Movies

McAvoy to play young Xavier in 'X-Men'

Actor James McAvoy attends the premiere for the film "Wanted" in Tokyo, Japan, on September 1, 2008. (UPI Photo/Keizo Mori)

License photo

Published: May 28, 2010 at 2:28 PM

HOLLYWOOD, May 28 (UPI) -- Scottish actor James McAvoy has signed on for the next installment of the X-Men franchise, U.S. studio Twentieth Century Fox said.

McAvoy, star of "Wanted" and "Atonement," will work with British director Matthew Vaughn for "X-Men: First Class," a movie about the younger years of Xavier (McAvoy's character) and Eric Lensherr before they become archenemies, Entertainment Weekly reported Friday.

Fox said it expects to announce who will portray the young Lensherr shortly.

Entertainment Weekly said there was no indication about whether Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as Wolverine.

Topics: James McAvoy, Matthew Vaughn

© 2010 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints

Most Popular Collections

Protesters, police clash at NATO summit	Notable deaths of 2012	2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes	Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S.	Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.

Additional Movies Stories
Entertainment News Guitarist Doc Watson in critical condition WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 27 (UPI) -- Bluegrass legend Arthel "Doc" Watson was in critical condition following colon surgery at a hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., his representative said. Lady Gaga cancels Jakarta gig for security Madonna asks for pool at Israel venue Sweden's Loreen wins Eurovision contest Michelle Obama, daughters see Beyonce	Top News Politics 2012: Ron Paul strategy keeps things interesting When he bowed out of actively campaigning to capture the Republican presidential nomination, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul said he wasn't interested in disrupting the party's national convention in Tampa, Fla., in August. Oil and corn don't mix: Ethanol reports fuel gasoline debate Under the U.S. Supreme Court: Spying on the American public Politics 2012: Texas could put Romney near or over 1,144-delegate threshold No witnesses in deadly Utah plane crash
Business News Auto Outlook: Drivers wanting better mileage look to foreign cars To avoid a meltdown in 2006, Ford Motor Co. mortgaged the farm putting up its assets – including its Blue Oval logo, and F-150 pickup and iconic Mustang trademarks – to secure $23.5 billion in credit. Jobs: The number of baby boomers retiring is holding down the unemployment rate USPS offers buyouts to 45K mail handlers Groupon starts refund program Credit rating relies on U.S. plan	Odd News Your Daily Horoscope UPI horoscopes for Sunday, May 27, 2012. The almanac Survey: British miss pets more than family Wedding parties told to quiet down Jersey falcons put up a squawk

Teen solves centuries-old math problem

Woman swallows toothbrush

Crystals could give volcanic eruption clue

Cross-country drive on 2 gallons of gas

X-ray spacecraft to search for black holes

Entertainment Photos

2012 Billboard Music Awards

65th Annual Cannes International Film Festival

Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S.

Protesters, police clash at NATO summit

CBS Upfronts in New York

Members of the Army's Old Guard place flags at Arlington National Ceremtery

View Caption

Enlarge Photo

U.S. flags are seen in the rucksack of a soldier with the Army's 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, as he places flags at gravesites in Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Flags-In Memorial Day ceremony on May 24, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. American flags were placed at each of the more than 220,000 grave markers in honor of those who served and Memorial Day. UPI/Kevin Dietshc

The paperclip was invented in 1899 and has never been improved upon since. It is, quite possibly,...

All whiskey tastes the same, just get the $5 bottle. There, THAT'S how you troll a whiskey thread....

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...

Brazilians seek to lay NYC bare. Giggity

You're welcome, Class of 2012: Top 10 things no one tells high school graduates

Photoshop this corpulent crimefighter

Resources: Motivational Speaker - Auto Dealers

UPI.com is your trusted source for world news, top news, science news, health news and current events.
We thank you for visiting us and we hope that we will be your daily stop for news updates.