With all the casting rumors swirling around X-Men: First Class, I'm proud to report on a couple notices that are all but official (i.e. they're in the trades). Variety reports that Kevin Bacon finished up those talks and signed on to star as the as-of-yet unspecified villain of the film. The smart money pegs him as Mister Sinister, though Fox declined to comment.
Jennifer Lawrence received rave reviews for the indie drama Winter's Bone, and in minor of evidence of karma, was recruited what must be a much larger paycheck. Heat Vision reports that Lawrence will play Mystique in Fist Class, assuming the role that Rebecca Romijn in the first three films of the franchise. Hit the jump for what else we know about the film so far.
Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) will helm the production, with filming set to begin next month in London. In addition to Bacon and Lawrence, the following cast members are on record:
- James McAvoy as Professor Charles Xavier
- Michael Fassbender as Magneto
- Nicholas Hoult as Beast
- Alice Eve as Emma Frost
- Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee
Given the ensemble nature of the film, there are definitely still a few pieces to left. Even checking "villain" and "Mystique" off our list on the same day, the following have been mentioned in connection with the prequel:
Again, production is set to begin next month, and the target release date of June 3, 2011 is less than a year away. So expect the full cast list to shore up in the coming weeks.