Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen talk X-Men

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Reflect on working with McAvoy and Fassbender

Long-term pals and co-stars Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen have been discussing their return to X-Men: Days Of Future Past , and their experiences working with the actors playing their younger selves.

"There was a certain happy charm about it,” says Stewart of the scene he shares with James McAvoy in the film’s trailer, “in that, when we shot that scene, it was James' first day of work and it was my last day.”

“He is illustrating a time in Charles Xavier's life which was very different from the time that I've been inhabiting in the previous three movies, and we just let that play out. I think we've both been looking forward to doing that scene immensely.”

McKellen and Fassbender also turn in quite different portrayals of Magneto, although according to McKellen, their differences suit the story rather well.

“I think [ Fassbender ] made it clear that he wanted to be his own Magneto and that suits the nature of the story and his part in it,” says McKellen. “And Bryan Singer clearly doesn't mind that we don't look much like each other.”

“Although, they have put out a poster where our faces are blended and you do a double take and think, ‘ooh, my goodness, I didn't know I was that good looking,’ and then realize the bit that's good looking is not me, but Fassbender.”

Directed by Singer and co-starring Jennifer Lawrence, Peter Dinklage and Nicholas Hoult, X-Men: Days Of Future Past will open in the UK on 22 May 2014.

George Wales
George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.