A few days ago we were treated to the exciting news that more veteran talent would be joining the cast of X-Men: First Class in the the form of Kevin Bacon. Early reports had Bacon deep in talks with Twentieth Century Fox to play the film’s primary villain, but no one knew which character that would be.
While we toyed with the theory that Bacon could be playing the villainous Mr. Sinister, the latest rumor – coming from a Force of Geek insider - dictates that Kevin Bacon will instead be playing Sebastian Shaw, the master businessman and leader of the Hellfire Club.
Shaw is known as one of the greatest X-Men villains ever since his inception three decades ago. The character is a mutant who can absorb kinectic energy, turning him more powerful in both strength and durability.
Shaw’s history in the Marvel universe integrates into the origins and early appearance of Emma Frost aka the White Queen who we know will be an important character in X-Men: First Class. Shaw’s Hellfire club, the age-old gentlemen’s club famous for their 18th century dress code, has often find itself battling it out with the X-Men. The secret group was introduced in the comics during the Dark Phoenix Saga, which saw Jean Grey become the powerful Phoenix and eventually meet her end.
Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost of the Hellfire Club
The Phoenix saga sadly was used and abused in X-Men: The Last Stand, so we can expect an entirely different storyline for Sebastian Shaw and the White Queen in X-Men: First Class.
While I was excited at the potential for Kevin Bacon’s dark and creep portrayal of Mr. Sinister, he absolutely fits the role of Sebastian Shaw as well. Bacon joins the large cast of mutants in First Class which already includes:
- James McAvoy – Professor X
- Michael Fassbender – Magneto
- Rosamund Pike – Moira MacTaggert
- Alice Eve – Emma Frost
- Nicholas Hoult – Beast
- Caleb Landry Jones – Banshee
- Lucas Till – Havok
- Jennifer Lawrence – Mystique
Share your thoughts in the comments and with us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant. If you’re a fan of the X-Men series and history, see our article on What We Need From X-Men 4 and join our discussion on What X-Men 3 Could Have Been for ideas that may be utilized in First Class.
Produced by Bryan Singer and directed by Matthew Vaughn, X-Men: First Class begins production next month for a June 3, 2011 release.
Source: Forces of Geek
‘Anchorman 2′ Trailers Tease the Return of Ron Burgundy’s News Team [Updated] 
Hugh Jackman Reveals Summer Start Date for ‘Wolverine 2′ 
‘Walking Dead’ Season 3 Preview Reveals The Prison & Michonne [Updated] 
‘Iron Man 3′ Begins Production; Secures Increased Budget 
Loading ...
I would love to see him as Mr Sinister because you could have an epic final battle between him and Cyclops and Havok as only their powers can hurt him.
Hopefully he will play sinister because he would be brilliant!
I’ve noticed that after seeing the movie Inception you use the word inception more often in your articles. lol. In a related note, is there a word to describe when you see something more often in the world because you are closely tied to it or have experienced it recently?
Kinda like when you start to see EVERYONE driving the same type of car as you because you just bought one?
Oh, and i have no idea who that villain is, but i trust kevin bacon would be interesting regardless.
I do? lol.
Can you show me another post or two that I’ve used that word?
ive not seen you use that word as often as he says lol
lol, I couldn’t find it once in every post I’ve written since seeing the movie.
Maybe Barzini Meeting is thinking of another writer?
I was hoping he would be Sinister. Shame.
I don’t think Sinister would be a good villain for First Class, he’s far too convoluted and ridiculous, both in looks and schemes. Sebastian Shaw is a much better choice.
If this is true, then I won’t be seeing this.
Im sure Bacon will do fine in just about any character, but I couldnt help notice the cartoon picture looks like Hugo Weaving (who I bet could also pull of the role perfectly).
Or Viggo Mortensen. But who you said was good.
hugo weaving is a great great actor, ive seen viggo play a sadistic bastard before lol
I was really hoping for him to be Trask but Sebastian Shaw works too.
