Cool News
X-MEN casting -- Jean Grey
Well folks, once again it seems that Bryan Singer is going with another fairly unobvious choice. I will say this for the casting so far, none of these actors besides Stewart and McKellen have any real luggage as actors with us. It'll be interesting to see if it works. Let's hope.
This is an underhanded way to find something out Harry, but well I found that I just needed to let you know anyway because it is about X-MEN. I was out with my boyfriend at a nice restaurant here in Hollywood Land when who should be sitting two tables over to the right, but Lauren Shuler Donner talking to some other person I did not recognize.
Now I don't usually put my ear into another's conversation, but I heard X-MEN and I could not help but pay close attention. Unfortunately I didn't hear very much, but I did catch on interesting new bit of info I haven't heard anywhere. It seems that Maria Bello is on board as Jean Grey. Most people probably know her from ER or PAYBACK. Strange that they couldn't find a redhead for the role. I hope the dye her on up.
The Listening Post
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Maria Bello??? Not knockout enough for me.
Angie Everhart (with acting lessons) woulda been great. Something about the X-Men makes me think they all have to be good looking.
I wanted Brendan Fraser for Cyclops too, but Caviezel will do. -
wow, it seems the actors in this cast can actually act!
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unless they base the movie around Stewart, this movie will be a major bomb. No actual stars, a not so high budget and a not so good director (usual suspects was awesome but apt pupil was beyond shit) could cause the movie to flop with the audiences unless it pulls another Mortal Kombat.
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Yo, that chick could use her telekinesis powers on me any day. As for X-Men not having big names, putting A-List stars in a film like this would be a sure fire way to make it suck. If I go see an X-Men flick, it's cuz I wanna see the X-Men. When I go see an Arnold flick, I go to see Arnold. You don't need star names for an ensemble flick. It just wouldn't work, unfortunately, for financial and creative reasons. Can you imagine 5 or 6 highly paid actors and actresses fighting for screen time? It would be crap. One of the reason's why Star Wars was phenomenal was because it used unknowns for its ensemble cast. No one really outshone anyone else, that can be argued, but I hope you see my point. The X-Men is about the interactions between their members. I think star names would detract from that. And you can't possibly tell me that there isn't talent outside of the well known actors cuz that's bullshit. There are people out there that can act that are waiting for a break like this. The examples are abundant. And as for a big budget, that doesn't always automatically translate into quality filmmaking. That is clearly obvious in today's movie market.
DRES -
GO DRES. SPEAK IT MY BROTHER.
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Forgot one thing. MORTAL KOMBAT! I'll agree with darius on that one, I liked that movie. But...wait...what was that...oh yeah...it had a cast of unknowns with two B-List stars in Chris Lambert and Cary Tagawa! See what I'm saying...
oh yeah, and a shot out to my boy ZeThrow.
Dres -
Dres you are right about Mortal Kombat being a good movie, and you are right that it had unknown actors but there were some that have been in some other movies. i can't think of which ones, but it will come to me. DRES Rules.
-GREg -
I'm not familiar with this particular actress. But I'm assuming she was primarily chosen for her acting ability otherwise a bigger name would've won the role. She's attractive and nubile. Good, that's always a plus. Maybe if she dyes her hair, this phoenix will be able to rise from the ashes.
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Just to prove Eternal right, I'm going to be a negative bastard now (well sort of). I've often said this in X-men talkbacks, and I'll say it again. You won't be able to judge this film by the actors. Big Deal if it's starring Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellen. Quality actors have to eat to you know, and there's a growing trend of these sort of actors taking well paying jobs in shite Hollywood Blockbusters, for the money, and hoping like hell it won't hurt their credibility in the long run. Recent example: Wild Wild West starring bloody Kevin Kline and bloody Kevin Branagh. Did they manage to make that train wreck any better? No. Actually they probably made it worse because 'quality' actors tend to resort to hamming when the material isn't good in an effort to save face. God forbid they could be seen to be taking it seriously. Look for some over-the-top hamming from Mr Mckellen in X-men. Unless by some slim chance this is actually going to be a good film on it's own merits of course. Don't get me wrong though, even if it's not a 'good' film per se, it will probably still be a lot of dumb fun and I'll be there. I much prefer my load-o-crap junk movies to be wink wink nudge nudge affairs like Batman and Robin or The Avengers rather than straight-faced bores like Armageddon or Godzilla. But that's just me. I do realise that this is Aint-it-cool-news and precious few people here have a sense of humour when it comes to adaptions of comic-books. Oh by the way, Maria Bello. She's can deliver lines, she's good looking, she'll do. Can I just point out now (in as politically correct manner as possible) that none of the ladies cast are large breasted. My brief experience of the comic is that the women in it tend to be rather voluptuous. Does this pattern of casting mean that they want the film to be taken seriously, or just a coincidence?
