We know who’s directing, we know who’s writing, now we just need to know what X-Men: First Class will involve. Variety recently interviewed Singer after he confirmed he would be directing and he spoke about what his version will be (Josh Schwartz’ script has been pushed to the side).
Singer had been flirting with the project since last summer. Deal was made after the studio sparked to a detailed treatment he wrote for the film. Jamie Moss was hired to write the script, and the studio will move aggressively.
Singer told Daily Variety that he thought long and hard about returning to the franchise he launched until he found a storyline that would stand on its own. “This is the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where there relationship took a wrong turn,” Singer said. “There is a romantic element, and some of the mutants from ‘X-Men’ will figure into the plot, though I don’t want to say which ones. There will be a lot of new mutants and a great villain.”
In the film, Xavier and Magneto will be twentysomething, and the film sounds similar in construct to the J.J. Abrams-directed “Star Trek.”
“Whether it’s ‘Batman,’ ‘Lord of the Rings’ or ‘Star Trek,’ if the characters are good, you want to see them on their journey even if you know their destiny,” Singer said. “I put myself in the fan’s position, and I think this story is something I would want to see, and so will they.”
Fox has launched the “Origins” project by hiring Josh Schwartz to write the script. Singer went back to the drawing board but feels so in synch with the concept and the writer that he feels the project can come together quickly.
So despite X-Men Origins: Magneto not moving forward we will still see the character on-screen in the near future. We don’t know yet whether they will get Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart back, or whether they will re-cast. Those de-aging effects aren’t cheap, especially if they will be needed throughout the whole movie.
Regarding the ‘romantic element’ I think it’ll be the Cyclops/Jean/Emma Frost love triangle that featured in the comics. Again, no information has been given about whether they will use the same actors who played the characters in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, or whether they will be casting younger actors.
It’s good to hear that 20th Century Fox will be moving forward ‘aggressively’ on the film considering it’s been floating around in the scripting stage for a year, but we don’t want them rushing it. Singer’s next film could be Jack the Giant Killer, however if things develop with First Class filming could begin sometime next year.
