New Villains
Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask
Bolivar Trask is the founder of Trask Industries and creator of the Sentinels. After discovering the X-Gene, he hypothesised that it would lead to the extinction of the human race and founded Trask Industries in 1967 in response to the perceived threat. The first production model 18 foot Mark I Sentinel was introduced in 1973. The new (and presumably bigger) Mark X Sentinel program was announced in 2020. We can expect to see both the Mark I in the First Class timeline and the Mark X in the original trilogy timeline. In addition to the Sentinels, Trask Industries has produced portable mutant detection devices and mutant power inhibitor collars. It has also made some breakthroughs in genetics including DNA-generated artificial limb prosthetics and the ability to create a hybrid gene with mutant DNA. If you want to find out more about Bolivar Trask, Trask Industries and the Sentinels, check out the viral marketing website at
www.trask-industries.com. Peter Dinklage is a great addition to the cast as Bolivar Trask. He has proven his acting chops in the hugely popular TV series Game of Thrones which earned him an Emmy and Golden Globe. His dwarfism lends itself well to the role of Trask, giving a clear motivation for his interest in genetics and mutation. A version of Bolivar Trask played by African American actor Bill Duke already briefly appeared in The Last Stand. While this is unlikely to be a problem for the average viewer, fans of the X-Men film series will want to know why there are seemingly two different versions of the character.
Josh Helman as William Stryker
William Stryker is a military scientist with an intense hatred for mutants. He views mutation as a disease that needs to be cured. He brought his mutant son Jason to Professor X to have him cured, not knowing that the Professor does not share his views on mutation. Jason grew resentful of his parents and their hatred for his mutation to the extent that he used his power of telepathic illusion on them. His mother committed suicide in an attempt to bore the images out of her head. Stryker then began experimentation on mutants, including his own son. Through his experimentation, he is responsible for bonding adamantium to Wolverines skeleton. Josh Helman has some very big shoes to fill. Brian Cox expertly played an older version of Stryker in X2, and Danny Huston played a middle-aged version of Stryker in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Helman will be playing a younger version who no doubt will be very interested in the work of Trask Industries. It seems likely that we will see Stryker and Trask working together at some stage during the film. We may also finally get to see the scene where Stryker brings Jason to Professor X for a cure.