Taken fromaint-it-cool-news.com
Hey folks, Harry here. I've been lucky enough to have Ian McKellen answer a couple of questions I decided to offer up to him recently concerning his roles in X-MEN and LORD OF THE RINGS.
To me, there seems to be this absolute terror in some fans that Ian is way too old to be playing Magneto or Gandalf. So I asked Ian:
H: Due to what I consider to be your amazingly convincing portrayls of some older characters in recent film, many fans feel that you are 'not physical' enough to play the roles of Magneto and Gandalf. In actuality you are quite younger than they perceive... With this little forum... How would you address their fears?
Ian: "Both Magneto and Gandalf are characters who must appear to possess some superhuman attributes and abilities. However, part of their charm is that each of them is also recognizably human. As for the physicality of these two icons, I am a little relieved that both movies will take advantage of the latest special effects technology. Throughout my career on stage I have enjoyed playing characters who are much stronger and athletic than I am offstage. As Romeo, which I played when I was 37, I climbed up and down the proscenium arch 8 times a week. Ten years later as Coriolanus, I fought hand-to-hand combat with shield and sword in a sand pit, semi-naked. Last year as Captain Hook I fought the actor playing Peter Pan (40 years my junior) and would have easily defeated him if he hadn't called on a crocodile to support him. Meanwhile I had clambered up the rigging of the Jolly Roger 30 feet above the stage in high-heeled boots and a hook on my left hand. I'm very much looking forward to playing Magneto and a much older Gandalf."
H: What brought an actor like you to these two roles, and what is it that challenges you in both parts?
I: "At this point, before a second round of discussions with the directors, I am relying on their great expertise and enthusiasm for their respective screenplays, an enthusiasm which I share. I may not quite know how to play either part until I finish shooting."
H: Are you ready for the celebrity that you will earn by playing Gandalf?
I: "I am aware from my email that there are many ways of interpreting both Gandalf and Magneto. So I warned all my correspondents that my first aim will be to please Bryan Singer and Peter Jackson. If the result is not to every one else's satisfaction, the celebrity that comes to me may well be of an entirely negative nature."
Taken fromaint-it-cool-news.com
On the other end of the stick we have Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, who had her feature debut in AUSTIN POWERS THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME... and next she'll appear in X-MEN as Mystique. Once again... well... her skin should be blue, her hair color should be different... Ya know... she actually has the look. Now let's just pray she can act!
Taken from aint-it-cool-news.com
Well I know so far there have been a lot of names for STORM, basically every black actress in Hollywood, but at 31, I think Halle could do the film and fill the role well.
Jeri Ryan though seems a bit odd for the choice. I preferred the rumors of Ashley Judd, who's currently pal-ing around Austin with Natalie Portman. Hmmmm... We'll see, casting is coming fast and furious on this film... So we won't have long till this is answered.
What?
Cyclops? Haven't heard that much on good ol Cyclops.... I've heard everyone from Michael Biehn to Ben Affleck to Jeffery Falcon have been mentioned in conjunction with the character. But if the casting follows the Anna Paquin lead... whoever it is, it'll probably be from left field. Let's keep our fingers crossed for this film.
Mane is probably the least known of those performers, unless you're a professional wrestling fan. Mane has wrestled for 11 1/2 years, including stints in the WCW as "Big Sky," Kevin Nash's tag-teammate, and as MGM Grand champion in the now-defunct UWF.
"I'm going to be the biggest, baddest Sabretooth that people have ever seen!" Mane says.
But how did a wrestler get involved in X-MEN?
Although his size and blonde hair -- Mane says he's also growing Sabretooth's sideburns -- make him tailor-made to play Sabretooth, Mane says, until recently, he didn't know a whole lot about the character.
And what's his take on the character?
Mane says he thinks director Bryan Singer will deliver the goods in bringing X-MEN to the big screen.
Mane has studied acting, but already considers himself a seasoned performer.
As far as previous acting credits go, Mane appeared in The Bandit movie as part of Universal's syndicated Action Pack television series and in the feature film Star Fighter. He recently received strong reviews for his leading role in the San Diego Repertory production of Turbo Tanzi.
Although he's seen the X-MEN script, Mane can't give out any details as he awaits the September production start. He understands the need to protect story specifics of what should be one of next year's biggest films.
No problem, Tyler.
Taken from Taken fromThe Toronto Sun
I'm very, very, very glad to hear that Patrik Steward is playing Professor X, it's an obvious and perfect choice. Having an Oscar Nominee playing Magneto is great news too ... but I must admit I'm not to thrilled about this wrestler deal ... let's just hope Sabertooth only grunts.
I'm also not happy with the actresses they're picking to play Rogue. Both of them are waifs, and whimps! I want to see a tough, confident, and sassy Rogue!!
