Speculation: Could Aaron Johnson Be Cast In X-Men: First Class?
By Peter Sciretta/May 28, 2010 1:00 pm EST
Could Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson possibly be in line to play young Scott Summers (aka Cyclops) or young Magneto in Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class? Last week, Johnson was spotted “taking a meeting” with Vaughn and newly announced First Class star James McAvoy, who has signed on to play young Charles Xavier (aka Professor X).
Filmonic did some googling and came across the below photo on one of those paparazzi/gossip sites.
The photo shows director Matthew Vaughn having a meeting with James McAvoy and Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson last week in London England.
We know that a week later McAvoy joined the cast of Vaughn’s X-Men prequel… but what about Johnston? It is completely possible that he was just meeting up with Vaughn, as the two became friendly over the course of making Kick-Ass. But why would he be present during Vaughn’s meeting with McAvoy?
Earlier this month, THR’s HeatVision reported that producer Bryan Singer (who was originally supossed to direct First Class but was unable to due to his Jack the Giant Killer commitments) was using Giant Killer’s casting process :as an opportunity to look for potential X-Men, vetting actors who may be qualified to play a young Cyclops or young Jean Grey."
Yesterday it was reported that Singer had met with Johnson and Andrew Garfield about the possible leading role in Giant Killer.Is it possible that Singer met with Johnston and sent in a recommendation for the actor to play young Cyclops? Again, just wild speculation at this point.
Discuss: What would you think of Johnston as a young Scott Summers aka Cyclops or young Magneto?Previously:
But Singer’s treatment was a Str Trek-style reboot/prequel, which will focus on “the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where there [sic] relationship took a wrong turn.” Singer has previously admitted that First Class would “probably utilize some of the [planned/announced X-Men Origins:] Magneto story because it deals with a young Magneto,” and that “it might supersede” that plan because this new movie would explore “that relationship between a young energetic professor and a disenfranchised victim of the Holocaust.”
Here is the official plot synopsis:
“It’s basically about the formation of the X-Men. How they began and the relationship between a young Xavier and a young Magneto.”
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.
Matthew Vaughn beat out eight directors to take the helm: Louis Leterrier, Jonathan Mostow, Daniel Espinosa, Rupert Sanders, Timur Bekmambetov, David Slade, and Carl Erick Rinsch.
The film is set to go into production this Summer, and the studio has set a June 3rd 2011 release date.
Here are some official quotes:
“I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s since LAYER CAKE,” said Singer. “He has a deft hand with multiple characters and storylines, and a great love of the X-Men universe. I feel the combination of this story and his vision will make for an exciting and original X-Men film.”
