With X-Men Origins: Wolverine opening in a mere few days, there’s plenty of talk surrounding the X-Men franchise, sequels and spinoffs. Most of that talk centers around X-Men: First Class, the next X-project on the Fox’s development slate.
Two weeks ago, we found out some more details regarding X-Men: First Class where it was revealed that it would be another prequel tied into the X-Men movies that we’ve seen so far and not its own separate franchise that would hopefully follow a more accurate continuity from the comics.
Most blogs and movie news sites out there reported the news but none really explored the idea of who would actually be in the movie. In that report, producer Lauren Shuler-Donner discussed X-Men: First Class:
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“It is the first class of Xavier’s school, way back when, so it’s young Scott, young Jean, young Beast and that’ll be really fun, I think (the plan) is to follow some of the characters into their own stories, and weave them back into the X-Men world.”
“And hopefully First Class will become its own franchise and we can follow them as they grow up.”
But Lauren, what about young Iceman and young Angel? Just kidding! I know you guys already messed that up.
I’ve said this before in other X-Men threads here on Screen Rant: the more changes and deviations from the source material that Fox makes with these movies, each successive movie becomes further and further distanced than the comics to the point where none of the characters and their histories resemble what they should.
We’re starting to see this really take effect now with characters showing up twenty years before they should in the Wolverine spinoff, and it’ll be at the forefront of X-Men: First Class with a roster that will be 40% different than that of the comic series it’s based on.
So, who is going to be on the First Class Roster?
In the comics, the X-Men: First Class series represents an early look at the original five X-Men characters: Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Jean Grey all under the teachings of Professor X.
In the X-Men movies however, Iceman is recruited into Xavier’s school for the gifted much later than the other core mutants and we don’t meet Angel until the third movie (he’s never actually a member of the X-Men) so we know they’re not involved.
As Donner says in her interview, we can expect to see the obvious characters of Cyclops, Jean and Beast. The other two (or more?) choices are up in the air but we can certainly piece together the possibilities from what we know about X-Men Origins: Wolverine. We can expect a lot of bridging between that movie and First Class since writer Josh Schwartz had to update his script with re-writes because of the additional footage shot later for X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Young Cyclops and Emma Frost from X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Fox’s take on the Wolverine origin story introduces us to a young Cyclops and a young Emma Frost, a prominent couple in modern X-Men comics. The movies are chronologically reversed from the comics in that aspect. In Marvel continuity, Cyclops is with Jean before meeting Emma and only hooks up with her years after Jean’s death.
It’s an easy assumption to make that we’ll therefore see Emma Frost as part of the original X-Men five which would make for an interesting love triangle (and a possible reason for Emma leaving the team and not being in the X-trilogy?). It’s also likely that Tim Pocock and Tahyna Tozzi who play Scott Summers and Emma Frost in X-Men Origins: Wolverine respectively would reprise their roles since First class takes place shortly after the events of that movie. They’ve already been cast as those characters once and are the right age, why else would they even be in the Wolverine film?
So, if Emma’s a part of the team, we still have one more spot. The obvious guess to fill the void would be Gambit – a fan favorite who finally makes his on-screen debut in the Wolverine origin movie and who’s played by young Taylor Kitsch (who also happens to have a three-picture contract), making him the right age to fit into X-Men: First Class. On top of that, with no Wolverine as part of the team, the Ragin’ Cajun can take the role of the independent keeps-to-himself bad-ass (that’s a reason Gambit was left out of X-Men 3). Unfortunately for us Gambit fans, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Click to continue reading about Gambit and the potential X-Men: First Class Roster…
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98 Comments
DAMMIT GAMBIT REMOVE THAT HAT!!!!
@ Oscar!
Serious? lol
@Oscar: the following is my interpretation of robs comment on said characters
Phoenix wasn’t even Phoenix AT ALL! thats what was wrong with her character, they should have stuck with the phoenix saga for the third film, although it quite hard to introduce the shi’ar phoenix, corsair etc in under 2 hours. what do you guys think the 3rd film should have been about?
Colossus looked AWESOME but he want russian and he was a teenager.
Rogue: was plain wrong in all the movies, with respect to age, the absence of ms marvels powers, lack of relationship with mystique… she was pretty much a proxy jubilee, but I felt the rogue changes were good and justified.
other characters ruined include psylocke, juggernaut, angel.
