Following the unexpected announcement earlier this week, Fox has confirmed that Bryan Singer will return to direct “X-Men: First Class.”
According to Variety, the previous draft of “X-Men: First Class” has been discarded in favor of a new treatment by Singer. Jamie Moss (“Ghost in The Shell”) has been hired to write the script and Fox is reportedly moving “aggressively” with the development.
"This is the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where their relationship took a wrong turn," Singer told Variety. "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."
"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," continued Singer. "I put myself in the fan's position, and I think this story is something I would want to see, and so will they."
The article also indicated that Xavier and Magneto would be “20-something” during the film and compared it to J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek.”
Late last year it was announced that “Gossip Girl” creator Josh Schwartz would be writing “X-Men: First Class.” Since Singer has apparently gone “back to the drawing board” with the story, Schwartz’ script may not be utilized in the next draft.
Back in April, “X-Men: First Class” producer Lauren Shuler Donner indicated that the film would focus on the “young” Cyclops, Jean Grey and Beast. However, if Xavier and Magneto are depicted in their twenties throughout “X-men: First Class”, it will not correspond with previous scenes in “X-Men: The Last Stand” which featured Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as younger men during their attempt to recruit Jean Grey or Stewart’s cameo in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” where Xavier rescues Cyclops and a number of other young mutants.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that the film will be set years before the recruitment of Cyclops, Jean Grey and Beast given Singer’s stated desire to focus on the early relationship between Xavier and Magneto. Or Singer could simply ignore the incongruity and include them anyway.
While Singer’s next project hasn’t been set, it’s believed that his next film will either be "Jack the Giant Killer," "Battlestar Galactica" or “Excaliber” before moving on to “X-Men: First Class.”
Would you prefer “X-Men: First Class” focus on Cyclops, Jean Grey and Beast or Xavier and Magneto? Should the film try to stay in continuity with the other “X-Men” films or reboot the franchise? Let us know what you’re thinking in the comment section below or on Twitter!
