Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by NaomiAmethyst (talk | contribs) at 08:04, 24 July 2007 (Undid revision 146719575 by 88.90.60.138 (talk) Vandalism). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

X-Men series
File:XtrilogyDVD.jpg2006 DVD box set
Directed by	Bryan Singer Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand)
Written by	David Hayter (X-Men, X2: X-Men United) Michael Dougherty Dan Harris (X2: X-Men United) Zak Penn (X2, X-Men: The Last Stand)Simon Kinberg (X-Men: The Last Stand)
Produced by	Lauren Shuler Donner Ralph Winter Avi Arad Tom DeSanto
Starring	Hugh Jackman Patrick Stewart Ian McKellen Famke Janssen Halle Berry Rebecca Romijn Anna Paquin Shawn Ashmore James Marsden
Distributed by	Twentieth Century Fox
Countries	United States Canada
Language	English
Box office	$1.163 billion

The X-Men film series currently consists of three superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics team the X-Men. The series began with X-Men in 2000, continued with X2: X-Men United in 2003, and became a trilogy with the release of X-Men: The Last Stand in 2006. Bryan Singer directed the first two films, but left the third to direct Superman Returns, and Brett Ratner took over. While the films' storylines have been concluded, Twentieth Century Fox are developing spin-offs.

Films

X-Men

The first X-Men film introduced Wolverine and Rogue into the conflict between Professor X's X-Men, and the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a United Nations summit with a machine he has built, to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Professor X realizes this forced mutation will only result in their deaths.

In 1994, 20th Century Fox and producer Lauren Shuler Donner bought the film rights to the X-Men. Andrew Kevin Walker was hired to write, and his scripts was followed by drafts by John Logan, Ed Solomon and Joss Whedon. In 1995 Tom DeSanto began to convince Bryan Singer to direct. Singer was already looking to do a science-fiction film, and he accepted in 1996. Singer was not a fan of the comic book, but was highly fascinated by the analogies of racism, homophobia, anti-semitism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination offered by it. Filming took place from September 22 1999 to March 3 2000 in Toronto.

X2: X-Men United

After Magneto is imprisoned, General William Stryker questions him about Professor Xavier's mutant-locating machine, Cerebro. Stryker attacks the X-Mansion, and brainwashes Xavier into locating every mutant on the planet and kill them. The X-Men must team up with the Brotherhood and prevent Stryker's worldwide genocide.

Fox hired David Hayter and Zak Penn to write their own scripts for the sequel which Singer would pick, with an aim to release the film in December 2002. Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris were hired to re-write the script in February 2002, writing around 26 drafts and 150 on set. Production began on June 17 2002 in Vancouver and wrapped by November, with the release moved to May 1 2003.

X-Men: The Last Stand

A pharmaceutical company has developed an antidote to the mutant gene, provoking controversy in the mutant community. Magneto declares war, and has his own weapon: the omnipotent telekinetic and telepathic Phoenix, who is the resurrected former X-Man, Jean Grey. Phoenix kills Xavier and Cyclops, and Wolverine must step up to the challenge of being the X-Men's leader.

Bryan Singer wanted to shoot the third film back-to-back with a fourth. On July 16 2004, he left to direct Superman Returns, having only completed a third of a treatment focusing on Phoenix, and introducing Emma Frost, a role intended for Sigourney Weaver. Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn were hired the following month, and a studio executive read Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men story "Gifted", featuring a mutant cure, suggested it be the primary story. Matthew Vaughn came on board as director in February 2005, but left as he was unhappy with several aspects of the production. Brett Ratner took over in June, and altered the location of the film's climax from Washington D.C. to San Francisco.

Cast and characters

List indicator(s)

• Italics indicate a cameo.
• A dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.

Reception

Box office performance

Critical reaction

Future

In August 2006, following the release of the third film, producer Lauren Shuler Donner reported that renegotiations would be required to continue the primary film series. Newer cast members were signed, while the older cast members, including Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Romijn, Famke Janssen, and Anna Paquin, were not. In July 2007, Donner said that that there was no script for a fourth film, and that none was in the works. Later in the month, however, Kevin Feige, president of production in Marvel Studios said that another X-Men film was possible.

