1. Angel
From Buffy to Angel maybe this is turning into a different post??? I have always loved the character of Angel, then later Archangel, in the X Men comics, and his portrayal on the cartoon TV series X Men Evolution and Wolverine and The X Men, and although X Men: The Last Stand set up the characters history fairly well in the opening 10 minutes, in the later parts of the film, Ben Foster (who was great as Clares gay boyfriend in Six Feet Under by the way) gives a very lackluster, almost bored performance as one of the original X Men. Angel to me was always the perfect metaphor for a superhero. A boy who grew wings but was metaphorically afraid to fly. Plus, the biblical connotations added with the interesting subplot of his rich father being ashamed of his mutant son (in the film he persuades him to get the cure, but Angel rebels) was always obviously a metaphor for homosexuality (a topic which inspires much of the X Men comics) gave the character great depth and relevance. Ben Foster could not portray this depth of character anywhere near to the level that was needed, and added to the fact that he was awkwardly shoehorned into The Last Stand and didnt really have a role (he hardly had any dialogue and basically did nothing in the final fight) means if and when this character returns to the screen, they may as well start from page one and nobody will miss Ben Foster. Besides, the simple fact that he was an original X-Man means he deserves better.
Who Should Play Him:
Neil Patrick Harris. A slightly odd choice sure, but I think he could probably pull off the role. He is a fan favorite and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which proves that people like the guy. Plus, he really deserves to break into the movie world more than he has already (Smurfs does not count). Also, though it is probably too much to ask of a comic book movie to include a gay character (though I dont know why it should be), Neil Patrick Harris is gay in real life, and this simple fact will mean, even if he plays the role straight, the metaphor and homosexual connotations the character of Angel has will be heightened knowing that Harris probably also shared a similar (kind of) experience coming to terms with being something that society has a history of shunning. Plus, he is a natural blonde and will need something to do seeing as How I Met Your Mother is ending soon. Also, if he ever needed to play the darker angel, Archangel, he has proven and popular experience playing a comic book villain in Joss Whedons Doctor Horribles Sing Along Blog. What do you think of these choices???... Sound off in the comments section...