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that wasnt negative, just sensible. i wouldnt call halle berry small in the boobular area though.
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I've read all the breakdowns you have listed, but who is the casting director? Do you have an address so maybe a young actor can sneak a headshot to him? I'd give anything to have the opportunity to audition for this project.
PLEASE HELP!?!?!? -
No. Go away, brat.
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You almost gave me a heart attack, there. *shudder*
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I didn't run a pool on the casting picks. I, for one would be broke. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.
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Singer has done it again. He continues to show us his pre-production genius. How can anyone be negative about this latest casting decision? Have any of you doubters ever seen Maria Bello act? She's fantastic! Granted she hasn't done anything over-the-top (yet), but she's definitely not void of talent. Who cares about 'big-name' talent. Let's just settle for 'talent' (which seems hard to come by in an overall film now-a-days). If the script allows (which I'm sure it will, because of the hands it's in), this film is going to be tremendous. I think some of you are just afraid to either realize this, or admit it.
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I like Brian Singer, I tyhink he is a good director and that most of the problems of "Apt Pupil" were studio's faults.
The problem I have with the X-movie is that eliminating all the bad looking mutants from the movie( Toad, Beast, Nightcrawler) and casting beautiful people even for the not so attractive ones (Sabretooth, Wolverine, come on we even have a young supermodel as a 40-plus year old Mistique),the general public will think that the main "Curse" of being a mutant is "Good looks". Where are the deformity, the strangeness? Where are the Calibano and Marrow ?
At least they should include a scene a la "Marvels" where the team rescues a monstrous mutant child from the mob.
Ciao da Antonello -
I'm trying to optimistic about this. I think the casting decisions have been very good (not sure about Berry for Storm though, Stewart is ok choice for X).
The thing that worries me is the script. There have been numerous drafts and various problems w/ all of them. I wish they had Chris Claremont write a draft. I agree about the wierdness factor-a shame Beast was cut!Was Toad cut as well? First I've heard of that.
We'll have to wait and see.
As for the costumes, I'd suggest something simple, like the older assembly line outfits w/ slight variations.
Black custumes with a large X on the chest and back.
Cyclops-Yellow X
Jean Grey -Red X
Rogue-Green X w/ tank top or jacket, different boots.
Wolv-Brown X, Sleeve cut off at shoulder, famous boots & helmet.
Storm-White X w/ cape and thigh boots. -
i can just imagine this movie sucking i mean really really sucking. they really fucked up with some casting moves like sabretooth and phoenix. cyclops was good and i still dont know about wolverine. damn i really wish they dont put them in spandex.
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As my pal Jack Burton always said "It's all in the reflexes." These actors are not only perfect for the roles they all complement each other perfectly. I can see them all in the Danger Room right now. The only actor who I am a little shaky about is Dougray but I heard his screen test was jaw dropping so we'll wait and see. All of you naysayers just don't go see the movie then, it will easily break 250 in the US so we won't miss your business, now I'm off to work on my film, goodbye.
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You are the puss that is filling up the boil on the ass of Hollywood. We need movies with good actors (there are loads of talented actors who haven't even had a bit part in a movie... they are practicing exquisite craft on theatre stages across the country and unseen because they don't know the right people or are not HOLLYWOOD-BEAUTIFUL) and good stories. It's people like you who are telling Hollywood "hey, can we get Cindy Crawford and Ricky Martin in this picture? ... and what about that black guy from How Stella Got Her Groove Back? The one all the ladies think is sexy?? yeah, that guy! let's get him too! We can make Storm a man? Right?" I want to see good stories, dammit! SSZero, If you want to see beautiful people, buy a PLAYBOY. And stay at home with it! I don't want you affecting the lastest ticket sales.
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This is like the one Harry ran some months back about somebody running into Ewan McGregor in a bar in Chicago and him spilling the beans about Leo and SW2 -- while Ewan was actually in Ireland filming a movie! This is unsubstantiated rumor, people. So and so is out to dinner -- how convenient a set-up is that. And she recognizes Lauren Shuler-Donner but NOT the actress who was on the biggest show on TV?! How many of you people here know what Shuler-Donner looks like? This is somebody just trying to stir the pot up. And if it is true, which I obviously seriously doubt, they could have done far worse. Maria Bello's a fine actress, very pretty -- but a little too tough as nails for Jean Grey, I think. Whoever plays Jean has to be worthy of the attention paid to her by Caviezel and Dougray, two characters of totally opposite natures. Funny how Ashley Judd's reps wouldn't say whether or not she had the part when Cinescape asked them the other day. At least they fact check their stories before running with them!
