James McAvoy doesn’t take the well traveled path, and frankly, his choices all the more interesting for it. Oh sure, he’s one of the anchors of the new “X-Men” films, but he’s also been using that clout to take on gnarlier roles in movies like Danny Boyle‘s erotic mindbender “Trance,” and the gritty cop flick “Welcome To The Punch.” He tips the bottle hard in the upcoming “Filth” and teams with Jessica Chastain for the double romantic drama “The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby” which is headed for TIFF. But Fox still wants to keep him in their blockbuster barn.
And thus, the actor has landed the role of Victor Von Frankenstein in the monster movie co-starring Daniel Radcliffe as Igor. Jack Huston (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Toby Kebbell (“The East,” “Prince of Persia”) were both previously vying for the role, but we can only imagine that the studio is happier with the bigger name. And certainly, a pairing of McAvoy and Radcliffe is one to look forward to. This reboot has been penned by Max Landis (“Chronicle“), though exact plot specifics are under wraps. Either way, the casting is not too shabby.
“Lucky Number Slevin” and “Gangster No. 1” helmer Paul McGuigan directs, with production slated to start this fall. [Deadline]