Is Michael Fassbender Being Lined Up For Matthew Vaughn's 'X-Men: First Class' & Marc Webb's 'Spiderman' Reboot?

After breakout roles in Steve McQueen’s “Hunger,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds” and Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” it’s an understatement to say that Michael Fassbender’s career is going from strength to strength.

The actor is now, according to Showbiz 411, reportedly, being lined up to star in two of Marvel’s biggest upcoming franchises as both the younger version of Magneto in Matthew Vaughn’s “X-Men: First Class,” as we’ve graciously campaigned him for throughout, as well as an unknown villain in Marc Webb’s forthcoming “Spiderman” reboot.

Unfortunately, Fassbender will apparently only be able to feature in one or the other — we’re not why that’s the case exactly other than potentially being a continuity killer — though the actor’s schedule may play a heavy part in what role he’ll eventually take. He’s currently shooting David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method” in Europe and has the likes of the “Woman In Black” adaptation and Tomas Alfredson’s “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy” in the works, both due to shoot by year’s end.

Webb’s ‘Spiderman’ is probably still a way off from starting production, with its July 3rd 2012 release date likely to be far enough for a start date to fit in Fassbender’s calendar. That said, no lead has even been cast in the project yet so it would a bit odd for them to chase Fassbender before finding their Peter Parker. Last we heard, Brit thespian Jamie Bell was rumored to be the frontrunner to don the famous mask though it’ll remain to be seen who will end up in the role.

Vaughn’s ‘X-Men,’ meanwhile, is on a much tighter schedule with the film due for release next summer and the script still being written by Jane Goldman as we speak. If he is indeed following through with talks on ‘Tinker, Tailor’ and “Woman In Black,” it’d a tough squeeze for Fassbender to fit this in though with the latter project also scribed by Goldman, perhaps their could be some sort of agreement there? Further, as casting is well under way on the project with James McAvoy attached to star as a younger Professor Charles Xavier, Aaron Johnson set to follow suit in an unknown role and Frank Dillane also rumored to be joining, it’d make much more sense for ‘X-Men’ to be looking at Fassbender now. And, of course, let’s not exclude the whole European connection happening.

Whatever role he ends up taking (and that depends on if Roger Friedman’s report plays out to be true; his track record is mixed at best), it’ll be much deserved for the actor who’ll star in no less than two films this year with Neil Marshall’s “Centurion,” Jimmy Hayward’s “Jonah Hex” and possibly Steven Soderbergh’s “Knockout” with two already lined up for 2011 in Cary Fukunaga’s “Jane Eyre” and Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method.” Suffice to say, if there is any justice in the world, Fassbender should be a recognized star by next year.