The cast of X-Men: First Class is filling up, with two new people signing up for the film. At Empire’s Movie-Con, it was revealed that Jason Flemyng will play Azazel, the father of Nightcrawler, with the actor saying “Matthew showed me my costume just the other day. Now I swore Id never be in heavy make-up again, but this role is going to involve it. But at least they said, ‘Dont worry, well add the tail in post’. I am Azazel, and I can teleport by waving my arms [gestures like a cross between a flamenco dancer anda Bollywood star].
Interestlingly though, rather than being a mutant, Azazel is technically a creature from another plane, who tries to impregnate human women, in order to provide himself with a permanent link between his realm and ours.
Flemyng isn’t the only new cast member, as THR reports that Rose Byrne is in negotiations to sign on as Moira McTaggert, a role previously rumoured for Rosamund Pike. According to the site, McTaggert is ‘a scientist and an authority on genetic mutation. She’ll be the love interest of James McAvoy, who plays mutant telepath Charles Xavier.’
With a June 2011 release set, X-Men: First Class in gearing up to start shooting in London by the end of the month, with the story focussing on the friendship of a young Professor X and Magneto, before they took very different paths.