally for five dollars a pop but I will never live there and neither should you. That's not saying the X-Men won't stink on ice. It would be a MIRACLE if it even begins to deliver on what the story itself brings to the table. But McKellan is only helping, not hurting. Also, if you've seen the Paul Smith version of Magento from the mid to late 80's, you'll see McKellan isn't too far off that mark.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 11:21:47 PM CDT

    Wizard Casting Call

    by reese

    Wasn't Ian the one Wizard originally cast in their "dream" X-men movie?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 14, 1999 11:43:10 PM CDT

    Noooooo!!!!!!!!!

    by darth siskel

    That guy is too old and weak! This is terrible, terrible casting.
    I wish they'd be more loyal to the comics with this, and not take so many damn liberties with the material!!!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 15, 1999 1:44:06 AM CDT

    Any other choices...

    by devils halo

    If Patrick Stewart is cast as Prof. Xavier, I think his counterpart should be about his same age, etc. I like McKellan, but I can't see him being the right 'age'. Jurgen Pronchow (David Bannon - 'Seventh Sign') was someone I never considered, thank you for suggestion. My choices for the role would be Sean Connery (Marko Ramius), Terence Stamp (Gen. Zod), Kenneth Branaugh (Frankenstein), Malcolm McDowell (Soran). All of their characters have had various similarities to Magneto. As far as Ralph Fiennes as Magneto, I can actually see him as a better Xavier. As for this portayal of a power hungry madman that Magneto is supposed to be. He's not. If you look at 'God Loves, Man Kills' we see a side of Magneto that's (for lack of a better term) human. Magneto stand for equal rights, unfortunately they don't come the way of Martin Luther King, Jr, but more in the inspiration of Louis Farrakhan. What Magneto does is for the sake of all mutant kind - homo superior, as they call themselves. It's this type of thinking that made me think about the character and the forementioned similar characters that top my list. McKellan isn't a bad choice.. I can certainly live with it. As for the rest of the cast, they don't necessarily have to be a bunch of Dawson's Creek actors. How about Ralph or Joseph Fiennes as Cyclops (they look like the Paul Smith version)? Tom Sizemore as Beast (actually he'd make a better Ben Grimm - 'Chris Columbus wtf are you waiting for?')? Julianne Moore as Jean Grey? Iman as Ororo Munroe? Mystique and Rogue are the hard parts as it depends on the relationship between the two. If there is no 'mother/daughter type relationship, then Vanessa Marcel or Elizabeth Hurley as Mystique and Bridgette Wilson as Rogue?

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  • May 15, 1999 2:20:24 AM CDT

    Dan Hedaya's back...

    by frisco

    ...was the scariest thing in "Alien: Resurrection," wouldn't you agree? He is the only actor other than Robin Williams who is flat-out hairy enough to play Wolverine. Oh yeah, Mira Sorvino or Charlize Theron (sp?) would each be great as Rogue.

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  • May 15, 1999 2:47:20 AM CDT

    Something to think about

    by endeavor

    I've been giving a lot of thought to this... McKeller getting the part & all.
    Remember how not long ago some people were expressing fears that the script might suck? Well, searching for a possitive view on this casting choice I just realised: Ian is not the type of actor to do ANY movie just to make a buck, i'm sure he read the script before accepting the part & obviously found it acceptable.
    What do you guys think...?
    Endeavor

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  • May 17, 1999 5:09:25 AM CDT

    Surprised?

    by darkchylde

  • May 17, 1999 5:24:11 AM CDT

    Surprised? II

    by darkchylde

    Mckellan can act. No doubt about that. He was at his peak in Gods and Monsters, and though I agree he lacks the 'physique' needed to play Magneto convincingly, he has what it takes to bring Magneto to the Silver screen.

    I'm concerned, however, in the characters they have scheduled to bring into the movie, because from what I've deduced (possibly wrong though unlikely) the script definitely doesn't taken place during the X-Men time continuum. That worries me greatly, seeing that the writers at marvel seem to be playing absolutely no part in the script writing process, which leads me to wonder what kind of story they're going to produce in the end. The movie can go either of the two ways: 1) It'll be a smashing success, SFX, acting (hopefully they'll cast people with talent and not purely for two dimensional looks) etc. or 2) It could turn out to be another Mortal Kombat which I'm sure none of us want.

    So lets recap. They're casting Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolvie, Rogue, Mystique, Prof X, Storm, Magneto (so far). So where does this leave us?

    Rogue is in her late teens to early twenties, which suggests that she's either STILL with the brotherhood, or has switched sides to join the X-Men, which still doesn't make sense b/c for that to happen Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde and company should be there. Quite evidentally, they're not.

    The absence of Beast, angel and iceman could be due to their temporary transfer to the avengers. One mystery solved.

    Mystique is the character which puzzles me the most. I heard a rumor a while back that someone was cast as 'Sabretooth' (in corona coming attractions) which could explain her presense, seeing that the two of them have quite a 'history' thing going, seeing that they're son Graydon Creed plans on committing mutant genocide and all. But still, that's only an assumption.

    But otherwise, the casting doesn't make sense. And having Rogue play a shy naive girl is going to completely destroy her character. btw, if they're planning on a scott-jean-logan triangle, they should forget it (in my humble opinion =)) Rogue and Gambit is what'll heat up the screen to put it quite literally.

    Although I love the X-Men, it's going to take a lot more to assure us that this'll be a mega movie... and I've got a feeling that, in the end, it'll all be up to the script. If they're smart they'll hire a few marvel writers and producers to tweak the characters and plotlines a bit. For the time being, lets just have a little faith.

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  • Jul 26, 2006 3:39:22 PM CDT

    Isn't Patrick Stewart gay also?

    by wolfpack

    Magneto! You cannot escape my irresistable dance music!

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