Each X-Men film was more expensive than the last, with larger salaries and more spectacular visual effects, so an X-Men 4 is unlikely to be produced soon. Twentieth Century Fox chose the "divide and conquer" route for the franchise with multiple spin-offs, including prequels focusing on Wolverine and Magneto, a film about the students at the X-Mansion to be written by Zak Penn, and director David O. Russell expressed interest in a film about Emma Frost.

Wolverine

• David Benioff was hired to pen the screenplay for the spin-off film Wolverine in October 2004. Hugh Jackman became producer as well as star, and is being paid $20 million for the film. He worked with Benioff on the script, aiming for a smaller-scale character piece. The script was finished as of October 15 2006, and Jackman indicated there would be a year before shooting. X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner and Len Wiseman also expressed interest in directing the film. Vinnie Jones and Tyler Mane may reprise their roles as the Juggernaut and Sabretooth respectively. Brian Cox said William Stryker is in the script and the film is set seventeen years before X-Men, but is unsure of whether he'll return. Jackman said the film will shoot for about four months, possibly in Australia. He doesn't see the need for an R rating.

• Gavin Hood was announced as director of the project in July 2007, with filming to begin in November for a 2008 release.

• 20th Century Fox has registered http://www.wolverineorigins.com giving belief that the Wolverine spin-off film may be called 'Origins: Wolverine' or 'Wolverine Origins'. There has been no official confirmation of the film title from the studio. ref: (http://xmenfilms.net/xmfnews/2007/07/23/origins-spinoffs/)

Magneto

• In December 2004, Twentieth Century Fox hired screenwriter Sheldon Turner to draft a spin-off X-Men film, and he chose to write Magneto, pitching it as "The Pianist meets X-Men." The script was set from 1939 to 1955, and explored the "psychological roots" of Magneto. In May 2006, Ian McKellen said he would reprise the role using the computer-generated facelift applied to him in the prologue of X-Men: The Last Stand. In April 2007, David S. Goyer was hired to direct, with the announcement actors in their twenties would play the characters. Goyer will use the script by Turner, which follows Magneto trying to survive in Auschwitz, and meeting Xavier, a soldier, during the liberation of the camp. He hunts down the Nazi war criminals that tortured him, and this lust for vengeance turns him and Xavier into enemies. Avi Arad said it is planned for a 2009 release.

• 20th Century Fox has registered http://www.magnetoorigins.com giving belief that the Magneto spin-off film may be called 'Origins: Magneto' or 'Magneto Origins'. There has been no official confirmation of the film title from the studio. ref: (http://xmenfilms.net/xmfnews/2007/07/23/origins-spinoffs/)

