KELSEY GRAMMER - GRAMMER TO PLAY BLUE BEAST IN X-MEN 3

Fans of KELSEY GRAMMER are set to find him tough to recognise in his next project - he's playing a furry blue monster in the second X-MEN sequel.

In X-MEN 3, the former FRASIER star will play oversized mutant BEAST, who has not yet appeared in any of the franchise's installments.

While there has been a shocked reaction to Grammer's casting, producers of the movie insist he's the perfect choice for the part - because Beast is the most intelligent of all the mutants.

SNATCH star VINNIE JONES is also set to undergo a huge image overhaul when he plays villainous JUGGERNAUT in the movie. His character is a 900 pound metal-clad battering ram.

The sci-fi series stars HALLE BERRY, IAN McKELLEN, FAMKE JANSSEN, HUGH JACKMAN and REBECCA ROMIJN.

The movie, to be directed by MATTHEW VAUGHN, is set to debut in May next year (06).