X-Men films: where do we go from here?

[RoJoHen]

I just watched DOFP last night for the first time since seeing it in theaters. I think it's a wonderful movie and easily the best X-Men film since X2.

What I really like about it is the way it manages combine the story from "First Class" with the story from the original X-Men trilogy. It acts as a sequel to both, providing a sense of closure for the "old" X-Men while opening up a whole new alternate timeline for the "young" X-Men.

While many people were unhappy with the focus that Wolverine received in all of these films, I personally like it. Ensembles are great, but I think you ultimately still need one main character to drive a story, and Wolverine being the newcomer to the X-Men in the first movie makes him the perfect candidate.

That said, I think DOFP wrapped up his story nicely. After years of struggle and loss, he is given an opportunity to save the world, and in the process, he manages to save all the people he loves. When he walks into the Professor's office and sees Jean Grey standing there, alive and well...I have to say, I've rarely gotten so excited by a scene in a movie.

Now, here's the thing. They've recast the X-Men roles for "Apocalypse." We have a brand new Cyclops, Jean, and Storm. Does this mean the "old" crew can retire from these roles? Are we done seeing stories in the present day? I personally feel like DOFP wrapped up Wolverine's story perfectly, and yet I know "Wolverine 3" is in the early stages of being made. I've been happy to watch his journey up until this point, but I really don't think there's much more story to tell. He got his happy ending; let's leave him be.

 

[RoJoHen]

Crap! Cam somebody move this to the proper forum?

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

I was about to say: Where do we go from here? How about to the right forum!

I think the main story will be told with the younger cast from now on while Wolverine will get at least one more solo movie with rumors of that one being a team-up with Patrick Stewart's Professor X.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Crap! Cam somebody move this to the proper forum?

Moved.

 

[Dales]

as long as xmen does not go back to marvel, I would be happy. DOFP is one of the best superhero film of the last decade. so much better than the dark knight and all the marvel Disney films.

I think with DOFP singer was trying to send a message that xmen does not need MCU and he proved me right. MCU just looks so childish when you compare it to XMEN DOFP and most of the xmen films done by singer.

singer seems to favour story and character dialogue far more than action scenes and explosions , I cant say the same for MCU films and this is why I wan xmen to go forward and stay with fox and not return to marvel.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Fox finally gets wise and sells the rights to Disney for a fuckton.

 

[Jedi_Master]

To infinity...and beyond.

 

[Gaith]

Where do the X-films go from here? In this case, the obvious answer is also the correct one:

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... Okay, but seriously, I pretty much agree with you, RoJoHen. I liked The Wolverine fine in the theater, but then tried to watch it again half a year later and gave up in boredom; it's just not that good. And another solo Wolvie movie is a weird proposition at this point - does it precede the DOFP future sequences and time reset? Because if not, and it takes place in the present day of the reset timeline, that's a lot of potential continuity baggage to saddle the FC generation with. I don't mind giving him one last ensemble role (and maybe even heroic death?) in Apocalypse, because I find him far more interesting being the rogue part of a team than either a responsible team leader (The Last Stand) or noble solo do-gooder with a merely mild case of attitude (XMO:W, TW), but I'm not much interested in another one-off solo outing, especially if Yukio isn't tagging along for pretty much all of it.

As for Apocalypse, it's definitely an immensely promising movie, and regardless of whether or not Singer remains in the director's seat, I hope he sticks around for a third phase of X-Men team movies, no doubt with more comic book flair and weirdness than Singer's first phase. (I have no complaints with the black leather wardrobe of the first three movies, which was absolutely the right style for that time in pop culture, but there's no need to go back to it this time around.)

Fox finally gets wise and sells the rights to Disney for a fuckton.

You seem to be unclear on the basic principles of marketplace economics. If your product is selling strongly, and essentially can't be replaced or duplicated by a competitor, you keep on keeping on until said product stops bringing in great returns, and then you consider cashing out.

 

[Masiral]

and essentially can't be replaced or duplicated by a competitor

Except it can be replaced or duplicated - Marvel already has the Inhumans lined up to replace the X-Men. Not to mention every other superhero movie.

I don't think it's likely that Fox will sell X-Men back to Marvel - they already lost Star Wars to Disney, they're not going to give up another guaranteed earner.

 

[Timby]

I don't think it's likely that Fox will sell X-Men back to Marvel - they already lost Star Wars to Disney, they're not going to give up another guaranteed earner.

Any adjustment in the contractual terms between Disney and Fox will likely involve an easing of the rules that Fox has to follow -- for example, currently Fox cannot make any X-Men merchandise, which really chafes when you have a mega-hit like Future Past -- in exchange for Disney being allowed to distribute Star Wars: A New Hope on home video (the rights to which Fox owns in perpetuity).