Beast is the obvious exception as I felt his character was handled perfectly and was the only descent thing about X3
I have been a fan of X-men my whole life, in fact it was probably my first passion…but i am on the side of the fence that doesnt really care about minor changes to the story, ive already read the comics i dont want a direct translation and I am quite happy to see a different spin on things
Also, Im quite disappointed that gambit will be left out of first class, they could have included him and did a days of the future past sort of storyline (gambit being the witness in that timeline and all) or the cartoons interpretation with bishop coming back and thinking gambit was the traitor.
I think a scott-jean-emma centric mr sinister story line would probably be the best approach to first class.
as for the final member (the above 3 and beast) I don’t think it should be storm, and I agree it should be a male…but who? everyone has been used apart from banshee… but I do hope they reconsider and include gambit.
What about Jubilee?!?! I think that she makes the most sense! If we’re going to take the franchise back to high school, let’s use the high school characters! Arrrggh, I just blogged about my dream “origins” cast! If you click my name, it will take you to the post!
@ Grady,
Jubilee had a cameo in the first X-Men as one of the younger new students of that time so I don’t think she’d fit as part of the First Class, she’d be only a toddler.
She also had her own scene in X2 but it was unfortunately deleted but available on the DVD.
I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t want to see another Jean/Cyclops story! I’m ready for some new characters!
I didn’t like Rogue in any of the movies. She was mousy, weak, and served no purpose other than to be a love interested between a poorly written Iceman and Pyro in the 2nd film. True she did serve a “sort of” purpose in the 1st film but that was a dumb story line.
How about if they introduce Ant Man and The Wasp? As teenagers, they would make great additions because of they future marriage, plus their powers compliment each other. I realize their presence wouldn’t help with film-to-comic continuity but I think we’ve already established that Fox has thrown that out the window.
My 1st team picks:
Cyclops
Beast
Jean Grey
Thunderbird (Bet you didn’t see that one coming)
Havoc
Polaris or Emma Frost
The sibling rivalry between Havoc and Cyclops would be nice as well as a love triangle between Jean Grey, Emma Frost and Cyclops or Cyclops, Havoc and Polaris. Plus, Polaris is Magento’s daughter and has his powers, loses them then has them restored by Apocalypse. That would be a great way to tie in a 2nd or 3rd film without stretching for it.
@ Walwus,
I’m digging the Thunderbird idea. That makes me think Sunfire would be a cool character too. Since he bails on the team soon after joining, it’d work for the movies – let alone his eye-candyish powers.
Now while i havent seen wolverine yet, i am intrigued by first class…if we have to have another person…Why not Psylocke? OR Scarlet Witch Haven’t seen / heard anything from either of them. However knowing america i doubt they’d let the amount of female characters out way the men… so maybe Sunfire?
Now I never grew up reading any of these comic book movies, but I hear alot of people complaining about every studio’s adaption about their favorite comics.
Isn’t the point to make money and appeal to a larger audience?
@ Mike,
The problem is, they too often appeal through good marketing but not as good films.
The good films aspect, which should be at the forefront, has a lot to do with how it is adapted.
I say screw trying to stick with the continuity of the first X-Men films. While they were entertaining, I view them as being completely contrary to the original stories I read growing up. It’ll be about ten years between X-Men I and the First Class, so let’s start the franchise fresh, make it jive with the original comics, and do it the right way!! Wolverine has given us the first step to making this happen…
I would REALLY love to see a movie, spinoff or not, that featured Colosus as a main character and Omega Red opposite. Also they need to build up to the X-Men battling it out with Mr. Sinister and Apocalypse, BUT only if they’re done right. No more of this X-Men 3 BS where the director just does what he wants. I understand that Hollywood’s not going to stick with the series 100%, but at least make an effort. I haven’t seen the new Wolverine movie, but am looking forward to it.
Does anyone know if they’ve cast already or if there are tryouts?
Judging the rivalry between Iceman and Pyro in X-Men 2 and 3 I would say that Havoc and cyclops is an idea Fox would most likely toy with.
Characters I’d like to see in First Class, be it major-roles, short-toles or even cameos are
-Gambit
-Bishop
-Psylocke
-Quicksilver
-Scarlet Witch
-Havoc
As for for who the First Class would be, I’m prety peeved that Iceman and Archangel have been written off due to how the story has been strcutured so far in the films but it’s likely in my view that:
-Cyclops
-Jean Grey
-Beast
-Storm/Emma Frost
-Havoc/Gambit
The whole triangle makes sense so maybe they’ll include Emma Frost, however I do like the idea of Storm being in the line up, how Frost was portrayed in the film pissed me off. I didn’t realise it was her and her fighting skills were way off. And it was just appalling and needless to say a bit in the vein of the wimpy Rogue portrayal we’ve been given over the course of the main three films.
