Days of Future Past Bryan Singer not directing X-Men: First Class?

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JackMercy linked to this in another thread, but I think this deserves its own.

HitFix has exclusively learned, from multiple sources, that Bryan Singer may not be directing “X-Men: First Class” despite recent press reports to the contrary, and that 20th Century Fox is actively searching for directors to step in and helm the film, with discussions with at least two other filmmakers as recently as last week.

The filmmakers that they’re approaching now about directing “X-Men: First Class” are good names, guys who either have real experience in the comic book movie medium or who have heavy credibility with fan audiences. Names that would make fanboys happy from the first moment they’re announced. I’m curious to see who else they meet with in the next few weeks now that their first few choices have passed. Those meetings, exclusively reported by HitFix, make it seem like no matter what public face they’re putting on things, Fox is making plans as if Singer will not be free.

Singer is already scouting locations for "Jack The Giant Killer." He's deep into pre-production on the picture now, and it would seem almost actionable if he were to drop out at this point. Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are counting on Singer to deliver this big-budget fairy-tale, and the earliest he's going to be free to start work on another large-scale picture will be 2012. There's no way Fox wants to wait for either "X-Men: First Class" or "Wolverine 2" for that long, so my guess is that Singer will be involved in those films as a producer of some sort, but not directing either one.

It sounds like "X-Men 4," the next full adventure of the original cast, is going to be the earliest place in the story arc where Singer's going to be able to get behind the camera again, which raises the question of why they sat for this story and what games are being played here. It's interesting... when Singer was waiting for Fox to make his deal on "X-Men 3," a process that took over a year due to some hardball negotiation, Warner Bros. took advantage of that and dangled the "Superman" in front of him. It was an awkward moment for Fox and led to some seriously difficult feelings between Singer and the studio. I'm sure Fox would be happy to undercut Warner on a big fantasy film by stealing Singer away, but this is not the same situation. Singer's already signed and in process on "Jack The Giant Killer," and I would hope he stays to see that one through before running back to the studio that treated him with such powerful contempt at least once before. Fox may be whispering sweet nothings to him now, but this is the same studio that had him thrown off the lot over "X-Men 3" a week before they had to allow him back on the lot to make the "House" pilot.

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12...inger-directing-x-men-first-class-not-so-fast
 
I always knew he was going to have to ditch either this or Jack the Giant Killer, and I really thought it was going to be Jack.
 
If Singer is not on board for First Class my interest will severely drop. Unless he works as producer or some type of supervisor role but even I'm not sure I'll be seeing it in theaters. I like how the article points out that WB is once again involved with Singer not being available for Fox's deadline for an X-Men film.
 
For me it all depends on the replacement director. Matthew Vaughn would be a good choice, but he's got Kick-Ass now.

Does this mean they'll be bringing back Josh Schwartz and his script? Fox better not screw this up again!
 
Ugh, great, just when I was getting optimistic about an X-Men movie we got another X3/SR fiasco preventing Singer from directing, ugh!
 
For me it all depends on the replacement director. Matthew Vaughn would be a good choice, but he's got Kick-Ass now.

Matthew Vaughn would indeed be a good choice but there is no guarantee Fox won't treat him the same way. Singer was the only director that could seemed to handle Fox's business tactics.

Besides, with Singer not able to direct because of a WB film and Fox being anxious to meet a deadline for the new X-Men film, I wouldn't doubt Vaughn leaving and being replaced by Ratner at the last minute.

Does this mean they'll be bringing back Josh Schwartz and his script? Fox better not screw this up again!
:csad:
 
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Hopefully this turns out horrible and Disney takes it over thereafter. Seems like Fox really wants to have FC and Wolverine 2 out at the same time because they are running out of time with FF and DD.
 
Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. I'll believe it once it's on the front page.
 
Everything old is new again?

Jesus Christ, Fox. You have Wolverine ready, you don't need to rush anything. It's not like the X-men are going to be out of the public's mind anytime soon.
 
Hopefully this turns out horrible and Disney takes it over thereafter. Seems like Fox really wants to have FC and Wolverine 2 out at the same time because they are running out of time with FF and DD.

I don't want to say this, but I can actually understand why Fox would want to get another director on-board. When they signed Singer he wasn't 100% sure what his next movie would be, however over the past few months Jack the Giant Killer has entered further into pre-production. 2 years is a long time to wait for Singer.

On the positive side, I guess this means we'll get X-Men: First Class earlier than we would if Singer directed. There's just the small issue of whether it will be any good or not...
 
On the positive side, I guess this means we'll get X-Men: First Class earlier than we would if Singer directed. There's just the small issue of whether it will be any good or not...

Is this really a positive? Honestly, Fox's track record proves otherwise and without Singer at the helm I think we may end up with another lackluster entry into the X-Men Franchise.
 
