Alan Cumming, who portrayed the blue-skinned mutant Nightcrawler in the last X-Men movie, will not be playing the character in the franchise's next movie, according to a report at DarkHorizons.Com.

Cumming's official website, AlanCumming.Com, said that 20th Century Fox chose not to pick up his option to play the character.

Though the actor was under contract to star in the "X3" film, reports indicate that he may be happy with this development, especially after his on-the-record complaints about the extensive make-up process and his on-set feuding with "X2" director Bryan Singer.

Reports indicate that Nightcrawler character appears in the latest script for the film, so the part is likely to be recast.

Shooting for the film is expected to begin in August with Brett Ratner as the director, followed by a Memorial Day weekend 2006 release in theaters.