X-Men: First Class rebooted the X-Men franchise in 2011, but over a decade later, all the actors involved have moved on to other exciting opportunities. While the MCU was steadily growing in scale to become the elite franchise it is today, Fox was attempting to revive one of their most popular IPs, the X-Men. After the success of their original trilogy, it was worthwhile revisiting the superheros from Marvel.
All things considered, the movie did a great job at providing an alternative origin story for the unstoppable X-Men. And a big part of that success came down to the casting. The original X-Men trilogy nailed the casting for many of the iconic heroes, but X-Men: First Class navigated the issue in a clever way as it explored several alternative figures, and only recast two pivotal characters as younger versions of themselves. Today, the cast have all continued to excel in their field, leading to these talented individuals continuing to impress.
11 James McAvoy Played Charles Xavier
James McAvoy Has Been Playing Villains In Iconic Horror Films
James McAvoy became the central figure around which the entire rebooted franchise was built. McAvoy is an exceptional actor whose versatility has seen him play a wide range of roles, from heroes, to villains, and everything in between. As Charles Xavier, he delivered a compelling performance that revealed a different side of the figure who would grow up to be Patrick Stewart’s version.
At present, McAvoy has entered a period where he is exploring a darker type of character as he plays with roles in horror films. These high-end horrors, from the likes of directors such as M. Night Shyamalan and James Watkins, have given him a chance to play the villain, and McAvoy excels in these roles. His ability to switch to a dark, troubling monster, and back to warm, friendly figures makes them even more intense.
10 Michael Fassbender Played Erik Lensherr
Michael Fassbender Has Been Acting In A Wide Variety Of Films
Michael Fassbender was cast in the role of Erik Lensherr, aka Magneto. Once again, this proved an immensely challenging role, as his older counterpart was played by the incredible Sir Ian McKellen, but Fassbender was more than capable of bringing gravitas, depth, and intensity to the character in his youth. What worked well about McAvoy and Fassbender’s versions is that they both delivered a less mature and less refined version of the men they would become, which helped to connect them to their more seasoned counterparts.
Today, Fassbender continues to engage in many areas of film as he appears in smaller indie productions, like Kneecap, and the largest Hollywood films, like the Alien franchise. For Fassbender, no two roles look exactly the same, although he will take inspiration and draw from his experiences to connect with different types of characters. Fassbender excels in emotional and emphatic roles where the characters have depth, and experience change and growth.
9 Jennifer Lawrence Played Raven
Jennifer Lawrence Is Pursuing More Comedy Roles
Jennifer Lawrence rose to fame when she starred in The Hunger Games in 2012, but she had already begun establishing herself as a capable Hollywood actor. Just a year prior, she played the prominent role of Mystique in First Class, where she frequently had to undergo a full-body transformation to play the character. During this period of time, Lawrence was still finding her niche in acting, and refining her craft.
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Today, Lawrence appears to have found a passion for comedy, with many of her most recent films being in the comedy space. Movies like No Hard Feelings and Don’t Look Up reveal two ends of the comedy spectrum where Lawrence has been able to stand out. Whether it’s a simple rom-com, or a sharp satire, Lawrence has proven her talents in the space.
8 Kevin Bacon Played Sebastian Shaw
Kevin Bacon Is Set To Star In A New Drama Horror Series
Kevin Bacon has been a star for a long time, and when he tackled the role of Sebastian Shaw in First Class, he channeled his darker side, which he had done for several films prior. His villain was sleazy, egotistical, and power-hungry, and Bacon was more than capable of putting all of that across even with the little screentime that he had. However, Bacon has always been capable of playing various characters.
Currently, Bacon continues to appear in plenty of different TV shows and films, but one of the most exciting projects on his horizon is The Bondsman. Bacon stars as Hub Halloran in this dramatic horror series as a bounty hunter who is brought back to life for another shot at life. This series is expected to land in 2025, and it appears that it will be a great showcase for Bacon’s various talents due to the genre-bending nature of the show.
7 Rose Byrne Played Moira MacTaggart
Rose Byrne Has Been Taking On More Voice Acting Roles
Rose Byrne was cast as the love interest to Charles Xavier, and a key figure in the formation of the first X-Men team. As Moira MacTaggert, Byrne exhibited a fascination with mutants, and a desire to see them given a fair shot at using their gifts to serve a higher purpose. This meant that her character was frequently frustrated by the team not living up to expectations, or higher ups changing the goalposts, but Byrne excelled in the role.
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Today, she continues to act in TV and film, with numerous projects set to appear in the near future, but she has also settled in to a new niche for voice acting. In Bluey and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Byrne is refining her talents for voice-based roles, and doing an incredible job. However, she has not left live-action behind entirely, and she recently began starring in the Apple TV+ series, Platonic, alongside Seth Rogen.
