X-Men – The Franchise Evolves!

Published on August 31, 2009 by FilmShaft Staff · View Comments

magneto **UPDATE** Walt Disney Pictures is reportedly buying Marvel Entertainment, creators of The X-Men, for $4 Billion, for more information check out the official press release here!

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With rumours abound about a number of different possible X Men sequels it can be hard to keep track of who’s doing what, so what’s the deal here?

Well Blade: Trinity writer David Goyer predicted that there will be ‘movement’ on a film entitled X-Men Origins: Magneto in the next year! The story, which will be the second spinoff in the X-Men series, tells the story of The Master of Magnetism and leader of the sinister Brotherhood of Mutants – Magneto. The final movie is thought to be set for release in 2011.

Goyer, who also wrote for the Batman sequel The Dark Knight, told MTV Splashpage that Magneto is one idea on a list of potential X-Men spinoff movies but he is confident that it will be made.

“I’ve been in touch with them,” he said. “I’m sure that project will move forward in the next year or so.”

Also speaking to MTV, X Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner said the proposed X-Men movie about the early years of Xavier’s school sounded “great” and added:

“I would love to see a Magneto movie, personally, because I love the Holocaust backstory.”

Ratner added that although he has now moved on from the X-Men series, he could be tempted back by projects such as Magneto if the script felt right.

The role of Magneto was played by Sir Ian McKellen in the first three X-Men films. However, it is assumed that another actor would have to take the role in order to play out the earlier years of his life.

Other X Men projects in the works include Deadpool in which Ryan Reynolds will be reprising his role as Wade Wilson, an “origin” story involving the early days of the X-Men entitled X-Men: First Class and a sequel to this year’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine which sees Logan (Hugh Jackman) in action in feudal Japan. In the process he learns the ways of the samurai in an attempt to rise above his animalistic instincts and aspire to the Japanese code of honour, justice and self-respect.

Wolverine star Hugh Jackman discussed the film’s possibilities at this year’s teen choice awards, saying:

“Japan is where we’re heading, [and] we’re starting to work on it now. We’re in the … first steps of developing that story.”

“That’s a movie I’ve longed to make from the beginning, so that’s where we’re heading.”

Last year, the X-Men spin off Wolverine grossed $160 million in its first weekend, worldwide. And so we wait with anticipation to see what happens next!