"X-Men: First Class" Japanese Theatrical Poster
THE MOVIE: X-Men: First Class was a surprise hit. Not surprisingly, 20th Century Fox has been quick to greenlit a sequel. Producer Bryan Singer is back but this time Singer is transitioning to the director’s chair. This will be the first X-Men film he’s directed since 2003′s fan favorite x2: X-Men United. It’s presumed that James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender will return as Professor X and Magneto, respectively. In theaters July 18th, 2013.
Updates: CBM notes that X-Men: Last Stand writer Simon Kinberg is working on the script.| Some quotes from writer/producer Simon Kinberg confirm that the sequel will place more of a focus on Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and his transition to the dark side as it were. | The film will start shooting in January 2013. | AICN reports that Fox has registered the title Days of Future Past with the MPAA.
Comic book fans most likely know that Days of Future Past was an extremely popular X-Men storyline set in a dark alternate future where Mutants were hunted down by giant robots called Sentinels. AICN speculates that X-Men: Second Class may be dealing with alternate timelines such as this, and that these elements could even pave the way for a X-Men 4 that would completely reboot the franchise.
Joblo reports producer Bryan Singer is officially sliding into the director’s chair now to replace Matthew Vaughn. | Singer has confirmed that Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellan will be reprising their roles as Professor X and Magneto, respectively. This is in addition to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender playing the younger versions of said characters – which is possible since Days of Future Past deals with time travel and alternate dimensions.
Singer just tweeted that Anna Paquin (Rogue), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) will return for Days of Future Past. Singer also says he had a two hour conversation with James Cameron to help wrap his head around this film’s time travel plot. Singer also revealed the film at least opens in the the year 1973. Fan speculation suggests that the kids from First Class will then travel to a a dark alternate future where the characters from Singer’s first two X-Men films are being hunted down by Sentinels.
Bryan Singer will shoot this X-Men movie in 3D. Hey, at least it means there won’t be a crummy post-convert after the fact. Also, actor Peter Dinklage (TV’s Game of Thrones) is onboard for an unspecified role. | AICN has some casting news. Red-hot Chinese actress Fan Bingbing (Flash Point), who will also be seen in this summer’s Iron Man 3, has signed on to play the popular teleporting mutant Blink. In addition, fans can look forward to Daniel Cudmore reprising his role of Colossus.
BREAKING NEWS: Bryan Singer reveals possible new Beast concept art.
Just use a Wikipedia link for Days of Future Past. =p And isn’t this franchise already a reboot?
It’s more of a prequel than a reboot. Since Bryan Singer is still onboard as producer, the screenplay for “First Class” was rather hampered by the way it was forced to keep continuity with Singer’s two films.
It wasn’t a surprise hit. It was actually a disappointment, compared to the last film. But it did well enough for a sequel.
Well, I disagree. Yes, X-Men: Last Stand is technically the highest grossing movie in the series but it was also the most critically and fan-panned entry. Fox took something of a risk by rushing First Class through production, re-hiring Bryan Singer as producer, and giving the franchise to the relatively untested Matthew Vaughn. First Class was basically a trial to see if they could keep going forward with prequel stories or if Fox would be forced to scrap together a X-Men 4.
Yeah, but they would’ve had to really screw it up for it to be a “surprise” hit.
Why don’t you two take it up in THE THUNDERDOME. =D
Anyway, I actually liked it more than the Singer X-Men films. But I hope the next one doesn’t just morph into an official reboot of those flicks.
Singer’s tired. I thought Kick-Ass was crap, but First Class had everything a superhero flick needed. Vaughn shouldn’t be slumming it out with more hardcore fanboy crap from Millar, since that’s clearly a dead-end.
Stewart and McKellan will probably just have cameos.