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After The Ratnerf*cking, There's Nowhere to Go But Up

By TK | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (23)



Rosamund-Pike-9.JPG

This is nothing but rumor and speculation, for the most part, gathered from a couple of different sites. That doesn’t make it any less interesting or fun to talk about, especially since it’s about a hotly anticipated project.

The project in question is X-Men: First Class, which will be directed by Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Layer Cake). The story will be an origin tale of sorts that covers the early days of Charles Xavier, Magneto, and the first X-Men team (composed of Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, and Jean Grey). So far, the only confirmed casting news is that James McAvoy (Wanted) will play Xavier/Professor X. Now for the rumor part:

First, Showbiz 411 is claiming that Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 300) is being sought by Fox Studios to play Magneto in the film, which is making the geeks of the web all quivery. I have to agree (assuming the rumor isn’t bullshit) — he’s an excellent actor, is German (as is Magneto), and could certainly look the part of a young Erik Lehnsherr. Interestingly, there are two comic book-related rumors regarding Fassbender — the other being that he’s being courted to play the so far unnamed villain in the Spider-Man reboot to be directed by Marc Webb ((500) Days of Summer).

The other bit of news about X-Men: First Class, which comes from Forces of Geek, is also pretty intriguing. Rosamund Pike (An Education, Die Another Day) is allegedly in talks to portray Emma Frost, aka The White Queen. Again, she certainly has the right look, although Pike, at 31, is a bit older than the teenage years the film is supposedly going to depict. Then again, it’s hardly the first time an actor would play someone much younger than they really are. Frost, for those not in the know, is known for being a sexily-attired mutant telepath who, as an eventual member of The Hellfire Club, was one of the X-Men’s most formidable enemies. Of course, it’s also comic books we’re talking about, so that means that she was also one of their staunchest allies at some points, even leading the X-Men at times.

Anyway, that’s what’s spinning around the rumor mill right now. Personally, I like both possibilities, but we’ll have to wait and see if they come to fruition.









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Comments

So that's Pike in the header picture there, is it? Is she actually wearing clothes, or is that paint? Or photoshopping? Because I see nipple. Not that that makes it impossible for that to be clothing, but it really just looks like it's not.

Oh, on topic.. on topic... yeah, I got nothin'. I don't know the Emma Frost character at all. I need to get some X-Men reading done. At some point.

Posted by: Anna von Beaversmack at June 9, 2010 10:40 AM

Pajiba giveth again. This movie looks like it might be very interesting, given the initial elements. Does this mean that First Class exists as a separate universe from the 1st three X-men movies? If not, then forget about Iceman and Angel.

Posted by: logar at June 9, 2010 10:50 AM

You have to admit that Pike looks damn good for 31. She could pull it off. The geek boys don't care as long as she shows some boobies.

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 9, 2010 11:03 AM

Rosamund Pike. Yes please. I adore her.

Posted by: arrrghzi at June 9, 2010 11:06 AM

I am strangely okay with this news. This does not happen often. Is it a full moon tonight? Vernal equinox? Monkey Christmas? There has to be some reason this isn't freaking me out...

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at June 9, 2010 11:14 AM

You have to admit that Pike looks damn good for 31

Dang. You make it sound like women transmute into dried-up hags once they hit 30.
I really dislike that attitude in women and men, alike. I can't remember how many friends I've had to talk down on the eve of their 30th birthday just because they thought their beauty and strength, and WORTH were going to evaporate once the sun set on their last day at 29. It's just silly. And the dumbfuck boys who perpetuate that belief by treating women that way, I'd could gleefully mangle.
It's completely wrong.

/over-tired rant

Posted by: Rykker at June 9, 2010 11:25 AM

I'm okay with this if they can get McAvoy v. FassbenderFassbender. The only problem is that the nostalgia that is First Class lacks the rule-breaking badass that is Wolverine.

Also I don't really look like anyone from First Class, but I'm willing to get over that.

As for Emma Frost, she makes "sexily-attired" seem pretty tame. Every new edition of her in the comics is another exercise in how much skin and boob you can show. It's ridiculous; she's like something out of Heavy Metal. I actually hope they make her a bit older than a teenager, as it would make her a bit more believable as a dangerous villain.

Posted by: D-Day at June 9, 2010 11:36 AM

Rykker:

Bit early in the morning in be getting your knickers in a knot isn't it? For the record, I'm 45 and I'm well aware that we not only do not dry up but actually usually look better in our late 30s than in our 20s. None of that detracts from the fact that Rosamund Pike looks damn good for 31.