Trask was already played by a different character in X3, so it wouldn’t make sense for Bacon to play the character.
Why not? They’re recasting everyone else.
Since this is the “first class” will it be hairless monkey footed beast?
And will Kevin Bacon get naked? I have seen far too much of Mr. Bacon already…
I think it will be the pre-fur Beast.
That plot point could be used somewhere in the movie though… or in the sequel.
I don’t care which villain he plays, Kevin Bacon is an excellent actor and will do good in either/or!!
Sebastian Shaw is a bad X-men villain….one of the worst. And the Hellfire Club would be decimated by a young Prof. X, Magneto and team of original X-men. Its either Apocalypse or Mr. Sinister or i will skip the movie entirely until it comes on DVD…mark my words.
Lets see the Task Master and a preview of his life and show us a semi origin on him. I’m sorry that would be a villain for an Avengers movie starting to worry about that one getting screwed up. Hoping for the best!!
Or he could just show up in Deadpool. Just a thought.
I was really hoping for Mr. Sinister, but Shaw is still a good choice and his inclusion could ultimately lead to the explanation of Emma Frost’s abscence from X1-3. And we can still see Mr. Sinister later on (you know hes coming so long as the X-Men movies are still being made).
I think he’ll be fine as Shaw, but his best villain is Hollow Man! You got to save Sinister for future movies since he may be the only logical reason Cyclops and Jean Grey may be brought back to life. His obsession with them and his genetics background could actually make sense, kind of…
Give up all hope of continuity meaning anything, not only is this a comic book movie, but after Ratner got done pissing on it I wouldn’t _want_ X3′s story to continue.
Mr. Sinister is just plain goofy. I much prefer Shaw and the HFC. Regardless Bacon will do it justice.
Sinister was the only thing making me want to see this at all. If it’s not sinister i’m back to not watching this.
Well you see this is starting to look like damage control to me, because Phoenix was tied to this group before and will look like familiar territory to any fan that has read those comics, or saw the adaptation of it in the 90′s. Here I’ll partially layout a scenario for you. Phoenix will be a part of the Hell fire club, that a part of her went back in time when Wolverine killed her. This Phoenix doesn’t remember that but still has Gene’s abilities and some of her personality traits. Eventually she will merge with the First Class Gene and straiten out the time line that will continue in X-4 with pieces that will fit into a jigsaw puzzle leading back to a Phoenix less Gene and Scott future. Look out for the Frost double switch in the story line, and no I don’t just mean double cross…
Sebastian Shaw? I’m guessing Emma will be his right hand then?That would fit Alice Eves older age casting.
Probably the reason she older in this , is because their using Singer’s story.If remember correctly in Singer pitch for X3 an older Emma Frost would be by Sigourney Weaver and would be a foil to Xavier.
My best bet is that she going to the Charles romantic interest (like the ultimate version) not Cyckes. Can’t say i’m happy though , Cyclops/Emma has become one of my favorite comic couple.Their dynamic/chemistry especially in Whedon Astonishing was just superb.
sebastian shaw makes more sense..involving Sinister now would be a bit early and off topic in relation to the series..sinister doesn’t come into play til a fter Magneto was in charge-so that situation has to come into play before Sinister can make an appearance-however if Fox was smart they could easily put him in there as a behind the scenes character/manipulator which he was early on before his initial appearance..also involving Sinister,you would have to have the Marauders involved-and thats a whole historical situation..puting the Hellfire Club in there-whose only connection to the X-men is really Emma Frost..also would help in clarifying and establishing the “old”history of some of the mutants such as Mystique,Wolverine,Shaw,Xavier,Magneto,and don’t forget Selene.Yes,Selene-the Black Queen-who has tempted many into joining the circle…Now that would be interesting to see who gets casted for that character..Now of all the characters supposedly involved in this-mystique’s involvement is confusing..I don’t recall her ever being in the club at all..She has always been a loner, like wolverine and it wasn’t til later that she was forced to be in the gov’t-sanctioned “brotherhood” which forced Magneto to take charge of the school(issue#200)…Also will the character of onald Pierce be involved as well??he was the white king…
that was D for donald dag nabbit
these comic book filmsare getting very dumb and old. i am really tired of the bland stories in them,and the over the top action,and cheesy comedy. lets see some dark,gritty stories with drama,suspence,and thriller mixed in with really good characters builde up. lets see some good old horror monster movies and sci/fi thrillers,and some good old killer animal flicks that are made well. i think marvel needs to get the rights back to x-men and remake this franchise better. but instead we will have to wait and watch this franchise crumble even further.
