KELSEY GRAMMER IS X3's BEAST

[MattBrady]

While the bulk of the cast for the third X-Men movie is already in place, Variety today announced a new addition to both the cast and the characters that will appear in the film: Kelsey (Frasier) Grammer as Hank McCoy, aka Beast.

Blue fur and all.

While spinning it to the trade and non-comics readers Marvel’s Avi Arad confirmed what many X-Men fans have known for years: “Kelsey was born to play the role," Arad said. “This is a big role in the new movie, and when we met with him, you can see that Kelsey has that you'd-better-have-a-dictionary-handy intelligence.”

The trade confirmed that X3’s Beast will be the 355-pound, blue furred version.

Also, Vinnie (Snatch) Jones is slated to play Juggernaut in the film, named by the trade as the anchor of Magneto’s “villainous band.” Maggie (Lost) Grace is in negotiations to play Kitty Pryde, while the studio is still searching for an actor to play Angel, described by the trade as “a handsome winged mutant who is ashamed of his feathery appendages.”

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, X-Men 3 is slated to open Memorial Day weekend, 2006.

[biffordmichael]

oh my.


Biff

[Joe Rice]

Huh. Grammar as Beast . . .that could actually work. Well, voice-acting-wise, at least. What are they going to do about the bounding and leaping and such?

Kelsey Grammar HITS THE GYM!

[ghostly1]

Okay, Grammar I can sort of see - at least, he fits the voice in my head for Beast's voice. The physical thing's another matter, but with some use of CGI for action scenes and the right makeup and costuming, could work.

But Maggie Grace from LOST as Kitty? Shannon? She does not look anywhere near right for that. Hell, Emilie de Ravin looks more the part.

[MattBrady]

Originally posted by Joe Rice
Huh. Grammar as Beast . . .that could actually work. Well, voice-acting-wise, at least. What are they going to do about the bounding and leaping and such?

Alan Cumming isn't known for his gymnastics, but Nightcrawler's action scenes seemed okay.

MattB

[gokujam]

Obviously the beast is gonna be all CGI

[AuburnTiger]

I think Grammer is a wonderful choice. I am worried though that things are heading in the direction of Batman and Robin. So many characters fighting for screentime will not make for a good film. The last X film's cast was pretty big, how large will X3's cast be?

[GOSD]

Frasier as the Beast?

Well, that's um..um....weird.

It will take a little getting use to but I'm willing to give it a try..

[Joe Rice]

Originally posted by MattBrady
Alan Cumming isn't known for his gymnastics, but Nightcrawler's action scenes seemed okay.

MattB

You clearly haven't been training with Alan and I in an abandoned, sketchy former-Soviet gym.

Also, he really learned how to teleport.

[cncoyle]

If he's going to be a bit older, this could work. Especially if you look at how Beast was portrayed in the Earth X (except blue fur instead of white).

EDIT: For some reason, the picture isn't loading. Anyway, click here.

Another pic that might curb opinion in Mr. Grammer's favor:


Oh, and do NOT Google "Beast" alone! YIKES!

[bishop-m]

What, George Wendt wasn't available to play Juggernaut?
He's not doing anything these days is he?

[Habitual]

Oh my stars and garters!!!!!

Hab

[Frillip]

Originally posted by bishop-m
What, George Wendt wasn't available to play Juggernaut?
He's not doing anything these days is he?

He just signed on as Cap, with John Ratzenberger as Bucky and Ted Danson as the Red Skull.
Awesome sauce...

[coreybean]

I wonder which look they will go for- the old look or his current "cat" form. I looks like they are cramming a lot of folks into the next movie. I would hate to go through hours of make-up for just a few minutes of screen time! And think about all the egos (though it seems Halle Berry may have been humbled by her last couple of gaffs)! There will have to be an extra two hours of footage on the DVD!

[AndyD]

But were is Niles?

[Michael P]

Grammar works for me as Beast, as Hank is essentially Fraiser Crane without the narcissism. I'm more concerned about him falling off the wagon during filming.

[Jack Burton]

Yeah I can see this. Grammer portrays the intellectual type really well(see Kelsey and Sideshow Bob) so this may be cool.

[Thakorr]

sounds good

[Brian Denham]

Originally posted by AndyD
But were is Niles?

He's kicking paranormal butt as Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies.

And ROZ dressed up as Wonder Woman. So almost the entire cast of Frasier has been a superhero.

The dad played a cop so he has done his bit!

[Ensign Janos]

Same inspired casting that gave us David Ogden Stiers as the Martian Manhunter. This will kill Grammar's senate run.

[Rawle Austin]

Kelsey Grammer as Beast is perfect casting.

With all these characters, the film will have to be at least 3 hours long to do them all justice. (in my opinion).

And an Extended edition DVD (ala Lord of the Rings) may have to be on the cards.

We certainly don't want another Batman and Robin.

More screentime for Cyclops is a must too.

Growler

[Cyphon]

Kelsey Grammer as Beast? That's awesomness wrapped up in super goodness! Smart and surprising casting.

I have no concerns about the action scenes. Being a character covered completely in fur, they can easily use a combo of stuntmen and CGI. But when he's not leaping around, he'll be perfect for the part.

[Space Canuck]

Wait a sec. Forget the Beast. Maggie Grace as Kitty? My favourite little Jewish girl is going to be played by white-hot blond bombshell Maggie Grace? I'm not liking that idea.

Space Canuck

[twoarmman]

WOW. that totaly suprised me... But yeah, he seems perfect for the role.

[jeffnoth]

Not sure how you can be born to play the role of a character that wasn't created yet, but I can see it.