PARK CITY – A new actor has been named to play Cyclops in the next “X-Men” movie, and James Marsden is impressed.
Marsden, who has been the long-time Cyclops in the popular superhero films, was on hand at the Sundance Film Festival to comment on Tye Sheridan stepping into his shoes, to play the younger version of Cyclops in forthcoming “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
“He's a wonderfully talented actor who blew me away in 'Mud',” Marsden said from the red carpet of “The D Train” premiere. He said he has “never seen a kid that young be that present and that powerful. I congratulate him.”
Marsden also talked about his character Oliver Lawless in the Jack Black co-starring “D Train.” Oliver has local notoriety for having landed himself in a television commercial, making him a somewhat celebrity for his high school reunion. Black — according to Marsden — is not only “one of the greatest comedians around” but also “one of the nicest guys in the business, which is much more important to me.”
Like his character in the film, Marsden has had to deal with notions of fame and celebrity. As he's grown as an actor in the limelight, he said, “You definitely get more protective of… your privacy. Fame becomes less important, if it ever was important… Privacy seems to be an endangered thing these days.”
Watch the “X-Men” comment above and our full interview below. “The D Train” continues to screen at Sundance throughout the week. “X-Men: Apocalypse” will premiere on May 27, 2016.