It appears as though the age of theX-Menfranchise is starting to show. Earlier today, reports swirled that despiteDeadpool 2recently losing its director, 20th Century Fox isalready developingDeadpool 3as a sequelthat would incorporate the X-Force, which is like an R-rated X-Men team. But the reportalsohad news for the flagship franchise, and it ain’t great.
PerTHR, the mainX-Menfranchise is being “reconfigured” after this past May’s 80s-setX-Men: Apocalypsegrossed $200 million less than its predecessor ($544 million worldwide versus $748 million worldwide). Moreover,Bryan Singer—who started the franchise in the first place with 2000’sX-Menand helmedX2before making a triumphant return to the series for the time travel-infusedDays of Future Past—is reportedly not returning for the nextX-Menmovie while writer/producerSimon Kinbergis getting to work on a new script.
The idea forApocalypsewas born on the set ofDays of Future Past, as Singer and Kinberg kicked around ideas for a follow-up that would move the events to the 80s and carry a disaster movie tone. Apparently ideas for anApocalypsesequel didn’t flow as easily, and Singer has since moved on to other projects, setting a20,000 Leagues Under the Searebootas his next project and recentlytaking over theFreddie MercurybiopicwithMr. RobotstarRami Malekset to play the iconicQueenfrontman.
But where does theX-Menfranchise go from here?Apocalypseintroduced a slew of new young mutants including Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and many expected the series to then makethemthe new stars. It appears that may not be the case—despite the fact that the contracts forJennifer Lawrence,Michael Fassbender, andJames McAvoycame toan end withApocalypse, Kinberg is writing this new screenplay with this trio optimistically in mind.
When Lawrence, Fassbender, and McAvoy signed on to star inX-Men: First Classthey were nowhere near as famous/busy as they are now, so getting them back will be both very difficult and very expensive. Kinberg is gonna have to knock this script out of the park to even get them interested in returning, as Lawrence voiced her displeasure with the Mystique makeup process and inApocalypse, got away with living in her “human” form for most of the film’s runtime.
But THR’s report notes that, with the entire franchise in flux,Fault in Our StarsdirectorJosh Boone’s YA-esqueNew Mutantsmoviemay be next, and could even be ready in time to start production in spring 2017. As of now, it very much sounds like Fox is deciding how to proceed. Do they continue on with the decades plan with or without Lawrence, Fassbender, and McAvoy with a 90s-set sequel? Do they focus on the continuing adventures of Cyclops and Jean Grey? Do they set the complete reboot button given that evenHugh Jackmanis hanging up the Wolverine claws andDeadpoolandNew Mutantsaren’t yet entangled in the existingX-Mentimeline? We’ll surely find out, but for now, it sounds like Kinberg is going to take a stab at crafting a proper sequel—albeit with a different director at the helm.
What do you think folks? Which direction do you want to see theX-Menfranchise go in? Sound off in the comments below.
