Stories have been thrown back and forth whether or not Kick-Ass director, Matthew Vaughn, would be helming the prequel/reboot of the X-Men franchise new film, X-Men: First Class, based off the comic book written by Jeff Parker. Many names were dropped (Louis Leterrier, Jonathan Mostow, Daniel Espinosa, Rupert Sanders, Timur Bekmambetov, David Slade, and Carl Erick Rinsch) in terms of who would be placed to direct this film, but ultimately the final decision has been placed on Matthew Vaughn for a June, 3, 2011 release.
The big dispute over Vaughn on the interwebs was whether or not he would accept the project. Matthew Vaughn was originally named to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, but turned down the project due to creative differences and other various reasons. After the success of Kick-Ass why wouldn’t FOX want to turn back to Vaughn to try and get this film rolling. Bryan Singer was originally going to take this project, but could no longer due to his position with Jack the Giant Killer at Warner Bros. Jamie Moss haD turned in a screenplay and FOX wanted this film done right away which conflicted with Singer’s schedule with Jack, but Singer will still produce this film.
Now that all the dust has settled, FOX has chosen Matthew Vaughn to direct and who wouldn’t be excited for this, especially with what he did with Kick-Ass. Luckily he did not turn this project down like others have assumed he might do, but the studio has sealed the deal and we should expect X-Men: First Class in Summer of 2011! The story is presumed to take after Bryan Singer’s treatment of it with the formation of the X-Men and the relationship between a young Magneto and Xavier and where things went wrong.
The release will be up against some really heavy hitters for next summer as it is released a week after The Hangover 2, the same weekend as Kung Fu Panda: Kaboom of Doom, and two weeks before The Green Lantern. Sounds like a pretty great Summer if you ask me. I am pretty excited for this X-Men film considering what has happened to the franchise with Wolverine and The Last Stand. I trust the casting will be just as great as Vaughn’s visual creativity and storytelling.
PRESS RELEASE:
BRYAN SINGER AND MATTHEW VAUGHN UNITE FOR X-MEN: FIRST CLASS
Twentieth Century Fox will release film on June 3, 2011
LOS ANGELES (May 4, 2010) __ “Kick-Ass” director Matthew Vaughn will helm X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, a new chapter in Twentieth Century Fox’s blockbuster series of films based on the Marvel Comics.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS begins production this summer for a June 3, 2011 release. Bryan Singer, who conceived the story for FIRST CLASS and directed the original “X-Men” and its sequel “X2,” is producing along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg.
“I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s since LAYER CAKE,” said Singer. “He has a deft hand with multiple characters and storylines, and a great love of the X-Men universe. I feel the combination of this story and his vision will make for an exciting and original X-Men film.”
Added Twentieth Century Fox president of production, Emma Watts: “X-Men: First Class presents an exciting opportunity to further explore the history and relationships of these beloved characters. Matthew’s combination of talent, verve and vision is perfectly suited to the task.”
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.