Kelsey Grammer is best known for playing his long-standing character Frasier across the series Cheers, then his self-named long running show, as well as its current revival, but when Grammer was asked about the toughest letdown of his career, his focus immediately shifted to his portrayal of Beast in the X-Men franchise.
In a recent interview with THR’s “Full Comedy Actor Roundtable” segment, Grammer appeared alongside fellow comedic TV stars Theo James (Netflix’s The Gentleman), Ricky Martin (Palm Royale), Anthony Mackie (Twisted Metal), Bowen Yang (SNL), and John Goodman (The Connors). Halfway through the conversation, the group was asked about some of the most challenging pieces of news or feedback they’ve had to deal with. Grammer had things come to mind, but the one at the forefront of his mind was finding out that X-Men: First Class was happening… without him. He recalled:
“The most challenging things I’ve ever heard, actually, really… One was after I just played Beast – [to Mackie] my days in Marvel – and they came up and said, ‘We have the most wonderful next film planned.’ And this was Lauren Donner, and she said ‘We’re going to go back in time!’ And I suddenly had that sinking feeling of ‘Oh, so I won’t be in it – so my performance as Beast will not be in it. That’s what you’re telling me.’ And sure enough, it went back in time and I was gone. So that was really exciting news for me.”
Grammer portrayed Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men Movie Trilogy finale, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), which had its issues, though none of which were directed at Grammer’s portrayal. Beast was then handed off to a younger actor for the following prequel, and Nicholas Hoult did well to carry on the mantle of Beast through the next round of X-Men films including First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix.
And the timing has come full circle for Grammer, much to the delight of fans, as he has recently made a triumphant comeback, once again playing Beast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, during a surprise post-credits scene for The Marvels. A lot of MCU fans are hoping that Kevin Feige (one of the original assistants on the X-Men films) will bring Grammer back for a larger arc as Beast.
via: ComicBook
