Olivia Munn to Star as Psylocke in 'X-Men: Apocalypse'
Producer and director Brian Singer today announce via his Instagram page that Olivia Munn has been cast to play Betsy Braddock, better known as the mutant superhero Psylocke in X-Men: Apoclypse, the sequel to last year's X-Men: Days of Future Past. "Excited to welcome @oliviamunn as Betsy Braddock! #Psylocke #XmenApocalypse #Xmen," he wrote with a link to a photo of the actress.
Munn, 34, last seen on the big-screen opposite Johnny Depp in Mortdecai, confirmed the announcement with a tweet to her fans and followers on the social media site, saying: "From G4 to Xmen you've been The Best road dogs. Thanks for staying on the ride with me. This one's for you." Munn is also best known for her stint at the G4 network where she co-hosted the long-running Attack of the Show! TV program.
Psylocke, the character Munn will portray, according to her comic book origin, is the telepath twin sister of Captain Britain, Captain America's counterpart in the UK. Later in her life, she acquired the body, fighting skills and personality of a Japanese female ninja known as Kwannon after she was kidnapped by the Hand crime organization. Still later in her evolution, she also acquired the power of telekinesis and the ability to teleport. In the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand, Psylocke portrayed by actress Meiling Melancon was seen as a minor villain, one of the Omegas who were against the X-Men.
Munn joins previously announced newcomer Lana Condor, who is playing Jubilee, along with Kodi Smit-McPhee who plays Nightcrawler, Sophie Turner as the young Jean Grey, Alexandra Shipp as the young Storm and Tye Sheridan as the young Cyclops.
Leading the cast, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Rose Byrne are set to reprise the roles they previously played in the film franchise. Channing Tatum is expected to make a cameo appearance as Gambit preparatory to his standalone Marvel movie which is scheduled to be released on October 7, 2016. The titular villain, En Sabah Nur better known as Apocalypse, will be portrayed by Oscar Isaac.
Singer is directing X-Men: Apocalypse from a script written by Simon Kinberg, Dan Harris and Michael Dougherty. According to studio sources, the film will focus on the origin of the mutants and that the story will take place in 1983. It is meant to complete a trilogy that began with X-Men: First Class.