6 January Jones Played Emma Frost
January Jones Continues To Land Big Roles On TV
January Jones did a spectacular job playing the double-crossing seductress, Emma Frost. This character was a rival for Xavier as she had the ability to telepathically communicate and manipulate peoples’ minds, while also being able to protect herself in a psychic-proof crystal body. As much as she delivered a compelling performance in First Class, she had only scratched the surface of her talents for the role.
Outside X-Men, Jones landed several leading roles in TV series where she was able to deliver far more nuance, complexity, and versatility. As Betty, the long-suffering wife of Don Draper in Mad Men, and her pivotal role as Melissa in the comedy series, The Last Man on Earth, Jones did a tremendous job expanding her talents. Jones continues to play pivotal roles in both TV and film.
5 Nicholas Hoult Played Hank McCoy
Nicholas Hoult Continues To Star In Major Theatrical Films
Nicholas Hoult played the soft-spoken Doctor Hank McCoy, as he transformed into the Beast. His romance with Raven, his ability to match and often exceed Xavier’s intellect, and his personal struggles to come to terms with his change all made for a rich performance from Hoult. Now, that incredible talent is being put to use in various significant roles in high-end Hollywood films.
Hoult is currently entering the most successful period of his career to date. With leading roles in films like Renfield and The Menu, and upcoming films where he is set to have a pivotal role, like Superman: Legacy, where he will play Lex Luthor, and Nosferatu, Hoult is in his prime. Hoult continues to excel and grow with each new role.
4 Zoë Kravitz Played Angel Salvadore
Zoë Kravitz Continues To Star In Big Movies
Within X-Men: First Class, Zoë Kravitz had a supporting role that saw her initially join the X-Men, before choosing to swap sides and work with the more aggressive and frustrated mutants who wished to take their place above humans. As Angel, she delivered sadness, pain, and a desire to find her place, which all rounded out the character in a compelling way. However, once again, her career was just beginning in First Class.
Since then, Kravitz has appeared in many major franchises, such as the Fantastic Beasts films, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, where she tackled minor roles. Again, in recent months, she has had supporting roles in major films like Blink Twice, but to date, her biggest role and film has been The Batman. Kravitz starred opposite Robert Pattinson as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and the pair developed a special bong in the first film. Kyle is sure to return in the sequels, and Kravitz will be able to continue showcasing her talents.
3 Caleb Landry Jones Played Sean Cassidy
Caleb Landry Jones Is Famous In Independent Cult Films
Caleb Landry Jones was also a part of the first X-Men team. As Sean Cassidy, aka, Banshee, he unveiled tremendous sonic abilities that made him a seriously powerful mutant capable of standing up to more experienced villains. He also exemplified a fun and breezy nature in the film.
Today, Jones has moved into much more serious and thought-provoking roles. Most notably, he has developed a strong connection to director Luc Besson, who directed incredible films like The Fifth Element, Lucy, and Nikita to name just a few. In 2023, Jones starred in Besson’s indie hit, DogMan, and he is now set to collaborate again as he stars in the upcoming Dracula: A Love Tale, where Jones will play Dracula.
2 Edi Gathegi Played Armando Muñoz
Edi Gathegi Is Joining The DCU
Edi Gathegi played Armando Muñoz, aka Darwin in X-Men: First Class. While he had the shortest time on screen as his character was killed off before they could see any real action, Gathegi did deliver a compelling performance in the time he was given. He was arguably one of the bravest members of the immature team, although this led to his timely demise.
Since First Class, Gathegi has been slowly building his career as he tackles more notable and prominent roles. Recently, he was cast as a prominent character in the critically acclaimed, Emmy award-winning Apple TV+ series, For All Mankind. And beyond that, he is set to have a large role in the upcoming Superman: Legacy movie where he will play Mister Terrific.
1 Lucas Till Played Alex Summers
Lucas Till Continues To Land Leading Roles
Finally, rounding out the team is Lucas Till’s character, Alex Summers. Alex is the older brother of Scott Summers, who would go on to become Xavier’s right-hand man. However, Alex is much more reclusive and reserved, partially due to his incredibly destructive powers. As Havok, he learned to control his abilities with the support of Xavier, and Till did a phenomenal job expanding on the character.
Till is actively still working in Hollywood with a recent successful run as the titular lead in the rebooted MacGyver series. However, since the show ended in 2021, Till continues to land opportunities in film and TV. He is set to star in the upcoming film Spectrum, which has been written by one of the writers for Gen V. Like all of his fellow stars, Till continues to prove his strengths outside of X-Men: First Class.