I don't want to say this, but I can actually understand why Fox would want to get another director on-board. When they signed Singer he wasn't 100% sure what his next movie would be, however over the past few months Jack the Giant Killer has entered further into pre-production. 2 years is a long time to wait for Singer.

On the positive side, I guess this means we'll get X-Men: First Class earlier than we would if Singer directed. There's just the small issue of whether it will be any good or not...

I'm just curious as to why Fox wants to rush out a prequel? It's Fox I know, but still... I can understand if it was X-4 with the same cast. Maybe they want to re-use the actors in Wolverine. Or maybe they need to do X-Men movies to maintain rights. Why not wait an extra year if Bryan is comitted?. I have my doubts Wolverine will also reach it's target date so I don't know why Fox is rushing both of them.
 
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On the positive side, I guess this means we'll get X-Men: First Class earlier than we would if Singer directed.

I guess that means we can at least get it over with quick.

My anticipation for this film just went down the drain.
 
I'm more interested in an X-Men 4 rather than First Class and I hope an X4 happens before any of the actors they plan on bringing aboard start getting too old.
 
I'm just curious as to why Fox wants to rush out a prequel? It's Fox I know, but still... I can understand if it was X-4 with the same cast. Maybe they want to re-use the actors in Wolverine. Or maybe they need to do X-Men movies to maintain rights. Why not wait an extra year if Bryan is comitted?. I have my doubts Wolverine also reach it's target date so I don't know why Fox is rushing both of them.

That's how movie studios work. Sony recently did it with Spider-Man. They didn't want to wait while Raimi sorted out the script so they bailed and rebooted. They like to have their big summer tentpoles lines up years in advance. X-Men: First Class is one, and they don't want to delay it more than they need too. Wolverine and X3 proved that they don't need Singer to make $400 million+ (which is what they only care about at the end of the day).

Ideally they'd wait for Singer, but they are a business and they don't want to wait for him while he's away making money for a rival studio. This is like X3/Superman all over again. I just hope they keep it civil and have Singer as a producer so he can make more X-Men movies when he's free.
 
Yeah but Sony has to keep the rights. Fox already does that with Wolverine or even Deadpool to my knowledge, as long as those movies are made.
 
Yeah but Sony has to keep the rights. Fox already does that with Wolverine or even Deadpool to my knowledge, as long as those movies are made.

Yeah in this case rights aren't an issue. But they have the opportunity to make an X-Men film and gain $200+ million in profit, so they are going to take it.

It's not as though X-Men: First Class is going to be rushed production like X3 was. If they were going to change directors they might as well do it now rather than wait a few more months and then try and rush it out for summer 2012.

If they hire a new director over the next few weeks that he should have plenty of time to focus on it and at least try to do it right.
 
Yeah but Sony has to keep the rights. Fox already does that with Wolverine or even Deadpool to my knowledge, as long as those movies are made.

I heard something about a Wolverine film only keeping the Wolverine rights and that there has to be a film using several X-Men characters to keep the rights to all the X-Men. Which might explain why there were so many X-Men cameos in Wolverine. Wolverine 2 will not have as many cameo possibilities so they might need First Class.

Or maybe they want to squeeze some more dollar bills out of this prequel idea so they can make an X4 before all the actors become too old.

Yeah in this case rights aren't an issue. But they have the opportunity to make an X-Men film and gain $200+ million in profit, so they are going to take it.

It's not as though X-Men: First Class is going to be rushed production like X3 was. If they were going to change directors they might as well do it now rather than wait a few more months and then try and rush it out for summer 2012.

If they hire a new director over the next few weeks that he should have plenty of time to focus on it and at least try to do it right.

Unfortunately they had all the time in the world for Wolverine and they still messed it up.
 
I never heard that death head... not saying it doesn't sound right. I know X-Men is their most profitable, but if that was the case, DD would have gone back to Marvel by now. Maybe it already has or will shortly so who knows... but if Fox wants summer 2012 they will be hit hard in what will be a jam packed CB season. 200 million in profits is a pipe dream.
 
Yeah in this case rights aren't an issue.

It's not as though X-Men: First Class is going to be rushed production like X3 was.

A) Aren't they? :2face: :ninja:

B) That remains to be seen. :dry:


Oh, and...thanks for the credit up top.
 
let him do X4 then wonder who could be these directors maybe

Matthew Vaughn
Louis Leterrier
David Yates
Gore Verbinski

just to name a few
 
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I was afraid something like this would happen. I had hoped Fox moving forward with the Wolverine sequel would buy First Class some time. If true, I guess not.
 
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Making an X-men prequel is a terrible idea. And a stupid one.
 
Ah well, it sounded too good. I wonder if they keep Singer's story treatment as the basis anyway, or the screenwriter he picked.
 
Hmm.. not surprised FOX cant wait to get their X-men franchise going...
or maybe its the license and if they do not make a First Class movie soon, they will loose it?
 

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