Since the announcement of the film "X-Men: Days of Future Past," there has been speculation about the use of characters and actors from the first X-Men film series, since the plotline covers both present (one would say that the prequel, "X-Men: First Class" could be viewed as the present) and the future. On Saturday, director Bryan Singer tweeted that Rogue (Anna Paquin), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page), and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) would be joining the film.
Very excited to welcome #annapaquin, @ellenpage & @shawnrashmore to #XMen #DaysofFuturePast - thank you @BrettRatner for letting them live!
Kitty Pryde plays a big role in the classic X-Men comic book storyline, "Days of Future Past." Since that's the case, we'd expect Page to have a big role in the new film, as opposed to her rather small role in "X-Men: The Last Stand" (in "X2," Kitty Pryde AKA Shadowcat was played by Katie Stuart).
The film's title points to it being based on the classic X-Men storyline, "Days of Future Past." The casting, including both original "X-Men" characters Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen also points to that, as well, as it is a time travel tale, perfectly balanced to include both old and new characters and actors.
Those who recall that storyline will remember it spanned "The Uncanny X-Men" issues 141 and 142, published in 1981. Written by Chris Claremont, it was drawn by John Byrne and inked by Terry Austin.
In the story, we see an alternate future which has been triggered by the assassination of Senator Robert Kelly by The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. An older Kitty Pryde transfers her mind into a younger, present-day Kitty Pryde in hopes of preventing the event, which led to members of mutantkind being either killed or imprisoned in internment camps.
In the comics, that included those who were not X-Men, but were mutants, such as Franklin Richards, the son of Reed and Sue Richards of the Fantastic Four.
Only a few X-Men remain alive as the story opens: Kitty Pride, Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus. In the alternate future, all are killed, even Wolverine, despite his adamantium skeleton and rapid healing factor. He is vaporized by a Sentinel, too fast even for his healing process, with only the metal skeleton left behind.
However, Kitty Pryde's mission succeeds, and that dystopian future is gone, never to occur.
Rachel Summers, who took the name Phoenix, also traveled back in time as part of the story. Despite being from an alternate future, she stayed, and became a member of the X-Men.
The sequel is scheduled for a release on July 18, 2014.
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