James McAvoy is the first actor cast for X-Men: First Class, the upcoming movie prequel. The Scottish hearthrob will play the iconic Professor X, leader and founder of the X-Men. Protestations abound; nothing about McAvoy screams Charles Francis Xavier to immediately recommend him for the role.
However, while many comic aficionados may disagree, I have always been of the opinion that whenever possible, you cast the role itself and not the look of it. In some cases a specific look and build of actor is definitely required, as with Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, but have we forgotten who first made Batman credible on the big screen? Michael Keaton is not and has never been the archetypical Bruce Wayne, nor Batman, but director Tim Burton insisted on his casting. The rest is a special history for comic books on film, as Keaton went on to play the most complete and convincing incarnation of the hero to date. Yes, I have considered Christian Bale in that statement.
More recently, and still within the Batman lore, director Chris Nolan took a punt on (the late) Heath Ledger as The Joker. He looked nothing like the comic book villain, but Nolan saw something in him that would later constitute one of the greatest villainous portrayals commited to film.
Give McAvoy a chance. Anyone who has seen him in Last King Of Scotland or Hamlet knows that he can play serious. He is a very convincing man who always appears to have, let it suffice to say, a lot of things on his mind. Trust his talent and trust that he can act the role, and that is really all that matters. If the actor is good enough, in time you forget about everything else. His eyes may be a bit too dreamy, his eyebrows will need some serious re-shaping, but he has a distinctive nose, a la Patrick Stewart. Shave his head and give him a go. You may be surprised.
Liam Camps
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Comments
Think you meant ‘Macbeth’ not ‘Hamlet’.
Totally agree about McAvoy. I’d also add to that list ‘Inside I’m Dancing/Rory O’Shea’ wherein McAvoy plays a young man in a wheelchair with Duchennes MD. He is brilliant and charismatic in the film despite the fact he can’t move any part of his body–except for 2 fingers of one hand + facial expressions.
Think you meant 'Macbeth' not 'Hamlet'.
Totally agree about McAvoy. I'd also add to that list 'Inside I'm Dancing/Rory O'Shea' wherein McAvoy plays a young man in a wheelchair with Duchennes MD. He is brilliant and charismatic in the film despite the fact he can't move any part of his body–except for 2 fingers of one hand + facial expressions.
Totally did mean MacBeth. Was just testing everyone, as usual. Life would be uninteresting otherwise…yeah. Excuse, sticking by it, etc.
Totally did mean MacBeth. Was just testing everyone, as usual. Life would be uninteresting otherwise…yeah. Excuse, sticking by it, etc.