According to Slashfilm, Jonah Hex, Inglourious Basterds, and 300 actor Michael Fassbender has been cast in Fox’s ‘X-Men: First Class’ as none other than Magneto aka Erik Lensherr. Slashfilm also reports that Fassbender was being considered to play the villain in the upcoming Spider-Man reboot movie, but chose First Class over Spider-Man.

Fassbender joins James McAvoy and Benjamin Walker (who will be playing Beast) as official members of the cast.  Rumors are circulating that Pineapple Express‘ Amber Heard will be playing a young Mystique along with Rosamund Pike playing Moira McTaggert. Needless to say, the cast will be quite large and will hopefully be filled with talent.

I think Fassbender is a pretty solid actor, but I had never considered him for Magneto until now. Stay tuned as more casting announcements come down the pipe.