After directing the first 2 amazing X-Men films (and taking a break from directing the 3rd film in order to direct Superman Returns), Bryan Singer has announced that he has signed on to direct X-Men: First Class … a prequel film to the X-Men films franchise:
During the Los Angeles premiere of James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’, Bryan Singer let it slip that he has recently signed on to direct “X-men: First Class.” While being interviewed on the red carpet by a film crew from Myspace, Singer said “I’m ramping up to do a movie called ‘Jack the Giant Killer’ at Warner Bros, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an ‘X-Men: First Class Origins’ picture, which is kind of cool. I’m very excited.” MTV News first raised the possibility of Singer’s return to the “X-men” franchise back in August when his “Usual Suspects” collaborator Christopher McQuarrie signed on to write the sequel to “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Back in October, Singer confirmed that he was in talks to return to the series, but didn’t state which movie he was interested in. At the time, speculation centered on the “Wolverine” sequel due to the director’s stated desire to work with Hugh Jackman again. “X-men: First Class” takes its title from a comic that follows the adventures of the original five X-men: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman and Angel. Given the continuity changes made for the “X-men” films, Angel and Iceman would likely not appear in the movie if they follow the timeline that was previously established. However, Storm could very easily be added to the lineup of Jean Grey, Cyclops and Beast without disrupting any of the events shown in the previous movies. It is currently unknown when “X-men: First Class” will start production. Singer’s “Battlestar Galactica” remake has been fastracked by Universal and could conceivably be filmed before “X-men: First Class.”
This is great news … Singer does this sort of film very well. I’m a big fan of his previous 2 X-Men films. I’m confident that he will be the perfect person to bring X-Men: First Class to life on the big screen. I’m very curious about his Battlestar Galactica remake as well … considering how amazing the TV series was, he’s got some big shoes to fill in order to satisfy BG fans. He better not frak it up. But, I digress … Singer + X-Men = World of Yes!!
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Hey Trent, have you seen Avatar yet?? All the amazing reviews are making me want to go when I had no desire to before…..
@Lulu – Seeing Avatar tomorrow
while i was a huge fan of x-2, and am by no means a hater on bryan singer, i am very sick of marvel going on this movie bandwagon. x-3 ruined the phoenix plotline and made it a disgrace, destroyed wolverine’s potential for an epic movie, and other fantastic characters in the marvel multiverse. i wouldn’t normally bitch so much and just pass this over, but i simply couldn’t!!!! i really hope they don’t ruin this.
seeing avatar tomorrow too! glad singer is back wasnt the same. Trent you reminded how I use to go around all the time and say Frak! too funny
OMG! This is defintely exciting news. Bryan’s on a roll after the lukewarm response to Superman. I’m glad that he’s back on the X-Men franchise and I forgot that he is also directing BSG – The Movie, like you said, he better not frak this one up. I’m pretty sure he won’t :)
I’m the opposite of psyched about this news. The last two X-men related movies sucked hard. Granted the Singer directed films were the best ones of the franchise but the idea of watching the watching another potentially subpar retelling of an awesome comic book series doesn’t really interest me. Plus the idea of telling the story of the first class without the original team members just seems so wrong.
Ok, so what is he going to do with a Battlestar Galactica movie? My husband and I are currently watching season 3 and it would be weird to see it with all different people…
Super excited! I LOVED all three X-Men movies and enjoyed Wolverine’s…. I do have to say there are waayyy too many Marvel comic movies coming out and it takes away from the whole “comic” aspect of the storylines and characters. Either way, I’m excited. Let’s hope the original cast returns and that Singer makes Cyclopes a real leader… less focus on Halle Barry!
I hung out with Bryan Singer once whilst down in LA. He’s an awesome guy. We met out at a bar and all went back and swam in his pool in the middle of the night. Good times.
I’m excited about it. I like the idea of Storm replacing Ice Man or Angel. Maybe Magneto was more involved with the X-men back in the beginning. You could re-cast every one and have it take place in the 80s. I think we’ve already veered away from the idea of sticking fast to comic cannon with these movies.
If anyone has the talent to bring the feel of the “First Class” comics to a movie, it’s Singer. At this point, though, we don’t even know what his vision for this movie will be. I thought X2 was sensational. Superman Returns, not so much.