Anna Paquin's scenes dropped from 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker Bryan Singer says Anna Paquin's scenes have been cut from his upcoming superhero picture, "X-Men: Days of Future Past."

Paquin, who played Rogue in several "X-Men" movies, shot a rescue sequence for "Days" with co-stars Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Shawn Ashmore, but the footage will not be used.

"Through the editing process, the sequence became extraneous," Singer told EW.com. "It's a really good sequence and it will probably end up on the DVD so people can see it. But like many things in the editing process, it was an embarrassment of riches and it was just one of the things that had to go. Unfortunately, it was the one and only sequence Anna Paquin was in, the Rogue character was in. Even though she's in the materials and part of the process of making the film, she won't appear in it."

Singer told the entertainment news website the decision had nothing to do with Paquin's performance.

"She did a fantastic job," said the director.

"She was awesome in the sequence. She's a brilliant actress. I would work with her in a heartbeat," Singer added. "She completely understood. It's very disappointing, but she's very professional and she knows that stuff happens, particularly with material you shoot early on in production. Films evolve."

The film is set for release May 23. Paquin can be seen on the small screen in the vampire drama, "True Blood."