Principal photography on X-MEN: FIRST CLASS has commenced at Pinewood Studios and surrounding locales in England!

Some of the first scenes being filmed involve Charles Xavier attending Oxford University debating the mutant phenomenon, and Erik Lensherr dealing with the horrifying events in Auschwitz via a flashback sequence.

Releasing on June 3, 2011 the film stars James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, January Jones as Emma Frost, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Edi Gathegi as Darwin, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Lucas Till as Havok, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, Rose Byrne as Dr. Moira MacTaggert, Oliver Platt as Man in Black, Zoe Kravitz as Angel, Charlie Rowe as young Charles, Bill Milner as young Erik, and Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw.

New York Magazine is running a rumor that it’s come down to two directors for WOLVERINE: PART II. Up for the gig? Reportedly TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE director David Slade and upcoming RED director Robert Schwentke.

Both have apparently been given thumbs up from 20th Century Fox, with star and producer Hugh Jackman being the one to pick between the two. According to the site, he will be meet with the directors next week, although sources say Slade’s pretty much a sure thing.

Jackman will begin training this Fall for the role, with filming expected to start in 2011 for a potential 2012 release. The film sees Wolverine as he treks to Japan and falls in love with a woman whose hand in marriage is already promised to another. Chaos ensues when Logan must battle her powerful father and samurai-sword wielding brothers.

Shuler Donner says that Bryan Singer returning (now as producer) “felt like a good way to re-enter the franchise.” On Matthew Vaughn directing, she notes that he will bring “a very stylish and sort of out of the box vision” to the film.

Fans have noticed the talented cast featuring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, and January Jones, among other rising talent. Vaughn is very set on “casting the best actors possible so the characters become real and the story is believable” she continues.

Much of Magneto’s origin will be included this time out, so the previously in the works MAGNETO has pretty much gone silent. She says while there’s some internal discussions going on, it probably won’t happen, as “it kind of got incorporated into this one, a lot of it.”

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS begins filming next week in London for a June 3, 2011 release!

The film takes place in the 1960′s. John F Kennedy is the President of the United States. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X are on TV doing marches. There is a spirit of a hopeful future that was prevalent in that time.

Xavier will not be in his wheelchair to begin the film – but we will see how he wound up in a wheelchair. We’re going to see Professor X when he still had hair.

This is not the conventional FIRST CLASS comic – but rather a new beginning for X-MEN. Set in the 60s – Vaughn is technologically inspired by JAMES BOND’s tech of the time. The costumes will be far more comic bookish than we’ve seen before – and while Scott and Jean aren’t here – Cyclops’ brother Alex Summers aka Havoc will be, as played by Lucas Till.

January Jones and Kevin Bacon are playing Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw – we will be getting the HELLFIRE CLUB.

Looks like filming will begin with Xavier at Oxford University in the 60s. And Bryan is excited that the film is going to have a much more international feel than the prior X-MEN movies. They’ll be shooting in England & the United States – and they’ll be representing other locales around the globe as well, including Russia.

Zoe Kravitz (Mad Max: Fury Road) has also been cast  as Angel Salvadore. A feisty mutant with wings that allow her to fly and create a deafening ultrasonic sound.

Bill Milner (Son of Rainbow) will play a much younger version of Michael Fassbender’s Magneto. The site also confirms our previous confirmation of Morgan Lily as young Raven/ Mystique.

Filming begins August 23rd, for a planned June 3, 2011 release.

Production on the film is planned for next year.

Written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), the sequel continues Logan’s journey as he heads to Japan for soul-searching…and a$$ kicking.

Thanks Pat!

The character’s most memorable line in X1 was “People like you are the reason I was afraid to go to school as a child.” Looks like we might see that played out.

She joins a cast of James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, January Jones as Emma Frost, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, Edi Gathegi as Darwin, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Lucas Till as Havok, Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee, Jason Flemyng as Azazel, Rose Byrne as Dr. Moira MacTaggert, Oliver Platt as The Man in Black, Zoe Kravitz as Angel, and Kevin Bacon.

Filming begins August 23rd for a June 3, 2011 release…save the date!

“I don’t think it would be right to give that away, but he’s really going for it,” said Vaughn when asked about Bacon’s character in the film. “He’s really up for it, and he’s going for it. I’m just thrilled that we could get him.”

“He will surprise you,” said Vaughn. “I’ll put it that way: He will surprise you with the kind of things he will do in this movie. He’s not going to be what you expect at all when you first meet him in the film, you will be surprised that it’s him.”