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I haven't heard anything about the storyline yet. Can anyone fill me in on what they're planning on using? What about the characters? So far, I've heard about Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Jean Grey and Rogue, Mystique, Professor X, Magneto and Sabertouth. Are there going to be any others?
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Jul 14, 1999 10:13:08 AM CDT
For a second I thought it said Maria Conchita Alonzo
by dr. dorkenstein
Maria Bello left ER for this? A small cameo in a comic book flick?
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Dude the reason there have been so many rewrites is because they were waiting for a good one! Singer wanted a good, character-driven story so he skipped over all the crap-fest, special fx scripts that they were receiving. And plus, do you think that they'd get good actors with a script that is shitty? And a bout Claremont writing a script, I dont know, just cause someone can write a comic definitely doesnt mean they can write a movie, and vice versa.
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I'm sure Bello left ER for the prospect of MANY big-screen opportunities. And believe me, if you were familiar with the X-MEN at all, you'd know that the character of Jean Grey would be ANYTHING but a cameo in Bryan Singer film.
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This mine as well be Joel Scumacher's X-Men because it is officially gonna suck. Sure McKellan and Stewart, good casting. Then what happened? You only have one chance left, don't you dare cast Jim Caviezel! At least give us a decent Cyclops! Please!
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Mario Bello has signed on to play the part of Jean Grey, she was in Payback with Mel Gibson who, in my opinion was born for the part of Wolverine! Cool!
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Supposedly Singer had to rewrite the rewrite McQuarrie had done for the movie over the holidays of last year to meet a deadline Fox had given him. I've heard 2 stories about Singer- He doesn't like comics, he does like comics-The doesn't one started when he first landed the job as director. If he doesn't know the characters, how can he do a character piece on them? I remember Singer once described Wolverine as funny!!!
I agree that the acting, story, and characters are all more important than FX, and I believe Singer is a talented film maker.
Hopefully this will turn out ok.
As for Claremont, who knows these characters better than him? If you gave him the characters you wanted and asked him to do a story on the beginning of the XMen (that gives the audience a real sense of who the characters are) he would be able to do it. A 1st draft or treatment would have been enough.
Comic Book scripts are written similar to movie scripts(I went to Joe Kubert's school of Comic Book Illustation in 89-90.A Year in Hell!I hate New Jersey!)Locales, interiors,surrounds are all described.His imput could have only helped.
He also wrote a few books(Don't know if they were any good or not).
I guess we'll have to wait and see. I think Singer has done alot right so far and he doesn't seem afraid to take chances. Hopefully we'll have a Superman The Movie and not a shitty Batman movie. I personally don't think this movie will suck. -
Whoa!
Bryan Singer -
Hi there, this is my first posting.
I got this from Andy Mangel's HOLLYWOOD HEROES online column
SOME X-MEN NEWS
One final time, here's a look at how 20th Century Fox's X-Men movie is shaping up, with some never-before revealed news!
o Professor X - Patrick Stewart is signed and sealed, with a rumored $7 million contract to play the leader of the X-Men!
o Wolverine - Dougray Scott is signed and sealed. He was the star of the recent Cinderella story, Ever After. A production representative told me that he cannot comment on whether or not Scott will be the furry hairball that Wolverine is in the comics, stressing that it was a part of the plot. My contact did, however, say that Wolverine is Canadian in the story.
o Rogue - Anna Paquin, most famous in The Piano, is the most recent signed and sealed actress. She will be slightly younger than the others.
o Magneto - Sir Ian McKellan, the openly gay star of the stunning Gods and Monsters, is signed and sealed. He is teaming up with director Singer for the second time, after Apt Pupil. Magneto will - as in the comics - have a past linked to World War II and Nazi atrocities against his family.
o Sabretooth - The first cast member to sign on board the film was Tyler Mane, an ex-World Championship Wrestling brawler, whose 6'10" frame helped him land the role.
o Characters yet to have signed Actors: Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Mystique, Senator Kelly.
o The Costumes: My production contact informed me that the actors have all been scheduled for fittings. The costumes will be unique, but not that faithful to the comic book costumes. Don't look for bold primary colors, or Flash/Batman-like muscle suits.
o Cameos: Fox is staying mum on whether or not there will be any cameo appearances by characters who might show up in a sequel. Other news columns have listed a definite "no" for cameos, but production says a strict "no comment because that is a plot element," which can be interpreted in several ways.
