Expections for the Upcoming X-Men: First Class

I just read the news that Patrick Stewart isn't going to play Professor X in the upcoming X-Men movie. I was entirely disappointed.

It was great to see good old Captain Picard in a wheelchair, commanding the X-Men as they tooled around and defeated Magneto's evil plots. He brings a huge persona to the screen. I simply cannot imagine anyone else playing Professor X. I demand to be impressed with the casting of the new Professor X!

I don't know who else they could get to play Professor X. Personally, I think they should tap Terry O'Quinn from ABC's Lost. He might be able to pull it off and appease the fan boys out there. Evil John Locke might have the acting chops to get the job done.

While we're at it, I think a lot of the cast of ABC's lost could fill in the roles of the X-Men. Matthew Fox as Cyclops. Josh Holloway could play Wolverine. Evangeline Lilly could play Jean Grey. I suppose the title 'First Class' means a teenage angst version of the X-men series, with younger actors bringing the characters to a new generation of fans.

Patrick Stewart brings a lot of Shakespearean dignity to his roles; he's got a booming voice. He reminds me of a wise old wizard or a philosopher. When he talks, people listen. I know it's cliché to say, but he's got gravitas.

Likewise with Ian McKellen. If he's in a movie, he's going to bring the drama. He always appears as if he's making serious decisions and carefully thinking through his actions. When he played Gandalf, he brought a lot of nuance to the character. He could show anger and ferocity and simultaneously pull off a goofy old grandpa shtick.

I suppose this happens a lot in Hollywood. A franchise is bought, screenplays are optioned, and the entire business moves forward. But comic books were such a part of my youth that I feel used and abused.

I was entirely impressed with the first two X-Men movies, it was great to see Ian McKellen as Magneto, and Hugh Jackman was an awesome Wolverine. The rest of the cast was decent; I didn't expect too much. I enjoyed Anna Paquin as Rogue, I thought she brought a charming warmth to the character.

What I'm worried about with X-Men first class is that the studio will not pay enough attention to quality control: they're focused on the bottom line. Movies today are a careful investment; a portion of the economy in California is built around the movie industry. People's jobs depend on the profitability of a movie.

I'm cognizant of the fact that a great deal of the movie depends on writing, production, and direction. I read that Matthew Vaughn has been tapped to direct. Vaughn also directed 'Layer Cake', a great action film starring Daniel Craig before he was cast as James Bond. If Vaughn can bust out the same quality directing skills as he demonstrated in Layer Cake, I'm sure we'll get a good film at least action-wise. It'll be damn exciting, if Kick-Ass is any indication.

One thing to add is that Vaughn had an opinion about Brett Ratner's direction of X-Men 3.

Hopefully Vaughn and crew can bring a decent movie to the screen that can satisfy most everybody, studio executives included. I'm sure that we'll end up with something fresh and exciting, if not exactly canonical.

No one minds too much if canon is broken, as long as great storytelling and characterization are present.