Marsden's unique vision
Source: jam! Showbiz

By LOUIS B. HOBSON -- Calgary Sun

James Marsden, who plays the wicked sexual predator in the youth thriller Gossip, will be seen this July as Cyclops in the film version of the popular comic book series X-Men.

"I had never read the comics before I auditioned for the role, but I had played the video game a couple of times so I had some idea of what I was getting into," says Marsden. "When I was cast, I got hold of as many of the comics as I could and devoured them."

X-Men was filmed in Toronto last fall.

"I had it much easier than many of my co-stars," he says. "I didn't have to hang from riggings all day long and I didn't have a super state-of-the-art fight on the top of the Statue of Liberty like Wolverine (Aussie Hugh Jackman) does."

Cyclops has laser vision, which required Marsden to wear a visor.

"I operated the beam in my visor and the technicians would throw on lights that turned the whole room red. The special-effects people are adding the laser blasts with their computers.