Whew. This is one prequel that’s getting some serious weight behind it. Last month we reported that X-Men: First Class would be directed and written by the Kick-Ass team Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, and today it’s been confirmed that Brit star James McAvoy has climed on-board as the young Chales Xavier (originally played by Patrick Stewart).

Whew, they don’t mess around much do they? Mere weeks after the epic critical success of Kick-Ass, Matthew Vaughn has announced that he will officially be donning the director’s trousers for X-Men: First Class. And apparently taking the mantle of the X-Men series isn’t enough pressure, as the team are planning a next year release – next June, to be exact. Who needs time when you’ve got the legacy of Hit-Girl and Big Daddy to spur you onwards, eh?

Sad news for a lot of comic book fans here. On New Year’s Eve, The Disney Corporation (boo, hiss, etc.) officially took over Marvel Entertainment, the company responsible for Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man and a bevy of other superhero franchises.