“First Class” Tumnus!

Actor James McAvoy ( best known to NarniaFans as “Mr. Tumnus”) has been in everything from Narnia, to the HBO mini-series Band of Brothers, to Wanted. He’s even been rumored to play Mr. Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit! While there is nothing new on the Narnia front for James ( or for that matter Middle-earth), he has signed on to play the younger version of another iconic character. James McAvoy has been attached to play the young Professor Charles Xavier in the upcoming X-Men prequel X-Men:First Class.

Directed by Matthew Vaughn ( Stardust) the film will tell the story of the friendship between the young Professor X and his once and future adversary Eric Lensher ( Magneto.) Both rolls were played in the original trilogy by Sir Patrick Stewart ( Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Sir Ian McKellen ( The Lord of the Rings) respectively.

Coincidentally, X-Men isn’t the only connection McAvoy has to Stewart as both actors share ties with the land of Narnia. While McAvoy was Mr. Tumnus in the recent films, Patrick Stewart read the audio book for CS Lewis’ The Last Battle.

I don’t know but in looking at a picture of James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart I can see some resemblance. Best of luck to James in his new roll! As any actor can tell you it is hard to step into an iconic roll played by another actor .