I am hoping that somehow they bring in people of color. I hope that they take advantage of one of the many topics that made the X-Men special: DIVERSITY! So, where’s Thunderbird…, Storm, M, Rictor, …Sunfire… Dr. Reyes?
Since none of the X-movies share even the faintest resemblance to any of the storylines in any of the marvel book. The movie versions of the X-Men story is more of a pea soap of several different storylines with characters being included or excluded irregardless if they were essential to the original storyline or not. This being said Kevin Bacon could not do anymore damage to the movie then the writers themselves.
irregardless is not a word..just a thought for next time you rant on an internet blog
Introducing that character would allow for some continuity between this film and the third leading into the fourth if they do in fact move forward with that, we could see Frost and the dark phoenix that appeared in the third x-men join forces with Shaw in the fourth movie
unfortunately X-men will continue to circle the drain, because Fox won’t sell them until they can’t sell tickets. “First class” can’t resemble its comic namesake because the stories themselves can’t be done. Fox doesn’t seem to own enough rights and that may sooner or later lead to a showdown in of itself depending on the wording of the contracts. I expect to see Marvel and Fox in court within five years over the ability of Fox to capitalize on the licensing rights they bought. Sony might get in the mix as well. I expect Marvel is prepared for all that. Just have to watch and see how Fox steers its “First Class” efforts.
Well its starting to sound more than just a prequel but reboot of the whole series from square one..I think someone at Fox or maybe Vaughn and Singer saw Star Trek and had a dual epiphany..I mean Singer actually considered Lautner as a “new” Wolverine so if that was even remotely idea, then this prequel is really a reboot plus considering how long it takes them to put something together at Fox, they may have to move Jackman to a “Old Man Logan” series by the time they figure out the sequel to XO:W..Also if this film does well-it will warrant a sequel and not be the only single film..I mean they are recasting characters younger by only 5-7 years compared to the original cast-some more than 10yrs(Xavier,Magneto)…Its the next gen actors playing your Dad’s fav characters from the Xmen now..
I find myself wondering why they even try. I find myself wondering why I even support this crap.
What is/was wrong with having..
A young Prof X. A young Erik. Have them clash/separate over ideas/values.
Prof X puts together a group of young Mutants
1. Cyclops
2. Jean Grey
3. Beast
4. Angel
5. Iceman
Erik puts a similar team together.
1. Toad
2. Quicksilver
3. Scarlet Witch
4. Mastermind
Team 1 needs to stop Team 2 from giving mutants a bad name. They fail.
Flesh it out a bit. Have some relationships blossom etc.
No you need to screw with it. Making up stuff.
Fox needs to pick up a fricking comic book. Hell I will let them read mine. Better yet why not hire me as a consultant. I have to know more about the Xmen then those yahoos and if not at least I have the intelligence god gave a rock to research it.
ROFLMAO
KUDOS Aknot KUDOS
Where is Selene ? We really need to see Selene.
We want X men First Class have a Selene.
WoW. It’s true. There must be Selene / The Black Queen. She is the most important character.
Clemens and Knight served as its first leaders under their Club titles of Black King and Black Queen.
so, we agree and We require casting call for SELENE / THE BLACK QUEEN !
For me and my partners that should play Selene ( The Black Queen ) is Sophia Bush as it can be a so amazing and she is so familiar