X-Men’s Famke Janssen Wants To Return As Older Jean Grey

We will soon see ‘Game of Thrones’ actress Sophie Turner become the new Jean Grey in ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ - but, if the original Jean Grey has any say in the matter, we haven’t seen the last of the elder incarnation.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Famke Janssen says she’s keen to play Jean Grey again - but has not had any luck getting her foot back through the door thus far.

Even so, the 51-year old actress - who played the role in the first three ‘X-Men’ movies, as well as making cameo appearances in ‘The Wolverine’ and ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ - was full of praise for her successor.

“[Sophie Turner] emailed me before she started filming wanting some pointers, and I said, ‘You don’t need any. You’re perfect. You’re great.’ So I can’t wait to see the movie and what she’s done with it.”

The upcoming ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ reintroduces several of the original X-Men (others including Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler) as teenagers. Set in the 1980s, the film continues the prequel timeline established by ‘X-Men: First Class’ and ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’

However, while Janssen clearly approves of Turner’s casting, she seems less pleased with the producers on the ‘X-Men’ series, who she accused of sexist double standards in their use of actors from the original films.

Janssen remarks, “It’s interesting because they’re replaced [the women], and the older versions – or more mature, whatever the politically correct version of that is – are never to be seen again. Whereas the men are allowed to be both ages.

“Sexism. I think that I should be back along with my younger version and the way that we’ve seen it with Magneto and Professor X.”

Asked whether she had reached out to the producers about returning, Janssen confirmed, “Yes, I have. I have not heard any feedback on that, other than total radio silence.”

Janssen may have a point, although it’s worth stressing that the only actress to have been completely replaced thus far is original Mystique actress Rebecca Romijn, who has not been appeared since her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in ‘X-Men: First Class,’ in which the role was inherited by Jennifer Lawrence.

Meanwhile, Janssen and Storm actress Halle Berry both reprised their roles in ‘Days of Future Past;’ and although their screentime was limited, they had considerably more screentime than Kelsey Grammar who returned very briefly as Beast, the role since taken over by Nicholas Hoult.

While Janssen is replaced by Turner as Jean Grey, ‘Apocalypse’ will see Halle Berry’s Storm taken over by Alexandra Shipp, whilst Tye Sheridan takes over from James Marsden as Cyclops.

Janssen’s next movie is ‘This Is Your Death,’ due later this year. She has also recently filmed a role on TV’s ‘The Blacklist.’

‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ opens in UK cinemas on 18 May.

Picture Credit: 20th Century Fox

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