o Director: Bryan Singer, who directed the chilling Apt Pupil last year.
o The Writer: Chris McQuarrie's (The Usual Suspects) multiple drafts have been given a final polish up by Tom DeSanto. Early scriptwriter Edward Solomon (Men In Black), whose script was not the basis for this story, will nonetheless get a screenwriting credit.
o Producers: Richard Donner and Lauren Shuler-Donner, as well as executive producer Ralph Winter (Star Trek II-VI) of Common Creed Entertainment Corp.
o Production Crew: Keeping it in the family, Tom Sigel (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil) will be the Director of Photography, Whitney Brown is the unit production manager, and Vair MacPhee is the production coordinator.
o The Budget: Rumored to be in the $100 million range, possibly cut back to $65 million.
o The Start Date: The official start date is currently September 13th, with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto open and work proceeding. Filming will be in Sudbury and Toronto, Ontario, for approximately a 90-day shoot.
o The Debut: Although a summer release date has been bandied about, Fox is very much looking at making X-Men an X-Mas present with a December 2000 release.
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I would like to take this time to applaud Mr. Bryan Singer for the choices he has made. I am over joyed at the fact he picked only a few big names to make this film. The right choice for this movie is to get people who will work their asses off to protray a good character, other than a big shot who wants nothing better than to look good on film. I think this assembly of young actors will bring a more comic inspired film than a glamorized, hollywood piece of shit. Way to go Singer, all you have to do now is direct them into the future.
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Slap a red wig on Ving Rhames and hey presto Jean Grey! Come on Bryan make some obvious choices for a change!
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Dammit, that ain't Jean Grey. That's that blue chick. Jena Grey is stacked & packed red head ready to go. That's a morlock.
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Mr. Singer keeps amazing me with his X-Men cast.
Taking the direction of hiring inexpensive actors/actresses is a sound, logical move but his choices seem slightly uninspired. Hale Berry, Rebecca Romijin-Stamos,Anna Paquin, Dougray Scott and Sir Ian McKellan???
Berry is not commanding enough to be STORM, Romijin-Stamos doesn't have the seething, treacherous presence of MYSTIQUE (can't act either), Paquin is too young to play ROGUE, Scott has an English accent & is not gruff enough for WOLVERINE. Finally, as Much as I enjoy Sir Ian, he is simply to old, graceful and frail (in appearance) to be MAGNETO.
I personally think that the movie would benefit with a cast like this:
1)Magneto = Ed Harris
2)Wolverine = Russell Crowe
3)Mystique = Lucy Alexis Liu
4)Cyclops = Ed Burns
5)Storm = Angela Bassett
6)Sabretooth = Sid Eurie
7)Archangel = Ralph Fiennes
8)Jean Grey = Nicole Kidman
9)Beast = Sam Neil
10)Senator Kelly = Henry Czerny
But hey, I'll be there on opening night to see perhaps one the most kick-ass comic book adaptions ever(F4 and Spiderman being the others).
Ciao.
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Maria can act, has a lot of on-screen presence, and knows her way around a camera, as she proved on PAYBACK. Congratulations Maria (assuming of course this is true).
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a good comic book movie based on characters as popular as the X-men. Spider-man will suck also there are to many people to satisfy characters like that have too much baggage. IMHO the only good ones have been the first Batman (based on the fact the last time we saw him in action was that lame ass TV show), Blade I mean really there arent' exactly Blade fan clubs out there. Also the first Superman &2, The Crow, MIB and The Rocketeer. Now if you don't like any of the above consider the alterantives: Spawn, Dick Tracy, Batman 2-4, Superman 3-4, The Crow 2, The Phantom (Billy Zane), Captain America (still counts), Generation X (TV movie), Conan the Destroyer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1-3, The Punisher. The X-men and Spiderman will suffer despite being firsts in what will ineventable be a series because the suits will have the "Batman and Robin Syndrome" which alos hurt Spawn. The Syndrome being lets make the film for everyone the kids, the parents, the families, the young the old the fans of the comics the fans of the toons, lets be politcaly correct lets make him a her so on and so on. Until all they've made is a movie that caters to merchandiseing and not the viewer.
