Bryan Singer is directing X-MEN: FIRST CLASS!

[Captaindemotion]

I'm happy Singer is returning to the X-Franchise, but I'm lukewarm about the idea of yet another prequel. Why does the future of X-Men onscreen lie in movies set before the 2000 movie? Must X3 be the final say in these characters' destinies? Why can't we see what happened after the events of that movie?

As has been said, the makers will have to ensure continuity with the other movies, so we know who will live and we have a good idea that if the movies have a character who didn't appear in the previous trilogy, they are cannon fodder (Call it Qui-Gon syndrome). This removes so much suspense; the Star Trek movie avoided this with its altered timeline set-up. Then you have the de-aging SFX from X3 and Wolverine and the equally unsatisfactory re-casting with lookalikes (Wolverine's young Cyke) or no-resemblance-alikes (Liev Schrieber as Tyler Mane?). Good luck to anyone trying to fill Stewart's, McKellen's or Grammer's boots ...

Much as I like the above and Jackman in their roles, I think I'd rather have a re-boot of the series with new actors in those roles than a prequel.

 

[Nerdius Maximus]

I don't get why everyone hates X-Men 3. Is it because it doesn't strictly adhere to or even closely resemble the original Phoenix story arc or something? Big deal. I thought it was pretty good.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ I can only speak for myself. I don't hate it, but I didn't like how they crammed in the antidote and Dark Phoenix stories into one story. Nor do I like how they offed major characters for the sake of it and decided that this had to be the end of the story. Someone at Fox decided trilogies were 'in' - Matrix, LOTR, Pirates - and X-men should end at 3 movies, despite the fact that they had 40 years of storylines in the comics (what if that exec had been in charge of the Bond series?!). And while the action was arguably the most spectacular of the trio, Ratner clearly had little or no interest in character development, the way Singer did.

 

[Gaith]

Much as I like the above and Jackman in their roles, I think I'd rather have a re-boot of the series with new actors in those roles than a prequel.

Agreed... partly. Is there suspense in a Bond movie? We know Bond will live and the baddie will die, but we have fun anyways.

I think the important question is whether or not Singer will have the freedom to bring his personal X-style back to the table. It's obvious that the first two Xs had the same director, but if one didn't know, one wouldn't be able to tell that X3 and Wolverine had different ones.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Gaith has a good point. Most genre films follow the same formula -- villain threatens the world, hero goes through angsty turmoil, hero thwarts villain's plan, and hero saves the day once more. The fact that Singer is introducing new characters means he recongizes this, and plans to up the ante by including characters who might be expendable and might not.

The great appeal about the X-Men franchise is just becuase a character doesn't die doesn't mean he has to be included or not -- the "Qui-Gon snydrome" doesn't really apply because maybe certain characters who appear in First Class will have graduated by the time of the first X-Men and are off doing other adventures. Clearly, Beast was apparently a founding member of Singer's X-Men but was not present in either of his movies. Of course, that was an addition made by Ratner and his writers, and not Singer, but you know what I mean.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Actually, Beast was to be included even when Matthew Vaughn was attached to X3 (I think MV may even have cast Frasier ... I mean, Kelsey Grammer), but I get your point.

I take your and Gaith's point also, but even beyond the issues of who lives and who dies, prequels are very much restricted compared to sequels or reboots. I mean, would Batman Begins or The Dark Knight have been as good had they had to conform with the continuity of Tim Burton's or Joel Schumacher's movies? I doubt it.

 

[JacksonArcher]

^ Actually, Beast was to be included even when Matthew Vaughn was attached to X3 (I think MV may even have cast Frasier ... I mean, Kelsey Grammer), but I get your point.

Well aren't you picky. And actually, Vaughn only cast Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut. Grammer was Ratner's idea.

I take your and Gaith's point also, but even beyond the issues of who lives and who dies, prequels are very much restricted compared to sequels or reboots. I mean, would Batman Begins or The Dark Knight have been as good had they had to conform with the continuity of Tim Burton's or Joel Schumacher's movies? I doubt it.

You have a point. Regardless, it's Bryan Singer. It's X-Men. I'm excited either way.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I think X3 is a flawed film; it tries to do too much. But I've never understood the rabid hate it gets. It's got quite a few good sequences.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Casting Kelsey Grammer as The Beast was pure genius. I just wish the script was better.

 

[Thrall]

Even though it's about the original 5, he'll still somehow manage to make it all about Wolverine.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

I wouldn't mind any passing mention of Logan, but he really shouldn't be in the movie at all, maybe just maybe in the third movie, after the credits of course

 

[Caretaker]

Wanda and Pietro were also shown on a computer screen in x2.

Speaking of which, character-wise, is Wanda considered an X-Men character or an Avengers character? Due to the rights issues, I wander which movie studio would be able to use her.

 

[Caretaker]

I didn't think the young Xavier and Lensherr in The Final Battle was that bad - I quite liked it. But somehow, it seems like the capability's went downhill by the time it came around to the Wolverine film.

 

[Starbreaker]

Even though it's about the original 5, he'll still somehow manage to make it all about Wolverine.

It can't be about the original five. They've already made Iceman not just a couple of years younger, but a student to the other, and then didn't even bother to bring in Angel until the third film.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Wanda and Pietro were also shown on a computer screen in x2.

Speaking of which, character-wise, is Wanda considered an X-Men character or an Avengers character? Due to the rights issues, I wander which movie studio would be able to use her.

I've often wondered about characters who have a legitimate claim on different franchises. Wanda, Pietro, Hank McCoy and Logan all have claims to both the Avengers and X-Men franchises.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

In a perfect world Marvel Studios or i guess now Disney should own the rights to all of their properties

 

[Thrall]

Even though it's about the original 5, he'll still somehow manage to make it all about Wolverine.

It can't be about the original five. They've already made Iceman not just a couple of years younger, but a student to the other, and then didn't even bother to bring in Angel until the third film.

Which is another reason why The Singerverse sucks.

 

[the Dagman]

Even though it's about the original 5, he'll still somehow manage to make it all about Wolverine.

It can't be about the original five. They've already made Iceman not just a couple of years younger, but a student to the other, and then didn't even bother to bring in Angel until the third film.

Which is another reason why The Singerverse sucks.

I echo your sentiment Thrall.

 

[Obiwanshinobi]

just reboot the whole damn thing

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Actually, Beast was to be included even when Matthew Vaughn was attached to X3 (I think MV may even have cast Frasier ... I mean, Kelsey Grammer), but I get your point.

Well aren't you picky. And actually, Vaughn only cast Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut. Grammer was Ratner's idea.

Are you sure? I seem to recall Grammer being cast before Vaughn's departure. And I'm pretty sure that Ratner would be incapable of having an idea that good.

On the subject of casting, it sounds like Xavier and Magneto in this movie will be much too young for Stewart and McKellen to return, even with digital de-aging. Who could fill those shoes? No easy task, as Tom Hardy might tell you.

I can imagine James Purefoy as Magneto, depending on the era the movie is set. But for Xavier? Nobody springs to mind. Marina Sirtis suggested that James Marsters should have played Shinzon in Nemesis. Might he make a passable young Xavier?