November 22, 2024

XMF • the SUPER

Celebrating The Continuing Legacy Of X-Men Films • Covering Our Most-Anticipated Genre Film And TV Projects

Matthew Vaughn and January Jones answer the X-Perts!

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS director Matthew Vaughn and ‘Emma Frost’ actress January Jones have answered questions for the official X-Men Movies Facebook X-Perts!

What prompted you to continue the X-Men franchise?

Vaughn: Unfinished business and a great new concept.

Is this film the first of a new trilogy or just a standalone film?

Vaughn: Hopefully it will be the first of many.

How was it decided what characters to use for the film?

Vaughn: Bryan Singer decided this initially.

How important is it to you to have consistency between the original source (the comics) and the film?

Vaughn: The film has to stand on its own two feet but the heels were made from the comics.

How do you plan to keep the continuity from the other films based on the timelines we comic fans know?

Vaughn: Whatever is best for the film wins!

What is special about this movie that you can’t see in other X-Men movies and other superhero genre types of movies?

Vaughn: Its backdrop of a real historical event in the 60’s and imagining what would have happened if mutants did exist.

What about this period in history – the height of the Cold War – intrigued you?

Vaughn: Our version makes sense of how the Cuban missile crisis nearly started WWIII and the end of the world…

What drew you to the role of Emma Frost?

Jones: Well, not only was she a very cool character with awesome powers and attitude, she was unlike anyone I had played before which is always what I look for in the roles I take on.

Is it fun playing a rather notorious, iconic female character in the series?

Jones: The fact that she is a very notorious and iconic character in the series was a bit intimidating. I was flattered to be offered the role and excited to be a part of making her come to life, but also felt a major responsibility to the fans to get her right and try not to disappoint people’s imaginations.

Did you read any of the comics to prepare for the role of Emma Frost?

Jones: The minute I accepted the role I dove into as many of the comics as I could find and was also given a huge stack of comics for research purposes. It was the most enjoyable character “research” I’ve done, there was no lack of back story. Having not read the comics before I had a blast getting into them and learning so much about who I was playing.

How would you describe the Emma Frost character in your own words?

Jones: I think Emma is a very strong, confident woman who is in touch with her sexuality and not ashamed of her powers. I think she is highly intelligent but obviously enjoys a bit of mischief.

Emma Frost is known for being powerful physically, with her diamond form, and mentally, with her telepathic powers. Which side of her do you relate to more?

Jones: As a woman I have to say I relate to the telepathic powers more so in that I occasionally have strong intuitions about people or things and sometimes feel a “telepathic” sense with some people. That being said, I wouldn’t want the full powers that Emma possesses – the responsibility and the disappointment that comes with seeing what others are thinking. I would, however, love to turn into a diamond.

How did you deal with Emma’s risqué wardrobe?

Jones: The wardrobe, make-up and hair etc. were a huge part of making Emma come to life. We made sure, in our collaborations, to stay as true to the comic books as possible, find a way to spin in the 60’s time period, and also have something I was comfortable and could move around in. I was very happy with how things turned out.

In the comic books Emma Frost starts as a villain, but later on she becomes more ambiguous or even a true heroine. On a scale of one to ten, exactly how much a villain are you in this movie?

Jones: I don’t relate to the word “villain” for this character. I don’t believe Emma thinks she is doing “villainous” things, I think she believes in Shaw and his quest to make a better world for the mutant population. I think the mischievous side to her comes out occasionally so if I had to rate her I would give an ambiguous 5.

Read more answers here!