On the final day of New York Comic Con, Elliot Page and James McAvoy took X-Men fans from the present to the (future) past. The X-Men: Days of Future Past cast members celebrated their experiences making the 2014 blockbuster — despite the fact that they didn’t share much screen time in the movie itself. Befitting the reunion theme, McAvoy unintentionally pulled out the same jean jacket that he wore to promote Wanted at his first NYCC in 2008. (Nicholas Hoult was supposed to join the panel as well, but had to cancel due to a recent knee surgery.)
While Page and McAvoy weren’t on set together very much during production, they were part of the press tour. “I remember talking to you, pitching you ideas and stuff back then,” McAvoy told his costar. “You were like, ‘I’m just trying to have a quiet drink, dude.’” Page confirmed that version of events. “That’s what I remember as well,” the actor said, laughing.
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Besides X-Men, moderator Josh Horowitz also spoke with Page and McAvoy about their respective careers. Here are some of the other stories that they shared during the panel.
Josh Horowitz, EPage, and McAvoy speak onstage at the X-Men: Days of Future Past reunion panel at NYCCCraig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop
From Candy to Kitty
Page made his first appearance as the wall-phasing Kitty Pryde in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, a role he scared after the Sundance premiere of his breakthrough film, Hard Candy. “That for sure would’ve been my first superhero or comic related movie in terms of that scale.” Asked by McAvoy if he was offered the role or had to audition, Page remembered being flown out to Vancouver for a screen test. (Kitty made a brief appearance in the first X-Men film in 2000, but the role was played by another actor.)
Page also revealed his initial intimidation at being on The Last Stand set after years of acting in independent films. He credited his costars for helping put him at ease, saying: ”One thing that I immediately took away from my castmates was just how wonderful they were and welcoming and really just make me feel comfortable and included.”
Following his entry into the X-Men universe, Page went on to star in such hits as 2008’s Juno, 2010’s Inception and Netflix’s recently-concluded Umbrella Academy series. The actor added that he’s recognized for those roles more commonly than for X-Men.
McAvoy’s new moves
McAvoy revealed that he started using some of Charles Xavier’s signature comic book cues when he took over the role from Patrick Stewart starting with 2011’s X-Men: First Class. One specific move was putting his finger to his head to use his psychic abilities — something that his predecessor didn’t do in the first three X-Men movies. “I was like, ‘OK, it’s something that he never did. I’ve got to do it,” McAvoy recalled. “And then there was a whole discussion about fingering myself on camera!”
McAvoy also remembered spending an entire afternoon in a trailer with good friends Stewart and Ian McKellen while shooting Days of Future Past. The younger actor had just finished his run as Macbeth in the West End and upon meeting the two theater veterans, McKellen suggested that they perform parts from Shakespeare’s Scottish Play. McAvoy had trouble remembering a line while Stewart and McKellen were back-and-forthing perfectly. “I was like, ‘Wow.'” McAvoy said. “It’s a different kind of actor, a different kind of machine.”
What an odyssey
Fifteen years after Inception, Page has reunited with director Christopher Nolan for the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s adapration of The Odyssey. The actor likened the experience of reading the script to being taken on a ride. “At first things feel maybe big or slightly confusing, and then all these pieces start coming together,” he explained.
“I was so excited to be thought of for it and to be asked to come back to work with him,” Page continued. “I loved working with him on Inception and being a part of that movie,” Page remarked, describing the highly-anticipated movie as “epic” and “extraordinary.”
For his part, McAvoy told the audience about his directorial debut, California Schemin’, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. A biopic about the Scottish hip-hop duo Silibil N’ Brains, the movie received positive marks out of its festival launch and is currently seeking distribution. “It’s really entertaining, funny and tragic at some point, but I’m really proud of it,” McAvoy shared. “Hopefully you’ll all get to see it next year.”
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