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Blue lady: Rebecca Romijnpreparing for a scene as theshape-changing Mystique.sued if they gave certain twists away, althoughthese twists – the possible deaths of two keycharacters – are easy enough to fathom if youspend enough time on the internet. And it’s nosecret that The Last Stand deals with thediscovery of a cure for mutancy and the myriadquestions such a breakthrough raises for all thecharacters. Plus, Famke Janssen’s Jean Greyreturns from her watery grave as Dark Phoenix –a creature more powerful than even ProfessorXavier. This plot strand was suggested at the endof X2 and promises much, given that ChrisClaremont’s Dark Phoenix Saga is one of thegreatest comic-book stories of all time.“It’s the most emotional through-line of themovie,” says Ratner. “Imagine if you had a familymember who lost control and was a danger toherself and everyone around her; you’d haveserious choices to make about somebody youlove.” Jackman adds, “Wolverine and Jean’srelationship this time goes further than it’s evergone before.”Janssen’s just glad to be back. “I’m so proudof this film,” she beams. “I like my character.I like the fact that we stay true to who thesepeople were and what Bryan had initiated in thefirst two films. And I like my red costume.”Anything else? “I also like the new characterswe’ve acquired...”Ah, the new characters – always a point ofcontention among fans. Here goes... Juggernaut iseverything you’d expect a Vinnie Jones characterto be – big, malevolent, a man of few words.“He’s not actually on anybody’s side,” says theartist formerly known for squeezing Gazza’snadgers. “But when there’s a battle going on, hewants to be in it. He has some great one-liners,too. There’s one bit where I get busted out ofa train and say something like, ‘Thanks, I’ve beendying for a wee!’” Okaaay...Next up is the subject of many of the film’spre-publicity photographs – winged teenagerAngel, a primary player in the very first X-Mencomic-books. Played by rising star Ben Foster,Angel (real name Warren Worthington III) iscentral to the ‘mutant cure’ plot, his fatherlooking to create a serum in response toWarren’s desire to cut off his wings and benormal. Foster, whose face you may recognisefrom Six Feet Under, found filming to be anextraordinary experience.“They strapped me into a jockstrap, draggedme up 80 feet and then dropped me! The wholeexperience was like Willy Wonka on acid, man! Itwas all so big, so over the top… This film ismassive!” And seemingly a little overwhelming.“There’s Sir Ian McKellen walking around in hisgloves and helmet, Hugh in a tank top withdaggers sticking out of his hands and I’m shirtlesswith wings and feathers. It’s a weird job, man!”Also coming to the fore this time round aresteel man-mountain Colossus (Daniel Cudmore),the power-sucking Leech (Birth’s CameronBright) and Storm-rival Callisto (Dania Ramirez),plus a more prominent role for the agile KittyPryde, aka Shadowcat (with X2’s blink-andyou’ll-miss-herperformer Katie Stuart replacedby Ellen Page, star of controversial upcomingpaedophilia thriller Hard Candy). The mostexciting new role, though, is that of Beast.Despite featuring in the first X-Men books, Beasthas so far been limited to a background shot inX2, when his alter-ego, Dr Hank McCoy, isinterviewed on TV. McCoy is the first mutant tobe fully involved in politics, but his gigantic,hairy blue body suggests he is more than capableof violence. It’s this mix of bulky frame andlearned mind, married to a voice that conveysintelligence and class, that makes KelseyGrammer – yes, that’s Frasier’s Dr Frasier Crane– inspired casting…“When I first got fitted up I thought, ‘Oh Lord,what have I gotten myself into!’” laughs Grammer.He’s currently huddled in the cramped make-uptruck, ready to again be buried under a mound ofprosthetics. “It takes two-and-a-half or threehours to apply,” he explains. “The cast wereTOTALFILM.COM 63TFM115.feat_xmen sec31054/4/06 5:27:29 pm