Alan Cumming's X-Men character transformation drastically reduced in Avengers: Doomsday
Among the surprise names confirmed for the film were various X-Men actors such as Alan Cumming, James Marsden, Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Romijn and Kelsey Grammer who previously starred in the movies produced by 20 Century Fox.
Cumming, who played Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner in 2003's X2: X-Men United recently said during an interview on Today With Jenna and Friends that he has already begun makeup tests for the forthcoming blockbuster.
When talking about his return to screen, Cumming said: 'It's been 23 years since I was a superhero. I've had some makeup tests already for the role, but what's great about it was that before it was about four and a half hours to apply it, but now it's only 90 minutes.'
Nightcrawler has a distinctive appearance with his blue tattooed skin. The outfit Cumming had to wear had several harnesses for components like his tail. He also had to put on fake teeth and contact lenses to achieve Nightcrawler's otherworldly look.
Back in 2003, all of Nightcrawler's tattoos were drawn by hand but Cumming says that they are now simply just stuck to his face which he has called a 'gamechanger'.
Audiences have only seen Nightcrawler on-screen once. The character did not return for X-Men sequels such as The Last Stand or Days of Future Past.
Cumming went viral in 2024 for calling X2: X-Men United the 'gayest film' he'd ever worked on in his career. He added: 'It's got a queer director, lots of queer actors in it. I love the fact that something so mainstream and so in the comic book world is so queer.'
This received an overwhelmingly positive response from X-Men screenwriter David Hayter who told TMZ: 'I'm so glad we did right by him. He's such an icon for gay rights. Ian McKellen also really recognised the allegory of it from a gay perspective.'
When talking about his experience on X2, Cumming said: 'It's an allegory about queerness, about people having these great gifts and really great, powerful things that they have to hide to exist. Queer people understand what that's all about.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
X-Factor stars marry in stunning Scottish ceremony nine years after they both appeared on ITV show
The couple were childhood sweethearts who appeared on the same series in harmony X-Factor stars marry in stunning Scottish ceremony nine years after they both appeared on ITV show Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO stars of The X Factor have married in a stunning Scottish ceremony - nine years after they both appeared on the show. Emily Middlemas first appeared on the ITV series in 2014 but failed to make it to the live shows. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Two stars of The X Factor have married in a stunning Scottish ceremony Credit: @kieranstewart 5 Emily Middlemas appeared on The X Factor in 2016 and made it to the semi-final Credit: Splash News 5 Her childhood sweetheard Ryan Lawrie was also on the series Credit: Splash News However, she returned two years later and not only made it to the semi-final, but also got to share the experience with her boyfriend, Ryan Lawrie. The childhood sweethearts had started dating in 2015, and Emily was heartbroken when Ryan was sent home after a sing off against divisive rapper, Honey G. However, there were only tears of joy on Friday when the couple tied the knot in a stunning ceremony near Glasgow. Emily, 26, shared a series of snaps from her big day on Instagram and captioned them: "Mr & Mrs Lawrie." The singer - who performs under the name ili - looked beautiful in a flowing wedding gown with a sweetheart neckline. Meanwhile Ryan - who writes songs for other artists under the moniker KoolKid - wore a traditional Scottish kilt. One picture saw Ryan sweep his new wife into his arms and tilt her backwards for a kiss at the altar, while another showed the newlyweds laughing as they cuddled on the grass in the sunshine. The couple were also seen taking to the dancefloor at their reception for their first dance, with their friends and family all crowded around to watch. Later, Emily switched into a second dress so she could really bust a move. It was a short, strapless white dress covered in pearls and she teamed it with a silver pair of Crocs. Ryan Lawrie admits he wants to win X Factor over girlfriend Emily Middlemas After their big day, Ryan reposted the snaps of their wedding as well as a picture of their new 'Mr and Mrs' mugs. He wrote: "Thank you to everyone who attended our big day & for all your beautiful cards/gifts. It means the world to us. Lots of love." Their wedding comes three years after Ryan proposed at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt in June 2022. 5 Ryan was sent home after a sing off with Honey G Credit: Splash News
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘Now it's about personal happiness': popular Granny Wang dating show belies China's plummeting marriage rate
