While news of Kevin Bacon being attached to X-Men First Class is confirmed all over the net today, most places are stating that his exact role is not yet been announced. Much speculation has suggested that he might play Sinister (my guess) but now Forces of Geek is reporting that one of their “agents” has confirmed he will play Sebastian Shaw – Black King of the Hellfire Club
One of our FOG! Agents from across the pond has revealed that Kevin Bacon’s role in the upcoming X-Men: First Class is that of Sebastian Shaw, leader of the Hellfire Club.
While it seems that this is hardly “confirmation” of his role but we do know that he is now officially signed to the film.
It is one of the leading rumours online that he might play Shaw, and he could easily look the part and add a darker tone to the manipulative elitist. This would also lend to the involvement of Emma Frost, who takes on the moniker of White Queen after joining the Hellfire Club.
I still personally hope it will be Sinister, setting the stage for the character in a later film leaving Xavier and Magneto as the main conflict instead of burdening the story with more villains, but they have to have a badguy out there to justify creating the school, so why not a throwaway like Shaw.
They can play on the Hellfire Club more later. Shaw is an important role, but defeating him won’t mean the end of the Hellfire Club.
I am cool with Bacon playing Shaw instead. Then get Alec Baldwin to play Sinister.