Fox Selects Professor X

For quite sometime now 20th Century Fox has been developing a prequel to the X-Men universe in "X-Men: First Class." Yesterday another piece of the puzzle has been added. Actor James McAvoy has signed on to play Charles Xavier or better known as Professor X, a character previously played by the iconic Patrick Stewart. Read the full details after the break...


James McAvoy is the first actor to put his name to the X-Men prequel. I can't say that I am all that excited by the news either. McAvoy just does not feel like Professor Xavier at all. Granted "X-Men: First Class" is a prequel, so he is suppose to be younger and perhaps not even be the Professor we know him as. I'm not saying James McAvoy is a terrible actor, but he does not hold a candle to Patrick Stewart. Professor X is a mentor, a leader and personifies intelligence. Sorry 20th Century Fox, McAvoy doesn't fill any of those requirements in my book. I hope I'm proven wrong, but for now, no way am I backing this choice.

Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn will direct "X-Men: First Class" and Bryan Singer is producing along with Laura Shuler Donner. Donner has had her hands in all of the X-Men universe films released at Fox and we should all remember that Singer got his start with the first two X-Men movies. Josh Schwartz was originally hired back in 2008 to pen the script, but it remains unclear whether Vaughn will be directing off of Schwartz's script or if producer Bryan Singer has heralded his own vision for Vaughn to direct from.

The plot of "X-Men: First Class" has primarily remained under wraps. The only elements that seem clear are that Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr aka Magneto are not enemies yet and are working together along with other mutants to "stop the greatest threat the world has ever known." Exactly who or what that "threat" is remains undisclosed as well as much of the synopsis. Could "The greatest threat the world has ever known" be Apocalypse? I know if done correctly that could undo much of the negativity X-Men fans have aimed at 20th Century Fox since X-Men 3 and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Finally, I am also reminded that Professor Xavier or Charles as he seems to be labeled here, is suppose to be young in this prequel and may not be the great leader we know so well from the comics and previous films. Something that he may become through the course of "X-Men: First Class."

Stay tuned for more on "X-Men: First Class" as it develops...

Source: Heat Vision