The upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse will feature Jean Grey, a mutant with enormous telekinetic and telepathic abilities. However, this time we won't see Famke Janssen, who has played the role since the first X-Men movie in 2000, as Jean. Instead, Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner will serve as the younger face of the mutant in the May 27 release.
Famke doesn't mind the idea of introducing the younger version of Jean Grey. This has happened to a number of other mutants in the past. But what she does mind is that her older Jean Grey is not returning alongside the younger counterpart.
The Dutch actress sees a disparity between the male and female mutants in this regard. She told Entertainment Weekly:
Although women, it's interesting because they're replaced, and the older versions - or more mature, whatever the politically correct version of that is - are never to be seen again. Whereas the men are allowed to be both ages. Sexism. I think that I should be back, along with my younger version, and the way that we've seen it with Magneto and Professor X.
Well, she's got a point, to be honest. In the 2014 blockbuster, X-Men: Days of Future Past, we saw both James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier and both Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen as Magneto. But ever since Jennifer Lawrence joined X-Men: First Class as the younger version of Mystique, we haven't seen Rebecca Romijn's older counterpart return.
If younger and older counterparts of Charles Xavier and Magneto can feature in the same movie, why can't those of Mystique and Jean Grey?
Famke claims that she's even pitched the idea to the filmmakers but all she has received as feedback is "total radio silence"!
Famke Janssen is looking forward to seeing Sophie Turner as Jean Grey!
Despite her disappointment about not returning to the X-Men Universe, Famke Janssen is "actually really excited" about seeing Sophie Turner's portrayal of Jean Grey. And she reveals that Sophie had asked her for some advice after landing the role:
She emailed me before she started filming, wanting some pointers. And I said, “You don't need any. You're perfect. You're great.” So I can't wait to see the movie and what she's done with it.
