"Emma Frost" drops out X-Men: First Class

Several weeks ago, Marvel confirmed a rumored casting announcement that actress Alice Eve (She's Out Of My League) had been contracted to portray Emma Frost, the White Queen, in FOX Studios' X-Men: First Class. General audiences were introduced to the telepathic mutant Frost in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, where she was portrayed by relatively unknown actress Tahyna Tozzi.

As of last night, though, Ms. Eve's association to Matthew Vaughn's X-franchise prequel was dismissed by Deadline.com. Their scoop proclaimed actress January Jones, AMC's Mad Men starlet, has now taken over the role of Frost.

So what happened to Alice Eve? My sources within Marvel Studios have just told me Ms. Eve and her management team successfully petitioned to have FOX release her from her X-Men: First Class contract. This change of heart on the actress' part was apparently due to her displeasure with recent script changes, and it was in her best interest to leave the project.

This is the second Marvel movie role the actress had been recently associated with, the first being the character Peggy Carter in Captain America: The First Avenger. Fans of Ms. Eve, many of whom believe she is a perfect fit for almost any female superhero role, need not fret. FOX is still interested in placing her into one of their films: Fantastic Four Reborn, as the character Sue Storm/the Invisible Woman.

If that wasn't enough to keep her fans satiated, this next bit of information certainly will: Marvel Studio wishes to include her in their ensemble superhero film, The Avengers, as a villain. The role, albeit minor, would serve to tie together another of their properties; since the villainous character is most notably featured in Thor comic story lines. Though the role has yet to be given a name, fans of the character should undoubtedly be able to pinpoint who it is.