Pop Culture WI: An X-Men film in 1992?

What if an X-Men film was made in 1992? Which characters would be used and who would play them? Also, given the limitations of technology at the time, how would some of the superpowers play out?
 
Thinking some more about this, i could actually see Leonard Nimoy pulling off Charles Xavier. Obviously he'd have to shave his head but other than that it could work. As for the villain, while Magneto is the obvious one, there are other possibilities like Black Tom, Juggernaut (hopefully done better than in OTL's X-Men 3), or the Hellfire Club
 
It may have been animated (think the 1995 show)

As to the cast, think the 1995 show

I think a live-action film would be difficult to do given the levels of special effects technology of the time. If we're dealing with animation, then the sky's the limit.

Thinking some more about this, i could actually see Leonard Nimoy pulling off Charles Xavier. Obviously he'd have to shave his head but other than that it could work. As for the villain, while Magneto is the obvious one, there are other possibilities like Black Tom, Juggernaut (hopefully done better than in OTL's X-Men 3), or the Hellfire Club

I think Magneto needs to be the antagonist for the movie since he's the iconic X-Men opponent. If anything just to be the ball rolling. As to Nimoy playing Xavier, I could see him doing a voice-role as animated but since Patrick Stewart has become as famous for that as he was for Captain Picard, it's hard for me to see anyone else playing the role.
 
As near as that would be to the Phoenix Saga, & with the popularity of Wolverine even then, I'd say you get something very like OTL's films.

The characters are probably closer to OTL; I doubt Rogue is the teen she was in the film. I'd guess Kitty takes that role, per OTL.

Casting choices I'm very unsure of. I'm picturing Alyssa Milano as Kitty, somehow (a touch too old?), & there's a reasonable chance Patrick Stewart still gets the nod as Charles. (Stanley Tucci might be a good choice. So might Brian Dennehy.)

They're both too old IMO, but I could just picture Kyle MacLachlan as Scott & Jennifer Connelly (with a dye job) as Jean.

I kind of like the idea of Colm Meaney as Hank (tho TTL, he wouldn't appear; maybe as Wyngarde? Better still, as Shaw?:cool:)

Donald Sutherland might make an interesting Magneto (presuming he appears) or Gyrich.

Alan Rickman as Wyngarde?

Keanu Reeves as Logan? (Maybe Christian Slater? Kiefer Sutherland?)

Maybe Robyn Lively's a better Jean (tho being about the same age as Alyssa makes that problematic...:eek:). Maybe Moira Kelly?

I'd pick Iman as Ororo in a heartbeat.

Kevin Spacey as Wyngarde could be excellent.:cool:

Keri Russell as Kitty? (Younger than Robyn by about 4yrs, which would be about right, if Robyn's made to look a bit older, or Keri a bit younger.)

If we're willing to bend a little, Brandon Lee would be an interesting choice for Logan, & able to do his own stunts.:cool: (Would this butterfly away "The Crow" & his death? Or does he suffer a fatality on set here, instead?:eek::( Would this also prevent him doing "Rapid Fire"? I'd hope not.)

Hugh Laurie would be a really interesting choice as Charles. We know (based on "House") he can get the American accent down... I'm not so sure him bald works, tho.:eek:

Catherine Bell as Jean crosses my mind, but I'm not sure she'd done anything enough to earn a starring role yet. A single episode of "Dream On"? Or not even that, yet?
 
I cant see Keanu Reeves being able to pull off Wolverine in 92, unless he was desperately trying to shake the Bill and Ted image (it doesnt help that his character in those films had the last name "Logan"). Christian Slater would be good though, or for a dark horse, Glenn Danzig (Wizard Magazine did a fantasy casting article where they suggested him to play Wolverine, and i can see it working). Also, i wonder if they'd wear the comic book outifts, or go for the approach they used in the 2000s series (though the Jim Lee era outfits would likely be pretty hokey in live action to be honest, even though i liked those designs in the comic).
 
there's a reasonable chance Patrick Stewart still gets the nod as Charles. (Stanley Tucci might be a good choice. So might Brian Dennehy.)

Tucci has always been a "hey, it's that guy!" type of actor rather than a lead actor, I don't see him as Xavier. At least not in 1992, he actually could be Xavier nowadays. How about...Ben Kingsley, or is he too "ethnic" for Prof. X?

I'm not sure who would be a great Magneto in 1992...would they get someone like McKellan's age in the first X-Men movie, or will they go with a younger, more manly Magneto like in the comics? Hell, I suddenly see Arnold as Magneto... *shudders* :eek:
 
I can really picture that now, too. It'd be a bad idea, though. I wonder if they'd cast him as Colossus (if they want to spend the money on the costume). However, I think the only roles they'd hire super bulky guys for are Colossus and Beast. They'd probably pick out a Magneto who'd fit in as a Bond villain.

I think Keanu Reeves would have been far too young to play Wolverine and Hugh Laurie would have been far too young to play Xavier. I think even in 1992, Patrick Stewart would be the first choice, if the studios want to spend the money on him.
 
Hadley said:
I cant see Keanu Reeves being able to pull off Wolverine in 92, unless he was desperately trying to shake the Bill and Ted image
He's got the look, & he's got the "wildness". He might be a better Scott, all considered.
Hadley said:
Christian Slater would be good
I suggest him for much the same reasons.
Hadley said:
i wonder if they'd wear the comic book outifts
I think they could safely throw them out, but I have doubts they would, in light of the Batman films.
WanderingWanderer said:
Tucci has always been a "hey, it's that guy!" type of actor rather than a lead actor, I don't see him as Xavier.
He's been a strong supporting player. Bear in mind, this is "X-Men", not "The Charles Xavier Story", & in the book, he's a fairly minor player.
WanderingWanderer said:
Ben Kingsley, or is he too "ethnic" for Prof. X?
I could see that, but I'm not sure you'd sell it. IMO, you want a less "ethnic" actor, & TTL, probably one clearly American; it's only Patrick, IMO, that lets us see Kingsley as remotely likely.

What about Raymond Burr? (Too "Ironside"?:p Or is he dead already?:eek:)
WanderingWanderer said:
would they get someone like McKellan's age in the first X-Men movie, or will they go with a younger, more manly Magneto like in the comics?
Recall, in the book at that time, Maggie'd been "youthened" some, but he was pretty old. Given the Phoenix Saga is the story being told, he might not appear at all... (I know, that's like a Batman film without The Joker,:eek: but...)
 
I think the movie is most likely either about the origin of the X-Men, or about the team meeting Magneto or Senator Kelly, or (as OTL) somebody new joining the team. And Phoenix Saga was pretty new then. Movie makers don't often make movies based on new comic book stories, and before a couple years ago, movie makers almost exclusively created new stories when they made superhero movies.
 
I think Keanu would be much better received as Scott Summers rather than Wolverine. Not sure who would make a good Wolverine in that time-frame. Mickey Rourke, maybe?
 
Brady Kj said:
I think the movie is most likely either about the origin of the X-Men, or about the team meeting Magneto or Senator Kelly, or (as OTL) somebody new joining the team. And Phoenix Saga was pretty new then. Movie makers don't often make movies based on new comic book stories, and before a couple years ago, movie makers almost exclusively created new stories when they made superhero movies.
That's all true.:( Probably you'd get an origin story based on X-Men #1...
 
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