The crowd is sweltering under a red and gold awning, but Granny Wang has them rapt. Packed into the space in front of the 62-year-old's small stage, and spilling out on to the wooden bleachers above, hundreds of people have gathered to hear Granny Wang – real name Zhao Mei – play matchmaker to young men and women at a daily show in a theme park in Kaifeng, an ancient city in central China's Henan province. One man who volunteers to be set up comes on stage and tells Zhao that a previous relationship broke down due to a lack of time. 'Well, now that you've met your ideal partner here, you'll have the time,' she assures him, and the crowd cheers. Zhao has played the character of Granny Wang for eight years and introduced the matchmaking element of her show in 2023 – which brought her viral fame. Last year she went from having a few hundred thousand followers on Douyin, a Chinese social media app similar to TikTok, to more than 7 million, and has been called 'China's Cilla Black', a reference to the late host of the British TV show Blind Date. But with some audience members arriving several hours early and enduring the mid-August heat to grab a front-row spot for the raucous and somewhat camp performance, Zhao could just as well be Henan's Madonna. Most of the people in the audience are families looking for a way to entertain their children during the school holidays. But it seems that about one in five of them are looking for love. 'I just do not want to stay single,' said Wang Mengjia, 18, after an unsuccessful spin on Zhao's stage. Zhao has revived the character of the village matchmaker, a role that is going out of fashion now that many people meet online, through friends – or, increasingly, not at all. While there is a growing 'love industry' of matchmaking services from local governments and commercial enterprises alike, would-be cupids face an uphill battle in China's cities where the marriage market is increasingly being shunned altogether. Despite Zhao's packed shows, China's marriage rates have plummeted to record lows, a trend that is increasingly treated as a national crisis. Last year, the number of registered marriages dropped by a record 20%, falling to just over 6m, down from 7.7m in 2023. Compared with a decade earlier, the number of couples tying the knot each year has halved. The trend is particularly apparent among urban, educated women. More than 40% of urban 25- to 29-year-olds have never married, up from 9% in 2000, according to analysis from Wang Feng, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine. Some of this is because of China's ageing population. Decades of the one-child policy, which was scrapped in 2016, forced the population into decline, meaning that the pool of people of marrying age has been shrinking. But, analysts say, demographics alone don't explain the trend. 'The deeper change is in attitudes,' said Lijia Zhang, a writer who is working on a book about marriage in China. 'In the past, when the country was poor, marriage was an economic necessity … Now it's about personal happiness, more than anything else, not filial duty or social obligation. Many urban, educated women no longer see marriage or motherhood as essential to a fulfilling life.' Hao Jingyi, 19, agrees. 'If I don't meet someone suitable, I would enjoy more freedom and comfort living alone … women are increasingly disappointed with men these days,' she said, as she waited for Zhao's show to start. The Chinese government hopes to change her mind. China's leader, Xi Jinping, has called on women to 'actively cultivate a new culture of marriage and childbearing' and has promoted a more traditional, patriarchal type of politics. China's leadership is ideologically opposed to singledom and officials have a practical concern: falling birthrates. Even people who do couple up are increasingly rejecting parenthood, as young people – women in particular – worry that childrearing is too expensive and competitive. Last year China's birthrate was just 6.77 births per 1,000 people, a slight increase on 2023's record low of 6.39 but still dramatically lower than the figure from a decade ago. The Chinese authorities have introduced a slew of policies at national and local levels to encourage marriage and childbirth. This year the government rolled out an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (£370) until the age of three and several provinces offer bonuses or extra holiday days for newlyweds. But many women feel it is not enough. Practicalities aside, there are other factors driving these trends. In July, the Chinese internet was briefly abuzz with the news of chat groups on the encrypted messaging app Telegram which, according to Chinese media reports, contained tens of thousands of Chinese men who shared pornographic pictures and videos of women, often taken without their consent, in the 'MaskPark tree hole forum'. Women were outraged, with many feeling that the authorities did not do enough to protect them from sexual harassment. Violet Du Feng, a Chinese film-maker whose latest documentary, The Dating Game, follows men enrolled in a dating camp, said there was an increasing ideological gap between the sexes. She said the imbalance created by the one-child policy – there are now more than 30 million more men than women in China – had led to 'dissatisfaction about gender equality'. But while feminist activism used to be quietly tolerated, in the past decade the Chinese Communist party has cracked down on civil society, and the space to protest against issues such as sexual harassment has virtually disappeared. 'Typically, in a more democratic society, you can point your finger at power,' Feng said, 'but in China, you cannot.' So, 'people are just pointing their fingers at each other. That creates even more extreme hostility between men and women.' It's not just women who are tired of the pressure to marry. Zhang Hongguang, 21, from Shandong province, attended Zhao's event with his sister, who had persuaded him to join her in renting fancy-dress costumes for the outing. But the next day he had to return to his home town to grudgingly attend a blind date arranged by their parents, who had paid a matchmaker to set him up with someone. 'I don't like it, but it was the only way my parents had,' he said, adding that he preferred to just stay at home with his cat. His sister, Zhang Hongqian, a 24-year-old pilates teacher, had also been forced on several unsuccessful blind dates by their parents. 'I'm not in a rush to find a partner,' she said. 'If I can avoid getting married, I'll choose not to get married.' Additional research by Lillian Yang
