As filming starts to ramp up a gear on the set of X-Men Dark Phoenix a couple of names that are joining the cast have been revealed: Evan Peters, who played Quicksilver in X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse, and Lamar Johnson.
With filming due to start in Montreal this week, the men join the rest of the X-Men veterans James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult with Evans reprising his role as Quicksilver. No character name has been revealed for Johnson, who joins off the back of his star turn in the BAFTA award winning show The Next Step.
Evans and Johnson also join Apocalypse newcomers Sophie Turner, Alexandra Shipp, Tye Sheridan and Kodi Smit-McPhee in the next instalment of which the X-Men kinsman, Simon Kinberg will make his directorial debut.
Evans’ return as the scene-stealing Quicksilver looks to be returning not because the character was part of the series, but largely due to the fact he was such a big hit with the die hard and loyal audiences of the film franchise. His character didn’t actually appear in the comic book saga on which the film takes its inspiration.
The Dark Phoenix saga actually focused Jean Grey and the Phoenix force which in the plot of X-Men: The Last Stand contained elements of the Dark Phoenix Saga. The Phoenix is a dual personality of Jean, which Professor X had telepathically repressed during her childhood, fearing its destructive potential. It is awakened after Jean cocoons herself in telekinetic energy to survive the collapse of Alkali Lake. The Phoenix behaves irresponsibly, has no control over her decision-making, and exposes her sexual desires for Wolverine, sides with Magneto and even murders Professor X and Cyclops. The Phoenix is destroyed when Jean is euthanised by Wolverine.
Only two weeks ago McAvoy took to social media to reveal to the world his preparation in transforming into the much loved young version of Professor X, Charles Xavier