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Alicia Witt would make an excellent Jean Grey, visually if nothing else. Go to www.mrshowbiz.com and search for her under "Celebrities" if you don't believe me. Also, I don't care if the movie sucks, I'm going to see it because it will be fun, and because we've all been waiting forever for an X-Men movie. Not to mention the wonderful eye candy, but I digress. Cameos couldn't hurt, I would love to see Gambit, (unless he's played by Keanu; does anyone want to see Gambit say "Whoa! Dude, like, I'm gonna throw these cards and you should die!"???) or Beast in a small role, to set up for the sequel. Those of you whining about Tyler Mane, THE MAN LOOKS LIKE SABERTOOTH!!! I do have a problem with Ian McKellan and Anna Paquin, (I wanted SMG) from the only pics of Paquin I've seen she seems to be a skank. McKellan seems a little fragile, I personally think the old guy from Earth: Final Conflict would be great (I'm sure he did the voice of Magneto in the cartoon). Enough of this ranting, I'm off to debug some code, block some driveways, and (of course) pick up the trash.
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Well, really? It's a shame Julianne Moore was'nt a few years younger as she'd be ideal...however overall it looks as though Singer's got it all taped. Interesting cast and hopefully a decent movie. But what's all this about Phillip Kaufman doing a Namor movie? Why does'nt some really cool director like John Singleton or Quentin Tarantino take on Luke Cage....now that'd be cookin'..
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How can any of you doubt Ian McCellan. The man is a brillant ACTOR. He has the gravity, range, subtlety and even playfulness to make a terrifying yet sympathetic villan. Singer is playing away from the muscle bound teenage testosterone wish fulfillment of the recent Marvel years and attempting to create characters that might actually exist. i will admit that I'm a bit nervous about Wolverine....i always kind of wished they could get DeNiro for that part. Buff him up to near cape fear size, and let him work his way into the angst and rage of the character but oh well, we all have our wish lists.
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Just to let you know... The guy in How Stella is an accomplished stage actor. Taye Diggs starred in Rent on Broadway when it opened up until How Stella started filming.
I thought Maria Bello was one of the best things in Payback; That movie rocked! I think Bryan Singer is truely trying to make the X-Men movie the best it can be. I can't wait!! -
he would have cast Alicia Witt or Charlize Theron as Jean Grey, since they're those hot "it" girls/next big things. That's how they casted Batman films. I still don't believe this Maria Bello story (it sounds incredibly phony, just read it again!) but if it is true, then he could have done far worse. She was a very good member of the ER cast and gave her part in Payback a lot more than was probably there on the page. And since Jean is now the team scientist, replacing Beast who was cut for FX/$ reasons, I'd buy her as it (given the ER thang). Stop ranting about how this will suck, how all comic book movies will suck; that is such a mewling oversimplification! BTW, Singer IS a genre films fan. I know because I went to USC with him and he used to hang out with the President of the Sci-FI/Fantasy academy. He's also the cousin of Beastmaster Marc Singer (no lie!).
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Hope they don't pull a Selina Kyle and make the character a Blonde...
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Wasn't meant as a rip on Taye Diggs, but rather commentary on how the industry looks at things and makes decisions.
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Hello again I got this from the Comic Book Continuum site (aka http://www.detnews.com/comicbooks)
The Avengers animated series is now tentatively targeted to begin on Sept. 18 on Fox Kids. Spider-Man Unlimited is tentatively targeted to begin on Oct. 2. -
I wasn't referring to Keanu's acting ability, I personally like his performance in The Matrix, it is one of my all-time favorite movies. However, in a recent interview about The Matrix, he said (and I'm paraphrasing) "I'm a meat head man, I can't help it. You have smart people and you have dumb people." I was questioning his ability to portray and X-Man, as he was so exuberant about doing.
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I think a better choice for Jean Grey would have been Dina Meyer from Starship Troopers and Dragonheart. Or, I wouldn't mind seeing Ashley Judd in that role either, but then again, I'd like to see her in anything.
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Terry Farrell would be a good Jean Grey. Check her out in the unsatisfying sequel Hellraiser III and in the TV series Deep Space Nine.
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Farrell,+Terry
Other casting ideas...
Beast - Henry Rollins
Banshee - Malcolm McDowell?
Storm - Vanessa Williams (bright eyes and straight hair and a hell of a body)
Wolverine - Gary Sinise
Also, this film NEEDS Nightcrawler and Colossus.
I'm telling you. It's gotta be the X-Men of the 70s. The first 15 minutes of the movie needs to be the first issue of X-Men, providing the ominous introduction of Magneto as well as the old X-Men... then flash forward to issue #110 and they're playing baseball and then getting wild in the danger room. Then we go to Hank reading The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind, then he goes to look for them and follows the trail to the carnival where they're freaks and carnies.
Just one persons idea of a good X-Men movie.
I have to admit that some of the other casting looks okay for this film, but there's no reason to put Sabretooth or Rogue in the story yet. Jumbling the story to get all the current favorite characters in there just... well, it sucks to me. There will surely be sequels if the first film is good.
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