James McAvoy (WANTED) has inked a deal with 20th Century Fox to play Charles "Professor X" Xavier in X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, reports ComingSoon.net. STARDUST helmer Matthew Vaughn is directing. Bryan Singer, who devised the plot for the film, will produce alongside Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg.

The story follows a young Xavier and Erik "Magneto" Lensherr as they discover their powers and become friends. Over time they split over how mutants should react to human prejudice and form the opposing schools of thought — Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Other casting is underway and production will begin this summer. Fox has set June 3, 2011 for the film's release.