Anyway I digress the rivalry between Cyclops and Havoc makes sense (we could maybe see a flashback of their parents’ accident) as wellas the love-triangle; I sense it’s something Fox will go crazy for!
But going back to a point that someone else made earlier on this thread, why keep it to five? They could always extend it to six or seven. I mean know the school is obviousl;y in it’s early stages but perhaps we could see more charcters being brought in as cameos. It’s something Fox is accustomed to doing, what with the last three films
I’d like to voice my opinion on X-men: First Class, NO!!!!!!
I’ll give the spin-offs a chance but no way will i go to see X-men First class. I rather see Fox reboot the X-men franchise and bring the team together as they should and bring us new baddies and old ones. Im talkin A better team of X-men who would face off against threats like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and especially Apolcalypse and of-course Magneto. Id like to see the X-men played out as they were in the 90’s animated series. id like to see magneto’s Daughter Scarlet Witch be a baddie like she was on X-men Evolution animated series. and if it ant to much to ask, Fox could atleast keep Hugh Jackman as wolverine.
well they still have quicksilver which i also magneto son but doesn’t know it yet and same with the scarlet witch and if quicksilver is around scarlet witch isn’t to far behind because there freaking attached at the hip in everything until the most recent story lines…but it would be sweet because of the movies where just like the comics then to me it as one problem…WE KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN. so in that note any life threatening problem they face it wont be as exciting for the face we’d be like oh he/she not going to die because the need her in the next five freaking movies. so stop complaining about the story’s slightly different that s good thing make it more exciting.
i hope they actually make first class,a gambit film,magneto,generation-x,x-4,and wolverine 2. the characters i hope that get introduced into the films are apocalypse,sinister,beak,chamber,husk,rockslide,anole, and prosimian,i also hope that the sentinel story is the one they use for first class,and apocalypse is used in the magneto film.all in all i want to see the sentinel story,beak,sinister,and chamber.
i also think quicksilver,toad,and banshee will be in it i think mystique,and sabretoothe should show up somewere in first class whether its 1,2,or 3 they need to explain why sabrtoothe has changed and how magneto turned bad because in x3 he was good while they were recruiting the x-men and not a villian in the magneto film.
My name is Dannian Marcow. we are agency from Asia. all of Asian people hopeful there are eight female characters for The X men First Class.
this is the list of Female characters from Asian People.
1.Jean Grey / Phoenix Famke janssen
2.Emma Frost Cameron Diaz
3.Mystique Rebbeca Romijn Stamos
4.Storm Halle Berry
5.Rogue Anna Paquin
6.Shadow Cat Ellen Page
7.The Black Queen Tilda Swinton
8.Scarlet Switch Jennifer Garner
1.we know Famke Janssen is the best character as Jean Grey / Phoenix. we very hope her power the most strongest and adding bigger in The X men First Class. we want to see her power better than in The X men Last Stand. all of Asian People want to her come back action again in X men First Class.
2.Cameron Diaz. a lot of Asian people thinking about her,
she has to become Emma Frost. because her face like Emma Frost in X men Legends 2, she have a sexy body and she also have the tall body like Famke Janssen. We want to her join with Famke Janssen in X men First Class.
3.Tilda Swinton. we have ever seen her in the ” NARNIA ” movie.
she is be White Switch. she has to become Selene / The Black Queen. her Character like in the Narnia we agree that.
4.Jennifer Garner. Why do we choose her ? because when she was action in the ” ELEKTRA ” movie, she is very good Character, we want it and very hope Scarlet Switch Costume’s like Elektra.
All of Asian People want to The X men First Class is The Best.
we also want and very hope after The X men First Class and
The X men Origin Magneto, there is the Final Story that is
” X men Rise Apocalypse ” from The X men 1,2,3,The X men origin Wolverine,The X men First Class and The X men origin Magneto, all the cast the X men, should come back for destroy The Apocalypse.if you are going to make it, we sure 100 % you are going to got “go International” Movie.
I live in Europe. I say, I agree with Asian People 100 %.
Cameron Diaz as Emma Frost.
Tilda Swinton as Selene / The Black Queen.
Jennifer Garner as Scarlet Switch, and I also agree If Famke Janssen action again in The X men First Class.
I’m love there are eight Female Characters.but I hopeful you can adding more Characters from my opinion, in my mind and my View that :
1. Cyclops and Jean Grey / Phoenix
Phoenix have to adding her power one bigger more than X men Last Stand or Better Than The X men 3 and She’ll have to control herself and her power in The X men First Class later.