Ian McKellen answers questions about Magneto and Gandalf:
More X-MEN casting news:
Alright folks, looks like we nailed that Halle Berry (STORM) bit the other day, and ya know... I'm not gonna start screaming about this casting. Halle Berry is not a terrible actress, and who knows exactly what they are going to do to her for the purposes of making her STORM. I just hope the white hair and eyes stay.
Latest X-MEN casting rumors:
Well the latest X-MEN casting rumor (not fact, merely rumor) is that Jeri Lynn Ryan from STAR TREK VOYAGER (SEVEN OF NINE) is up for the role of Jean Grey and that Halle Berry will be playing Storm. Now these have not yet been confirmed, but it's the latest from the dish-mill which tends to churn out a lot of rumors when the project is called X-MEN it seems. Well, till we hear the confirmations... What do you folks think of these?
Got a Tyler by the Tail -- Sabretooth Speaks!
By Rob Allstetter:
There's a Sabretooth Tyler ready to pounce on the X-Men.
Tyler Mane, who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 275 pounds, has been cast as the villainous Sabretooth in the live-action X-MEN film from 20th Century Fox. He is joined in the cast so far by Dougray Scott as Wolverine, Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto, Anna Paquin as Rogue, and Patrick Stewart as Professor Xavier, with more casting news expected very soon.
"They were originally calling me for some of the stunts and they saw my look and saw that I was the only one for Sabretooth," Mane says. "And that's how that developed."
"The way I knew about the X-Men is that my little boy likes watching (the animated series). So I knew a little bit about it," Mane says. "But since I became involved in the X-MEN, I went out and got all the SABRETOOTH and the X-MEN comics, and I've done quite a bit of research, shall I say, on Sabretooth.
"I didn't even know Sabretooth had his own comic out. I read quite a few of the SABRETOOTH comics and quite a few of the X-MEN with Sabretooth in them. They're pretty interesting."
"I think he's my kind of guy," Mane says. "He doesn't take any crap and that's the only way to be. And there's nothing like those mutant healing powers, huh?
"Sabretooth is a physical guy, isn't he? He's not known for long speeches, is he? He's more of a slicer and dicer."
"He seems to know what he's wanting to do, and he seems like the guy that can get it done," Mane says.
"As you know, the professional wrestling is a great background," he says. "And it is definitely on the toughest stage. It's on a four-sided stage, which is very tough to perform on."
"I have done some feature films in Mexico, but I don't know if you really can count those," Mane says. "So you could say this is my first English-speaking feature film."
"It should be interesting by the time we get done," Mane says. "I've had people that know I'm going to be in it mention that they've heard about it and that it's going to be a pretty exciting thing. I'm pretty sure that once this gets going and they announce some of the people who are going to be in it, it will become quite the buzz.
"I'm looking forward to it -- and that's only because I'm in it!" he adds, laughing with mock bravado right out of the squared circle.
"Sorry, that's a little bit of the wrestling coming out in me."
Paquin suits up for Singer's 'X' team
Oscar-winner taking on role of Rogue:
NEW YORK — Anna Paquin, the Oscar-winning star of "The Piano," has joined the cast of Fox’s "X-Men," the Bryan Singer-directed adaptation of the bestselling Marvel Comics franchise.
Paquin will play Rogue, a high school girl with psychic powers who is recruited by the X-Men to help fight their archenemy, Magneto. Among Rogue’s attributes is the ability to absorb the powers of anyone she has contact with.
Paquin joins Dougray Scott, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen in the film, which was scripted by Ed Solomon and Chris McQuarrie; shooting begins in September.
Paquin is currently at work on Cameron Crowe’s untitled music film for DreamWorks, and will next appear opposite Giovanni Ribisi in "All the Rage."
Paquin was just seen in the Tony Goldwyn-directed "A Walk on the Moon," starring Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen.
She’s repped by William Morris, managed by AMG’s Julie Yorn and lawyered by Jason Sloane of Hansen Jacobson Teller & Hoberman.
X Marks The Spot:
Secrecy still rules regarding casting of the X-men, the comic book-based action flick that films here in July. But it appears Patrick Stewarthas signed to play Prof.X opposite Ian Mckellen'svillianous Magneto.
Interestingly, the announcement didn't come from Twentieth Century Fox - the studio behind the X-men - but from Paramount, which other wise employs Stewar as Capt. Picard of the Starship Enterpriese. (The announcement is on Paramount's Star Trek Web site ). We guess Paramount and Fox got pretty chummy when they shared the freight on a certain Titanic movie.
Otherwise, the only confirmed casting is wrestler Tyler Mane as Sabertooth.
Locally, Laura Bertram - co-star of Global's Ready Or Not has auditioned and received positive feedback for the part of Rogue, a role for which the obviously better-known Rachel Leigh Cook (She's All That) has also been touted.
Meanwhile, Russel Croweas Wolverine and Luke Wilson(Home Fries) as Cyclops remain just loud rumours.