Magneto: Viggo Mortensen
Erik Lensherr is the most conflicted character in the X-mythos so he needs to be portrayed as someone who believes in Xavier's dream, but not in the methods. Viggo Mortensen plays characters stuck between worlds very well. I can see him forming the X-Men with Xavier, having quiet moments with the students, and in the final moments of the film, tearfully leave Xavier's side as he rams a metal rod through his spine. I thought of Viggo Mortensen for this part especially and could never get him out of my mind afterwards.
Jean Grey: Danielle Panabaker
I don't want the shy, insane version of Jean Grey we've seen in past incarnations. If anything I'd want Mark Millar's version of the character in Ultimate X-Men. She's cocky, sure of herself and shoots dirty jokes into the minds of the other X-Men when Xavier or Magneto's talking. Its Jean's outgoing attitude and sure belief in her self that convinces Cyclops to take his role as true leader of the X-Men. Daniel Panabaker hasn't been in too many major films but in the ones I've seen her in, Sky High and Friday the 13th, she's the character that has the most compassion and intelligence amongst the less mature characters around her. And she's a smoking redhead.
Hank McCoy: Jesse Plemons
Beast isn't blue in furry in the beginning of this one, perhaps he changes halfway through. He's the Midwest farm boy with the brain of a computer and the body of an ape. He's elated to be in the X-Men and not having to hide his athletic ability or intelligence. In Friday Night Lights Plemons plays the more sensitive nerdy character. This could be the role that puts past television into the big-time. Plus he kind of has an ape-like look to him if you think about it.
