So for X2: X-Men United, Marsden's Cyclops is getting a bit of a makeover.

"We wanted to make everything a bit more streamlined and a bit more refined, so Guy Dyas (production designer) came up with a much more slicker version of the visor, which was more comfortable for me and I think it looks a lot cooler than the first one," Marsden says.

"The first one was a great concept, but it was a bit cumbersome and awkward."

X2 picks right up where the first X-Men film left off, and Marsden says it should be bigger and better than the first movie.

"I don't care what anybody says, it's really nice going into the second one with a success under your belt," he says. "I was very happy to see how well received the first film was and that created a much more relaxed atmosphere the second time around.

"It was also interesting to take the love triangle to the next level in this piece. That kind of banter and dissidence between Cyclops and Wolverine is still very much there. And also I get to take the emotional aspect of the character to a much greater degree in this film, which is fun."

Marsden, who did a stint on Fox's Ally McBeal in between X-flicks, says he enjoyed his fight scene with Kelly Hu's Lady Deathstrike and the wirework he did for the end X2. The film was shown for the first time last weekend at a press junket, and Marsden was happy with how it turned out.

"The nature of an X-Men film is half of the movie is made in post production with special effects and editing and the score," he says. "And also, that we had such a large cast, that you're not always on the set seeing what the other actors are doing

"So it was great the other night to see the film for the first time because it was almost like seeing a film you were never involved with because there's so much stuff that was created after principal photography.

"So it was very thrilling and when the crowd started cheering, I think that was probably my favorite part. You like to have that reassurance in knowing that the audience has really taken to the movie."

A third X-Men film seems almost a certainty with early buzz on the sequel. And where would Marsden like to see Cyclops go?

"I think the great thing about the X-Men Universe is that you have 40 years of backstory and characters that you can draw from," Marsden says. "So we really left the doors wide open to go anywhere. I would like to see Cyclops mix it up with some of the bad guys a bit more. It would be nice to see him a little more liberal with that optic blast.

"I think that's because I really enjoy the action aspect of the film. I enjoy getting in there and getting bruised up. It would be nice to see a little more action, a little more fighting sequences for Cyclops.

"And, also, on the other end of that, to see where he goes emotionally now that Jean is evolving, to see where that takes him and what kind of road he chooses to go down with his relationship."

X2 opens in theaters on May 2.

Rob Allstetter, Deputy Sports Editor for The Detroit News, has been a comics journalist for the past decade, having written for numerous publications. He currently publishes The Comics Continuum. He can be reached at RobAlls@aol.com.