2. Havoc and Emma Frost
3. Banshee and Selene / The Black Queen
4. Quicksilver and Scarlet Switch
5. Bishop and Storm
6. Sabretooth and Mystique
They’ll have to come back action again in The X men First Class.My people want it.
7. Ice Man and Rogue.
8. Colossus and Shadow Cat.
I hopeful they can action in X men First Class
and I want to see a lot of Characters or adding it, more than before in The X men Last Stand.
I think it would be in the best interest of everybody for FOX to start off first class as a prequel and relate it more to the comics where the original 5 include: Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, and Jean Grey.
Take it before that to where Xavier runs into Storm at an early age who pick pockets him in Ciaro and he battles the Shadow King to set her free, but loses her till later when she gets picked up after the originals.
Basically Xavier building it from the ground up to training his 5 to battle Magneto and his brotherhood, and Juggernaut.
Then the next movie can progress into Humans realizing there are mutants living among them and the Sentinel program is developed. More X-men are recruited while old X-men part ways. Bring in Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine, Storm, Kitty and Rogue.
Have Gambit and or Rogue both start on the Darkside like the brotherhood and swith over later. Rogue has always had a dark past.
Throgh the movies get Cyclops and Jean liking each other enough to get married at the end of the 2nd movie or beginning of 3rd before she turns into the Phenoix.
So pretty much start fresh would be the BEST WAY TO GO!!!! Personally, I think we are so much more advanced in movies that we could make WAY better movies than how the previous 3 X-men movies were created! I still enjoyed watching them though.
@ Jeff
How can Iceman be on the team in a prequel till it wasnt official that he joined in X2. And Angel didnt arrive at Xavior’s school till X3.
I predict:
-Cyclops
-Jean Grey
-Beast
-Storm
-Thunderbird
My Favorite Characters they are :
1.Cyclops.
2.Phoenix.
3.Bishop.
4.Havok.
5.Sunfire.
6.Storm.
7.The Black Queen
8.Emma Frost
9.Banshee
10.Toad
11.Scarlet Switch.
12.Professor Charles Xavier.
I want all of the my favorite characters are going to play in X men First Class ( 2010 ).
Unless its a reboot, they cant use Phoenix when shes introduced in X-men 3. I rather see an X-men 4. To see all of the x-men members in their prime. Not see them as teenagers.
i deeply agree with that and if they have more im farley certain that banshee might be in it or mabye forge also what about villains im farley sure that magnetos an option if so i hope for sabretooth, toad, scarlett witch, mabye quicksilver or mabye lucifer (the guy that crippled professor x) also avalanche should finally get put in a movie
I wanna you’re going to plot with my characters in my view that :
~ Cyclops
~ Phoenix
I wanna Phoenix’s Force Increase stronger for destroy the
Entire enemies Area. I wanna she is be a leading woman and
her power look wider for destroy all of area and
better than the X men Last Stand.
I know, although you won’t dealing plot with Dark Phoenix.
I just wanna her power add to bigger and stronger.
Just do it the world need her.
~Beast
~Angel /
~Ice Man
~Havoc
~Bishop
~Sunfire
~Nightclawer
~Colossus
~Professor Charles Xavier
~Storm
~Rogue
~Shadow Cat
I wanna there’s The Hellfire Club in X men First Class later that :
~ The Black Queen
~ Emma Frost
~ Banshee
The third my love characters have to do in X men First Class.
also I wanna The Brotherhood of Evil team there are 10 people.
~ Magneto Better than The X men Last Stand
~ Quicksilver
~ Scarlet Switch
~ Sabretooth he has to come back
~ Mystique she has to come back
~ Toad
~ Juggernaut
~ Pyro
~ Multiple man
~ Avalanche
I hope there are two my favorite characters :
~ Bastion he has to fight with Phoenix
~ Dead Pool
I wanna you can accept for the world.
goodies(the numbers next to them are which movie there in)
1cyclops
1jean
1beast
1storm
1emma
4bishop
1havok
4psylocke
2banshee
4sunfire
2forge
1prof x
2night crawler(but lose his memory)
1polarice
5dazzler
2magma
6long shot
and the villains
1,shadowking and lucifer with jugganaut cameo
2,magneto ,mystique ,scarlett witch, domino, oad, avalanche, blob
3sentinals, master mold
4hellfire club
5apocholipse, mr sinister, omega red etc.
6mojo and spiral and they meet longshot ontvshow
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