Posted by: PaddyDog at June 9, 2010 11:46 AM

Agreed, D-Day. There's no reason Pike can't play Emma as an equal to Magneto/Xavier, maybe one of this First Class' teachers who sides with Magneto over Professor X? She'd be a great foil for whoever they get for Jean Grey (pleaseEmmaStoneplease), especially considering their later relationship with each other, and with Scott. Granted, these would be big changes from the original comics-- but, so were the first two X-Men flicks and I adore those. As long as they get the spirit of the characters/world right, manipulating chronology doesn't really matter. Not with a big group like X-Men, anyway.

Posted by: RobP at June 9, 2010 11:50 AM

Yep yep.

Just as long as The Hellfire Club (if they're in there) don't dress like they're in a historical reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Posted by: D-Day at June 9, 2010 11:58 AM

Agreed, again. Dapper suits for the gents and killer gowns for the ladies. Just put Tim Gunn on the job. Though, if there's a scene that calls for Emma Frost to be in her lingerie, I could think of worse things than Rosamund Pike wearing a bustier and a boa, and not much else...

Posted by: RobP at June 9, 2010 12:40 PM

So I'm guessing that this will reboot the X-Men movie series and we can ignore the Singer/Ratner/whoever the fuck directed the Wolverine movie quadrology. After all in the first movie, Cyclops and Jean Grey are adults while Iceman is still a kid.

Fassbender makes sense. Pike is cute and would be a fine Emma Frost -- except Frost is platinum blond.

I'm still not on board with McAvoy as Xavier, just because unless the students he's recruiting are tweens, there's not much of an age difference there. Plus (putting geek hat on) I always thought that Xavier and Lensherr spent their formative years traveling and learning and it's not until their late 30s/early 40s that they begin building Cerebro and Xavier begins recruiting X-men.

Posted by: Fredo at June 9, 2010 12:48 PM

What? No! The Hellfire Clubs has to wear the costumes. That's part of deal.

And Pike has M appeal.

I have no problem with Emma being older than Scott. I haven't read a lot of comics with the Emma/Scott relationship, but making her older would be good movie shorthand to show she's the boss.

Posted by: The Mutt at June 9, 2010 1:17 PM

Oh Rosamund Pike is so so so so so pretty. It's that very rare kind of pretty that actually makes me jealous. I don't often wish I looked like other people but damn that girl is beautiful. I hate her a little. *sob*

I say cast her in everything. Go to town.

Posted by: figgy at June 9, 2010 1:19 PM

She's yummy.

Posted by: , at June 9, 2010 2:12 PM

It's called First Class but it might end up just being Coach
Thank you, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

Posted by: Odnon. at June 9, 2010 2:37 PM

fuck you

Posted by: GM at June 9, 2010 5:08 PM

I always thought that Emma Frost WAS older.

Also: Emma Stone as Jean Grey? FAP.

Posted by: AmbroseKalifornia at June 9, 2010 7:40 PM

When I think Rosamund Pike I think Jane from Pride and Prejudice which doesn't really recommend her as Emma Frost material in my book.

AmbroseKalifornia - Excellent idea!

Posted by: good ol' smokey at June 9, 2010 9:46 PM

...Showbiz 411 is claiming that Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, 300)...

Dude. You forgot Hunger.

Also, Matthew Vaughn wins everything in my book for directing Stardust.

Posted by: dene at June 9, 2010 11:57 PM

I hate to be that guy, but I'm the one who suggested Emma Stone for Jean Grey. Jus' sayin'.

I like Stardust, too, dene, though not as much as I liked Kick-Ass or Layer Cake. Gaiman's just almost impossibly hard to adapt. But Vaughn did a pretty good job.

Posted by: RobP at June 10, 2010 2:12 PM

Oh, take it easy RobP, this is Pajiba. We suggest Emma Stone for everything. In terms of comic book geeky-ness, choosing the hot red head for Jean Grey isn't THAT hard.

As for Miss Frost, we're basically getting this:
http://www.mi6.co.uk/sections/girls/images/pike.jpg
Just imagine it with blindingly white blonde hair and as form-fitting spandex.

For crissakes, this is what she wears casually in the comics:
http://www.superherodb.com/pictures/fullbody/emma-frost.jpg

Now, casting Anthony Mackie as a young teacher by the name of Forge, well I'll go pat myself on the back for that one.

Posted by: D-Day at June 10, 2010 3:53 PM

As nice as those tits are they are not the tits of Emma Frost.

Otherwise, yes.

Posted by: cj at June 11, 2010 1:29 PM