Not too long after finding out that Wanted and Atonement star James McAvoy would be taking on the younger version of Patrick Stewart’s Professor Xavier role in X-Men: First Class, words came around that Michael Fassbender might just be playing Magneto.

The delay with that casting was that the actor had to choose between Magneto — played so very well by Ian McKellen in Bryan Singer’s X-Men and X2: X-Men United — and playing one of the villains in Sony’s reboot of the Spider-Man franchise. It’s unknown which villain he might of played, but many suspect it would have been the Lizard.

According to reports, Fassbender appears to have chosen to side with X-Men. The actor has entered into negotiations to play the role, which will see him becoming the younger Magneto when he was very close with McAvoy’s Professor X character. The story will revolve around this aspect of their relationship, when their views pushed them apart, and Xavier’s development of his school for gifted mutants.

Fassbender isn’t exactly the most familiar actor to all fans yet, but he will be soon enough. He was something of the comic relief in Zack Snyder’s 300, and played a special British agent in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Next up, he can be seen in Neil Marshall’s historical epic, Centurion.

This casting comes hot on the heels of Benjamin Walker being cast in one of the smaller supporting mutant role, Beast.

X-Men: First Class will be directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) and aims to begin filming in London by August.

[Source: Heat Vision]