Emma Frost, Banshee and, now… Multiple Man. According to Comic Book Movie, Jamie Madrox is the latest mutant rumored to be showing up in a younger incarnation for X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. The same source that let it out that Benjamin Walker is playing Hank “ Beast” McCoy in this movie is now saying that Fox has screen- tested at least three young actors for this particular role. I’m sure you’re all aware that Multiple Man already showed up as an adult member of the Brotherhood in THE LAST STAND, where he was played by Eric Dane (who also acted in another comics-based movie, PAINKILLER JANE - - natch!) I reckon it won’t be too hard to say these characters are one-and-the-same in the movie’s continuity. Madrox could just as easily be a Xavier student who went bad just like Pyro did.
You know, out of all the mutants who could potentially be showing up in FIRST CLASS, I’d say that Multiple Man would be the one I’m most interested in seeing. He’s always been a fun character since Peter David’s first run of X-FACTOR, his gimmick’s one of the most interesting to witness on screen and we really didn’t get to see as much of him in THE LAST STAND as I would’ve liked. And hey - - it’s been, what, seven years since Agent Smith's virus powers in MATRIX RELOADED. I’d be curious to see what strides there have been in VFX for rendering a duplicating character like this.
G-Man’s got a special fondness for a Skottie Young cover featuring Madrox (which you'll see above.) A cover that coincidentally (or not?) was for an issue of WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS. And I can see why Tony likes it. It's a hoot. Wolverine just doesn’t know which one to gut, does he?
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Studios and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. HYBRID BASTARDS! is available here and UNIMAGINABLE is available here for pre-order on Amazon.com.