From The Original X-Men Film Series
The following cast members from the original X-Men film series are returning for Days of Future Past: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine Patrick Stewart as Professor X Ian McKellen as Magneto Halle Berry as Storm Anna Paquin as Rogue Shawn Ashmore as Iceman Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde Daniel Cudmore as Colossus Hugh Jackman will be returning to play Wolverine for the seventh time (including his cameo in First Class). Jackman was intially an unusual choice for Wolverine, but he has taken ownership of the role to the extent that now, to the average movie goer, Wolverine is Jackman. It isn't surprising that Jackman's Wolverine is once again front and centre, but it is somewhat disappointing. Many X-Men fans have been disappointed that Wolverine has been the main focus of all of the films in the original series to the detriment of other characters, in particular Cyclops. First Class proved that you can make a successful X-Men movie without Wolverine and the original Days of Future Past storyline had Kitty Pryde as the main focus, not Wolverine. The inclusion of Jackman's Wolverine also presents an issue with recasting. First Class allowed all of the X-Men to be recast with actors that at the time were less well known, and less expensive. By including Jackman's Wolverine in the First Class timeline, it will make it more difficult to recast Wolverine. Like with First Class, the dynamic between Stewart's Professor and McKellen's Magneto is one of the most pivotal aspects of the original X-Men film series, so it is great to see them return. Halle Berry is returning as Storm in a somewhat reduced role in Days of Future Past due to her pregnancy. While Berry was a popular cast member for most film viewers, she did not fully embody the commanding, regal, Mother Earth type nature of Storm from the comics. Kitty Pryde, Rogue, Iceman and Colossus all deserved more screen time and development in the original film series, so it is good that they get another chance in Days of Future Past. Ellen Page did an excellent job as Kitty Pryde in The Last Stand and should be the main character in Days of Future Past, but at least she does get a part in the film. Rogue's story ended on a particularly sour note in The Last Stand when she took "the cure", where the two prior films were all about her coming to terms with who she is as a mutant. It is clear from the epilogue to The Last Stand and the mid-credits scene from The Wolverine that the cure is not permanent and Rogue will have her powers back in Days of Future Past. Hopefully she also has some additional accquired powers of flight and super strength like what she had in the comics. The battle between Iceman and Pyro at the end of The Last Stand where Iceman finally transformed into his ice form should have been epic, but it was somewhat anti-climactic. Days of Future Past presents an oportunity to show properly what Iceman can really do, ice bridges and all. Colossus made a spectacular debut during the mansion siege in X2, but he was very underutilised in The Last Stand. There are a few notable characters from the original film series missing from Days of Future Past. Famke Janssen as Jean Grey and James Marsden as Cyclops seemingly died in The Last Stand, but good comic book characters never stay dead. Despite being dead, Janssen as Jean had a significant role in The Wolverine. Jean Greys code name Phoenix suggests that she may again be raised to life. Cyclopss death in The Last Stand was not on screen, so it is possible that he was not killed at all. There are persistent rumours that Marsden as Cyclops will appear in Days of Future Past. Along with Page as Kitty Pryde, Kelsey Grammer as Beast was one of the best casting decisions in The Last Stand. Sadly Grammer has confirmed that he will not be returning as Beast. The lengthy prosthetics procedure required for Grammer to appear as Beast is likely a significant factor in the decision. The same reasoning can be applied to the absence of Rebecca Romijn as Mystique and X2 star Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler. Ben Foster as Angel has not been confirmed, but it is not a big loss as his role in The Last Stand was not really as an X-Man, but as a symbol of the film's themes. None of the other Brotherhood or Omega mutants from The Last Stand have been confirmed.