"X-Men 3" Cast Too Big?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox and Marvel Entertainment have added another character to "X-Men 3." Mei Melancon has joined the cast of the comic book-inspired sequel as the evil mutant assassin Psylocke.
"X-Men 3" helmer Brett Ratner also directed Melancon in his film "Rush Hour 2." Melancon's credits also include the HBO series "Deadwood," "CSI," and will appear in an upcoming episode of ""Kitchen Confidential."
According to Marvel Directory, Psylocke's powers include "many telepathic abilities, enabling her to read minds, communicate mentally with others over long distances, stun the minds of others with "mental bolts," control the minds of others, and create illusions in the minds of others. Psylocke can intensely focus her psionic powers into her "psychic knife," with which she can stun or kill an adversary."
In the film, she is slated to fight against the X-Men as a member of Magneto's (Ian McKellen) Brotherhood of Mutants.
While fans are glad for the addition of the sexy Psylocke, they are also speculating that such a large supporting cast will take away from the story itself. In early December, word began circulating of a slew of new mutant characters including Beast, Angel, Juggernaut, Kitty Pride and Callisto when studio photos were released. While a large ensemble cast has been vital to the story in each of the previous installments, those films were helmed by Bryan Singer. Ratner's ability to juggle plot and such a large cast of characters remains to be seen. Since Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg have returned as writers, fans are hopeful that the story will be as engaging as its predecessors.
Naturally, Patrick Stewart, who plays X-Men leader Professor Charles Xavier, has been talking up the film. Trekweb reports that in the latest issue of Dreamwatch Magazine, the star said "The script, I believe, is the best script of the three. It's very intense, it's very emotional, it's very personal about the individuals that we've already got to know in the first two movies. It has some astonishing set-piece sequences. It has a number of quite significant deaths. [From] what I've seen so far, I think, it's likely to be extraordinary. Some absolutely outstanding work is happening in Vancouver - including from some of the new people who've come onboard ranging from Kelsey Grammer (Beast) to Vinnie Jones (Juggernaut), who are now part of the X-Men family. If anyone saw Brett's "Red Dragon," which I thought was an outstanding film, I don't think they have any reason to be nervous."
If fans are less than enamored by this installment, they may still be able to get their mutant fill when Hugh Jackman fights the good fight in the "X-Men" spin-off "Wolverine" slated for release in 2007.
"X-Men 3" is set to premiere May 26th, 2006. -- Shannon Nolley
