Ian McKellen and
Patrick Stewart have joined the cast list of
X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class, according to director
Bryan Singer. However, no information has been revealed as to how they will be used, so it’s time to start airing those theories. The most obvious usage would have the pair reminiscing about the events that then occur in the movie. They have always had an unusual relationship, so you never know.
The other theory, and this may be a spoiler of sorts, is that the movie will follow the comic book arc, which features a dystopian alternate future. In this future, mutants are being terrorised by Sentinels and forced to live in internment camps. The X-Men of the present day are warned of this possible future by a future version of their teammate Kitty Pryde. The storyline alternates between the present day and this future timeline. This would allow McKellen and Stewart to play a significant role in the movie. The comic book storyline was a popular storyline and was re-visited on occasion. In fact, it was so popular that the first issue of the storyline was voted the 25th greatest Marvel Comic of all time by the fans in 2001.
Singer also tweeted that
James McAvoy,
Michael Fassbender,
Jennifer Lawrence, and
Nicholas Hoult will all return. No reference has been made to other cast members from First Class. Filming on the sequel is set to begin early next year.