Nicholas Hoult discusses ‘X-Men’, Beast make-up and CGI
The British actor Nicholas Hoult spoke in detail this week about researching his role as Beast in this Friday’s “X-Men: First Class” reboot. Hoult talks about the complex Hank McCoy, comic books, and the decision to not use CGI to bring his character to life.
Hoult like many of the other actors starring in comic book movies have to answer to their comic book knowledge and Film Critic went right to the heart of the matter.
“I actually watched an X-Men cartoon when I was little. And while I was aware of Beast from the third X-Men movie, I definitely wasn’t trying to play that character. Initially, my big concern before the audition was working on my best American accent. [Laughs] But I really started to research the character once I learned I’d gotten the part. I read as many of the comics as I could get my hands on and watched the films again. We worked from that.”
The cast was given plenty of comic book notes for research and Hoult would soon appreciate that the scientist, Hank McCoy, who transforms into a blue furball yet was very complicated:
“Well, the intellectual side is something I can kind of relate to, being tall and lanky, yet not being anywhere near as intellectual as Hank. I did have a lot of fun playing with all of the scientific jargon that comes with the character, but his intellect is just staggering. As for the physical side of the character, it’s always fun to be given a physical goal and be told you have to be strict with your body to get in shape.”
He tells Popcorn Biz that “The chance to play The Beast was something that you can tell your grandkids about one day, putting on an X-suit is something that I never expected to be able to say, but it’s very cool.”
Film Critic asked details about the decision to use practical effects rather than CGI:
“Even though I’m wearing a big fat mask and the makeup, and you can’t see a single inch of my body, there are still human characteristics and a soul that we show that maybe wouldn’t be there with CGI.”
“X-Men: First Class” opens Friday, June 3 : Starring James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven Darkholme, Lucas Till as Alex Summers/Havok, Caleb Landry Jones as Sean Cassidy/Banshee, Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, Oliver Platt as the Man in Black, Jason Flemyng as Azazel and Rose Byrne as Moira MacTaggart.
