X-Men: Chastain May Play Dark Phoenix's Antagonist

Lawrence, McAvoy, Fassbender and Hoult also said to have closed deals to return.

By Jim Vejvoda

Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (Interstellar, The Martian) is reportedly in negotiations to portray the antagonist of X-Men: Dark Phoenix.

The Hollywood Reporter claims Chastain, whose deal has not been sealed, is up for the role of "Lilandra, the empress of an alien empire called the Shi’ar, who leads the quest to imprison and execute Dark Phoenix [Jean Grey, played by Sophie Turner], leading her into conflict with the X-Men. (She also commands an alien super-team named the Imperial Guard but it is unclear if that group will be featured in the movie.)"

In the Marvel Comics, Lilandra Neramani is the Princess-Majestrix of the Shi'ar Empire, a humanoid species with avian-like attributes. She also became a longtime love interest of Professor Charles Xavier.

Jessica Chastain and Lilandra of the Shi'ar Empire.

Speaking of Xavier, THR adds that 20th Century Fox "has closed deals with" Professor X actor James McAvoy, Mystique's Jennifer Lawrence, Magneto's Michael Fassbender, and Beast's Nicholas Hoult "to return to the franchise after their original three-picture deals expired."

Chastain and McAvoy previously starred together in the 2014 film The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.

THR also says Alexandra Shipp, Tye Sheridan and Kodi Smit-McPhee will reprise their X-Men: Apocalypse roles as Storm, Cyclops and Nightcrawler, respectively.

X-Men franchise producer and screenwriter Simon Kinberg will make his directing debut on X-Men: Dark Phoenix, which will shoot in Montreal for a November 2018 release.

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