 

[Lexx Shrapnel]

Fox finally gets wise and sells the rights to Disney for a fuckton.

Why would you want it as fan? They have the Inhumans which is similar but different. No need for an another bloody reboot.

 

[JWPlatt]

To be honest, X-Men never made any sense to me. It's an oxymoron. The differentiation for men comes in on the Y chromosome, genetically speaking. Maybe as the next step they should move on to the Y-Men. But with a cast that has always included females, they should just skip X and Y and go straight to a less sexist and more inclusive XXY-People.

 

[Relayer1]

MCU just looks so childish when you compare it to XMEN DOFP and most of the xmen films done by singer.

So, just for example, Winter Soldier was childish ?

I'm sorry, you've lost me with that. DOFP was great, but we're not eight. It's possible to like both...

 

[Lexx Shrapnel]

MCU just looks so childish when you compare it to XMEN DOFP and most of the xmen films done by singer.

So, just for example, Winter Soldier was childish ?

I'm sorry, you've lost me with that. DOFP was great, but we're not eight. It's possible to like both...

The central theme/themes of the X movies is more serious and nuanced.

 

[Relayer1]

MCU film's don't have a central theme.

Guardians was a space romp, Winter Soldier was a darkish espionage story, Doctor Strange wil be a supernatural film. They're all connected, but different.

X- Men has a consistantly darker tone, but it's all the same series. You'd be better comparing it to one of the MCU series, not the whole MCU...

 

[CorporalClegg]

You seem to be unclear on the basic principles of marketplace economics. If your product is selling strongly, and essentially can't be replaced or duplicated by a competitor, you keep on keeping on until said product stops bringing in great returns, and then you consider cashing out.

Utter nonsense.

Fox could turn around tomorrow and sell the rights for $2 billion no questions asked. And using Star Wars as precedent, I bet they could at least match that with both X and F4 in a package deal because Marvel just wants their shit back.

But even at $2 billion, Fox would have to put out three or four X-Men films that do as well as the last one earn that kind of cash. And there's absolutely no guarantee of that. Markets and tastes change overnight, never mind the quality perception/reception of said films.

Also, it has nothing to do with whether or not they're competing with other X-Men films, they're competing with other comic book films. And, if they're not careful, Fox is going to quickly find themselves in third place (if they aren't already).

How do think they'd fare if Marvel decided it was time to show them who's boss? They could very easily change a release date to match Apocalypse. And with a (any) MCU film opposing an X-Men film, the MCU film is going to win.

As of right now, they won't do that, because even knowing they'd win, splitting the market isn't worth getting their hands on the property. But that could change at any time.

And lest us not forget, that it isn't just the MCU. If they really wanted to, they could bring down entire wrath of The Mouse upon Fox's little venture and completely squash X-Men out of the market.

No. Unless you're stubborn, arrogant, or just a complete idiot, you take the money and never look back.

Why would you want it as fan? They have the Inhumans which is similar but different. No need for an another bloody reboot.

Inhumans =/= mutants.

Also, why would there have to be a reboot? Three or four throwaway lines and the two franchises are merged.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Utter nonsense.

You just described your own post. FOX and the X-Men franchise are in a far different place than Sony and the Spider-Man franchise was. There is no real profit in FOX giving up or sharing their X-Men rights for any reason.

And it would take far, far more than merely "Three or four throwaway lines" to make the X-Men franchise fit into the MCU. And even then it would be an extremely awkward fit at best.

 

[CorporalClegg]

A bird in the hand and all that.

 

[Timby]

How do think they'd fare if Marvel decided it was time to show them who's boss? They could very easily change a release date to match Apocalypse. And with a (any) MCU film opposing an X-Men film, the MCU film is going to win.

If you put up fucking Ant-Man against Days of Future Past, the X-Men movie would destroy it and it wouldn't be even remotely close. I get that the Marvel content marketing machine is really, really good (as evidenced by The Avengers making a zillion dollars despite being dogshit, and everyone buying into the idea of The Winter Soldier being a political thriller when it's almost exactly as paint-by-numbers as every other MCU film outside of Iron Man 3 and Guardians), but Fox really did an amazing job with Days of Future Past and it revitalized the entire brand after the horrific abortion that was X-Men Origins and the ambitious misfire that was The Wolverine.

 

[CorporalClegg]

If you put up fucking Ant-Man against Days of Future Past, the X-Men movie would destroy it and it wouldn't be even remotely close.

I bet you'd say the exact same thing a year ago about Guardians.

but Fox really did an amazing job with Days of Future Past and it revitalized the entire brand after the horrific abortion that was X-Men Origins and the ambitious misfire that was The Wolverine.

And Fox would have to have several consecutive DoFP's without any Origins or Wolverines in between to get what they other wise would from a pay day.

You're making my point for me.