Having appeared in both Star Trek and the X-Men films Patrick Stewart has become a regular at conventions over the years, and he recently attended DragonCon 09 and answered questions about both franchises.

From CNN:

When the discussion turned to “X-Men,” Stewart, who had a cameo as a younger Professor Charles Xavier in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” said that from what he had heard, audiences have probably not seen the last of the professor. He mentioned he recently co-starred in a production of “Waiting for Godot” with Ian McKellen and the two agreed that they would like continue exploring the relationship between Xavier and McKellen’s “X-Men” character Magneto.

Producer Lauren Shulder Donner said a few months ago that they couldn’t make X-Men: First Class without Patrick Stewart, so that is probably what he has heard. First Class is currently being written by Josh Schwartz and takes place during the first year at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Patrick Stewart will most likely be made to appear younger, like we saw in X3 and Wolverine.

As for that other franchise, Stewart thought that this summer’s reboot of “Star Trek” was “terrific,” but didn’t see a future for Jean-Luc Picard in the franchise, leaving open only the possibility that he would agree to do a cameo in a sequel. Stewart mentioned a proposed final “Next Generation” film, but after the disappointing box office for “Star Trek: Nemesis,” it never materialized.

“I feel that I have left behind a legacy as Picard,” he said. “In my head and heart, I’ve moved on.”

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X-Men Origins: Magneto is slowly taking steps to getting made. The film has had David Goyer attached to direct since April 2007, and now it finally has a synopsis! Progress!

From trade magazine Production Weekly:

“The original X-Men film began with a prologue that showed the character as a child being led to a concentration camp by Nazis and that is the period in which the Magneto film will take place. This setup will allow a future villain to at least flirt with the designation of protagonist since the character will be seen almost exclusively in his formative years.”

“The storyline will heavily involve Professor X, the wheelchair-using X-Men leader. That character was a soldier in the allied force that liberated the concentration camps. The professor meets Magneto after the war and while they bond over the realisation that they are alike in their special powers, their differences soon turn them into enemies.”

Ian Mckellen is attached to the film but will most likely serve as narrator or in flash forward sequences. From the synopsis it seems that Patrick Stewart may also be required, however as the film is set in the past Fox will probably decide to hire younger actors instead of doing the de-ageing effects seen in X-Men 3.

X-Men Origins: Magneto will begin filming whenever David Goyer finds the time and the script is complete.

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