I can tell you right now, that if they go through with this idea, it will destroy the X-Men franchise. Why not just make a New Mutants movie with Cannonball and that volcano dude and that tiger chick? Oh, and the Warlock guy too.
Anyways, here we go again. Hollywood making movies from writers of shitty teen TV dramas:
20th Century Fox is gearing up to continue its "X-Men" franchise with a younger set of mutants.
Studio has tapped "Gossip Girl" creator Josh Schwartz to write "X-Men: First Class." He'd also been offered a chance to direct the film, but declined.
Schwartz, the creator and exec producer of CW's teen sudser hit as well as Fox's youth-centric "The O.C." and NBC's "Chuck," is expected to inject a next-gen sensibility into the superhero series, which has collectively earned $1.2 billion worldwide.
Fox is keeping quiet on its specific plans for the new project.
But the studio has been considering ways to continue its successful series of "X-Men" movies after the third installment, "X-Men: The Last Stand," helmed by Brett Ratner, collected $459 million in 2006.
It's been leaning toward using the younger characters introduced in the previous pics in future installments --teenagers with powers taught at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning.
Resulting film would likely draw from elements of the Marvel Comic of the same name, launched in 2006, and enlist such characters as Iceman, Rogue, Angel, Colossus, Jubilee and Shadowcat, who have appeared prominently or made cameos in prior pics.
Given the penchant for reboots with new actors playing familiar roles, pic could also reintroduce characters.
Lauren Shuler Donner, who produced all three "X-Men" pics, as well as next summer's "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," is producing "First Class" alongside "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" scribe Simon Kinberg.
Since its dismal summer at the box office, Fox has placed renewed attention on its "X-Men" franchise. The studio, which is actively developing a standalone "Magneto" pic, also is considering creating a "Deadpool" spinoff, based on a character played by Ryan Reynolds in "Wolverine." Shuler Donner also is producing "Magneto."
Although Schwartz has enjoyed smallscreen success, he has yet to crack the world of film with a significant project. He wrote and is attached to direct the coming-of-age comedy "Looking for Alaska" for Paramount Pictures.
Tackling a new "X-Men" installment will likely give Schwartz instant credibility within the studio world.
Schwartz is repped by Endeavor and Fuse Entertainment.
Personally, I'm sick to death of seeing teenagers as superheroes on screen. I've had my fill with the Spidey drama, and this looks even dumber. I don't want to see young heroes first learning their powers and finding out their origins, while learning to co-operate and explore their feelings towards each other while Mommy and Daddy think they're in a boarding school. Meanwhile Kitty Pryde has conflicting feelings for Colossus when she accidentally phased into the bathroom and found him wacking it in the shower in his steel form. Screw all of that. Why can't Fox just continue with a more mature look at the X franchise and super hero films?
And the whole Deadpool thing could work. Except it's Ryan Reynolds. Who I'm sure will just tap into that oh so electrifying performance he gave in Blade III as inspiration for his smarmy take on the character.
Justice League and now this? No thanks. I'll pass.
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