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Mrs Brown's Boys viewers convinced Agnes will DIE after slipping into a coma with just one episode of series left
MRS Brown's Boys viewers are convinced Agnes will die - as she slipped into a coma. Show creator Brendan O'Carroll portrays the loud-mouth matriarch Agnes. 4 4 4 However, the sitcom has been a magnet for criticism since its debut in 2011. In the latest episode, viewers watched on as Agnes fell into a coma and was taken to hospital. The ending featured her doctors revealing they'll have to turn off the life support machines. Writing online, fans have been left certain of Agnes' demise - albeit very divided in their reactions. One said on X: "Is she dead? Is this the last ever series?? Fingers crossed!!!" Another penned: "RIP Mrs Brown - thanks for the laughs." While a fourth remarked: "She's DEAD. Finally we're free from the curse of the worst show on tv." Viewers who have already watched the whole series on iPlayer will know this is not the end for Agnes. One further episode in the current series is still to be aired on BBC One. Mrs Brown's Boys' viewers demand BBC series is cancelled as they slam New Year's special Elsewhere, the long-running show's future is yet to be officially confirmed. The sitcom is currently on series five, with no confirmation yet about further instalments. Mrs Brown's Boys fifth 'mini-series' was previously announced in January - and those episodes are airing now. Creator-star Brendan told the Daily Star at the time: "We are going to film another series in April and May [2025]. Best BBC comedies A BBC boss called on the industry to "save our sitcoms", but the corporation has a history of fantastic shows. We look back at some of the best to ever grace the screen. Fawlty Towers (1975-1979) - Only two series were made of the beloved institution. However, the cultural impact of the series starring John Cleese and Connie Booth spans decades. It follows rude and intolerant Basil Fawlty (Cleese) as he attempts to improve the reputation of his hotel. Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003) - The show was crowned by some as the best British sitcom of all time by a TV poll in 2004. Seven series were broadcast on BBC until 1991 with additional sporadic Christmas specials airing until 2003. Sir David Jason starred as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter whilst Nicholas Lyndhurst played his younger half-brother Rodney. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it follows the highs and lows of the lives of the Trotters', in particular their brazen attempts to get rich. Blackadder (1983 - 1989) - Four series were made of the iconic show, created by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson. Each series spans a different historical period as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson) tries to better himself in each society. Accompanied by his dogsbody Baldrick (Tony Robinson), trouble always ensues. A TV poll in 2004 found that Blackadder was voted the second-best British sitcom of all time Absolutely Fabulous (1992 - 2012) - Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley star as failing PR guru Edina 'Eddie' Monsoon and alcoholic fashionista Patsy Stone. The pair embark on heavy-drinking sessions and abuse drugs in a desperate attempt to stay 'hip'. Eddie constantly chases bizarre fads and fails to lose weight whilst her disappointed and neglected daughter Saffy (Julia Sawalha) looks on. Little Britain (2003 - 2006) - The premise is simple. A sketch show which features different British people from all walks of life that are engaged in all sorts of comical scenarios. Starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, the pair created iconic pop culture characters. Viewers loved obnoxious council estate teenager Vicky Pollard, morbidly obese scrounger Bubbles Devere, slimming coach Marjorie Dawes, despondent office worker Carol Beer, disgraced politician Sir Norman Fry, of course the iconic Lou and Andy! The Catherine Tate Show (2004-2015) - A sketch show starring the likes of Catherine Tate. She made iconic characters such as rowdy schoolgirl Lauren Cooper with her line 'Am I bovvered?'. Other characters featured Bernie the nurse, the aga saga woman, complaining couple Janice and Ray, and of course her infamous 'Nan', Joannie Taylor. The last character herself spawned multiple specials and even a movie. Gavin and Stacey (2007 - Present) The series tells the story of Gavin (Matthew Horne) and Stacey (Joanna Page). The pair embarked on an online and telephone romance for six months. But when they finally decide to be together properly, their friends and family get in the way. Ruth Jones and James Corden created the beloved show, which has been going for over a decade. The 2019 Christmas special was the most-watched comedy in 17 years and the most-viewed non-sporting event in a decade. "It's lovely to be asked to do another one." The BBC 's head of comedy, Jon Petrie, added: "Brendan has created an iconic comedy character in Agnes Brown. "Mrs. Brown's Boys is a BAFTA-winning comedy show and one of the BBC's most-watched comedies ever… I'm proud to have it in the BBC Comedy stable." Mrs Brown's Boys airs on BBC One and iPlayer. 4
