The filmmakers behind the first “X-Men” film revealed that Michael Jackson desperately wanted to play Pressor X, but the role went to a less-than-thrilled Sir Patrick Stewart.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary the first instalment the X-Men cinematic franchise, the creatives behind the monumental film spoke the Observer about some the obstacles they faced in trying to get the film f the ground, which included issues in the casting department. In the lengthy interview, screenwriter David Hayter and executive producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter recalled the many high prile yet seemingly random comic book lovers who begged for a role in the movie, one which was the King Pop himself.
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“I have lots warm memories people that came in wanting to be in the movie,” Winter remembered. “Michael Jackson was a big comic fan and wanted to play Charles Xavier. Shaquille O’Neal showed up at the fices and wanted to play Forge, who wasn’t in the movie.”
However, the role Pressor X eventually went to Sir Patrick Stewart, who, up until that point, was best known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek as well as a variety Shakespearean characters. Despite how perfectly the British actor was cast, he was initially reluctant to star in the X-Men film, as he was not interested in spending the entire shoot in a wheelchair. “Patrick Stewart didn’t want to play Charles Xavier],” said Hayter. “It took a long time to convince him. Terence Stamp told me, ‘You know why Patrick doesn’t want to do it? Because the chair. He doesn’t want to be stuck in the chair. But I don’t mind. In fact, I also look excellent bald.’”
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Hayter went on to name another star who was itching to be cast in the film. “Everyday I was surprised by the faces coming in,” he noted. “Like, I’d find Mariah Carey sitting in my fice wanting to go talk to Bryan Singer] about being Storm or something. So that’s always shocking.” While it’s fun to imagine what X-Men would have been like with MJ as Pressor X, ultimately, we’re glad Patrick Stewart finally caved.