References

1. ^ Peter Sanderson (2003). X-Men: The Ultimate Guide. Dorling Kindersley. p. 172. ISBN 0-7513-4617-9.
2. Steve Daly (1995-09-29). "Deadly Done Right". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. Craig Seymour (2000-05-10). "X-Man Out". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. Bryan Singer (2003). Audio Commentary. 20th Century Fox. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
5. "July 14". Entertainment Weekly. 2000-04-21. Retrieved 2007-05-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. Greg Dean Schmitz. "Greg's Preview - X-Men". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
7. ^ Greg Dean Schmitz. "Greg's Preview - X2: X-Men United". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
8. Martin A. Grove (2003-04-11). "Fox's 'X2' marks spot as presummer starts May 2". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-04-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. Patrick Sauriol (2004-02-24). "What's X3 about?". Mania Movies. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. Cathy Dunkley, Michael Fleming (2004-07-18). "Supe's on with 'X' man". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. Eric Vespe (2006-07-22). "Quint on Superman Returns gag reel & sequel talk with Singer". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. Garth Franklin (2006-09-14). "Sigourney was considered for "X3"". DarkHorizons.com. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
13. Sean Elliott (2006-06-08). "Exclusive Interview: SCREENWRITER SIMON KINBERG TALKS X-MEN: THE LAST STAND - PART 1". iF Magazine. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. "Love, Actually". The Observer. 2005-08-14. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
15. Michael Fleming, Claude Brodesser (2005-06-05). "New master for mutants". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. Brett Ratner, Simon Kinberg, Zak Penn (2006). Audio Commentary (DVD). 20th Century Fox.
17. "X-Men (2000)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
18. "X2: X-Men United (2003)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
19. "X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
20. "X-Men". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
21. "X-Men (Cream of the Crop)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
22. "X-Men". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
23. "X2: X-Men United". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
24. "X2: X-Men United (Cream of the Crop)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
25. "X2: X-Men United (2004): Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
26. "X2: X-Men United - Critics Reviews". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
27. "X-Men: The Last Stand". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
28. "X-Men: The Last Stand (Cream of the Crop)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
29. "X-Men: The Last Stand". Metacritic. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
30. "X-Men: The Last Stand - Critics Reviews". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
31. Marilyn Beck (2006-08-13). "Major renegotiations possible stumbling block for new 'X-Men'". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
32. Stephen Galloway (2007-07-10). "Studios are hunting the next big property". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
33. Jake Coyle (2007-07-19). "Hollywood Studios Go Sequel Crazy". MyWay. Retrieved 2007-07-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
34. Giyash Pandya (2006-05-25). "Box Office Preview: X-Men 3 Ready to Rock Memorial Day Weekend". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
35. Erik Davis (2007-05-01). "Zak Penn Talks X-Men Spin-Off, Incredible Hulk Casting with Cinematical". Cinematical. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
36. Anthony Breznican (2006-06-01). "'X-Men' franchise mutates into a pack of solo films". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-07-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
37. Michael Fleming (2004-10-04). "'X' marks spinoff spot". Variety. Retrieved 2006-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
38. Steven Galloway (2007-07-10). "Studios are hunting the next big property". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
39. "Interview - Hugh Jackman". CanMag. 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2006-10-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
40. Heather Newgen (2006-10-15). "Jackman says Wolverine script is ready". SuperHeroHype.com. Retrieved 2006-10-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
41. ^ "Ratner To Direct Wolverine Film?". Internet Movie Database. 2006-03-20. Retrieved 2006-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
42. Edward Douglas (2007-07-22). "Len Wiseman on Wolverine". Superherohype.com. Retrieved 2007-07-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
43. Sean Elliott (2006-06-20). "Exclusive Interview: Screenwriter Simon Kinberg Talks X-Men: The Last Stand - Part 3". iFMagazine.com. Retrieved 2006-09-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
44. Shawn Adler (2007-03-21). "Movie File: Chris Brown, 'Ocean's Thirteen,' Michelle Trachtenberg & More". MTV. Retrieved 2007-03-21. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
45. Harry Knowles (2007-02-02). "Brian Cox to be CG Young-ified in WOLVERINE movie?". Ain't It Cool News. Retrieved 2007-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
46. Steve Head (2006-10-30). "Wolverine Machine". IGN. Retrieved 2006-10-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
47. Hugh Jackman (2006-10-20). "Hugh Jackman on The Prestige!" (Quicktime). Latino Review. Retrieved 2006-10-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
48. Michael Fleming, Peter Gilstrap (2007-07-19). "Fox says Hood good for 'Wolverine'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-20. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
49. Michael Fleming (2004-12-12). "Fox pages Turner to pen Magneto spinoff pic". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
50. Michelle Kung (2004-12-20). "Checking in with... 'Magneto'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-04-07. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
51. Stax (2006-05-02). "McKellen Talks Magneto Movie". IGN. Retrieved 2007-04-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
52. Michael Fleming (2007-04-26). "Fox, Marvel move on 'Magneto'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
53. Shawn Adler (2007-05-15). "'X-Men' Spin-Off 'Magneto' To Reveal Anti-Hero Origin Story". MTV. Retrieved 2007-05-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Trilogy comparison at Box Office Mojo

• XMenFilms.net Fan Site

• X-Men films
• Fantasy films by series
• Film series
• Action films by series