X-MEN Fanboys and fangirls across the world have a big reason to be excited today, as X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST director Bryan Singer has announced through his Twitter (who needs trade magazines anymore?) that both Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan would return to their respective roles of Professor X and Magneto in the new film. Singer and Matthew Vaughn (who directed X-MEN: FIRST CLASS) switched roles for this sequel, with Vaughn co-writing the screenplay and Singer taking over the director chair. Singer, as you may recall, directed the first two highly successful X-MEN movies for Fox. Here are the Tweets that confirmed the casting news today:
I’d like to officially welcome back James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, & Nicholas Hoult to #XMEN for #DaysOfFuturePast
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) November 27, 2012
Thrilled to announce @ianmckellen118 & @sirpatstew are joining the cast of #XMEN #DaysOfFuturePast #magneto #professorX More to come…
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) November 27, 2012
The storyline of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST revolves heavily around events happening in both the past and future (or at least the future of the FIRST CLASS film), so it stands to reason Stewart and McKellan would need to be in there in some capacity. However, until today no one knew if either would for sure. This also begs the question as to whether or not any other Singer X-MEN movie cast will return, such as Hugh Jackman as Wolverine or Halle Berry as Storm. We’ll keep an eye on things and keep you posted. Here’s the plot synopsis for X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST:
The storyline alternates between present day, in which the X-Men fight Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and a future timeline caused by the X-Men’s failure to prevent the Brotherhood from assassinating Senator Robert Kelly. In this future universe, Sentinels rule the United States, and mutants live in internment camps. The present-day X-Men are forewarned of the possible future by a future version of their teammate Kitty Pryde, whose mind traveled back in time and possessed her younger self to warn the X-Men.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
