Stan Lee talks X3 & speculates on the X-Future.

[Advanced Dark]

Oct. 2, 2006, 3:37PM
Could this be the end?
X-Men creator doesn't think The Last Stand really is

By BRUCE WESTBROOK
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Are Marvel Studios kingpins wearing their superhero tights too tight?
Despite a combined global gross of $1.1 billion for three X-Men movies, the mutant team is done, as suggested by the title of X-Men: The Last Stand, new on DVD Oct. 3.

But longtime Marvel maestro Stan Lee isn't so sure.
"I don't make those decisions, but my guess is there will be more X-Men movies," said the man who joined artist Jack Kirby to create the outcast superhero team for comics in 1963. "It's such an open-ended thing. They can do anything they want."
Most likely that will mean X-film spinoffs. Expected in 2008 is Wolverine, a prequel about Hugh Jackman's testy, clawed, cigar-chomping character. Or various other X-teams such as X-Factor could join the mix.
But for now, Wolverine and his pals celebrate a possible last hurrah with The Last Stand, in which the X-Men are caught between Magneto's (Ian McKellen) violent brotherhood of mutants and a scientific push to "cure" mutants of their powers.
The movie rocks as an action flick, but the extras aren't so super. Beyond a commentary track, your best bets are 10 minutes of deleted scenes and three alternate endings.
Deleted scenes include some extended fight footage. Alternate endings include different closing fates for Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Wolverine.
The biggest change involves Rogue. She reverses a decision she makes at the end of the theatrical cut, in terms of whether or not to retain her life-draining powers.
Keeping them means she can never touch boyfriend Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) without killing him. Losing them means she'll no longer be super. What's a girl to do?
While you're wondering, be sure to sit tightly through the closing credits. A surprise post-credits scene packs a wallop for fans of Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart).
Last Stand? Not in this Marvel universe.
"I'm sure there will be more X-Men," Lee says.

Source: http://www.thechron.com

Didn't see this anywhere here so hope it's new to you guys. If not...oh well.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I haven't seen it before.

I doubt there will ever be an X-Men 4... and if there ever is, I'd be very weary about it.

There's WAY TOO MUCH that could go wrong with it. If a 4th movie were to be made, the filmmakers would be walking a very tight rope to keep the character arcs alive without resorting to cheese and making it too over the top to be taken seriously.

 

[Neto Magnus]

wow that goes to show that Lee's Executive producer title had no real meaning to it.

 

[the a1ant]

I wish Mr. Lee could get more input with these films. He really doesn't have much say-so in these films, which suck, since he helped create these characters

 

[AznBABYBANDIT]

if theres an X4, there'll be me

 

[Tony Stark]

They need to make X4 as an apology to the fans.

 

[taintedFB]

I think X4 is way down the line and will probably feature some of the characters in Uncanny X-Men: Havok, Polaris, etc... but I think they should bring back Cyclops and Angel and Beast. I think Storm's done.

 

[taintedFB]

Oops. double post.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I think Storm's done.

Storm is kind of the headmistress of the school. She's in charge of the school and the X-Men. She's kinda vital...

IF an X-Men 4 happens (and it is something I'm very weary about, because I believe too much has been concluded to justify another movie), Storm and Wolverine DEFINATLEY need to come back. The movie can survive without Beast and Angel, because they were both shown to not stay at the school in the end.

Xavier and Magneto have to be touched upon. Even if just briefly.

Storm will lead a team consisting of Wolverine, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus. Perfect time to add Gambit into the mix. And probably twink around with some other new characters as well to throw into the mix.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Why has too much concluded? They could do another trilogy that takes place before the first trilogy.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

^ Why has too much concluded? They could do another trilogy that takes place before the first trilogy.

Too much has concluded because Scott, Jean, and Xavier are dead, Rogue is cured, Nightcrawler, Beast, and Angel never stuck around after their inclusions... it's just Storm, Wolverine, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus.

Although on it's own, that's not a bad team of X-Men by any right, the core, central characters in this trilogy (even if they all didn't have the biggest roles) were Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Jean, and Xavier. And I don't think it's in good storytelling fashion, for an ongoing story that should intertwine with the installments before it, to change the core characters, and all of a sudden turn Iceman, Kitty, and Colossus into the focus of these films, when they never were before.

Okay, sure, Xavier is still alive, and Magneto barely moved a chess piece... but I don't think any of that is solid enough to constitute an "ongoing story arc" vital enough to justify a whole new core of characters.

Plus, unlike X-Men or X2, the ongoing story arcs through the trilogy have been concluded (perhaps not to satisfaction of many people, but concluded none-the-less)

Wolverine's past has been dealt with (even in the comics he never learns the full truth about his past), Iceman and Rogue have "solved" the "problem" of their relationship ( ), the Phoenix has risen, and been defeated.

There may be comic book elements that have yet to be touched upon, but in terms of the movie verse story arcs, there's really nothing left.

I acknowledge that it's possible for an X-Men 4 to happen, and to work. But, I think the odds are against it, considering how X-Men: The Last Stand wrapped things up. I don't neccesarily agree that it was the right direction to take... but it's how things happened, and I think by this point, a 4th film will just be overkill.

 

[Halcohol]

I think Daniel Cudmore had it right when he said that it'll be awhile before they make X4...

I sure hope that when they do it'll be something incredible

 

[Advanced Dark]

Too much has concluded because Scott, Jean, and Xavier are dead, Rogue is cured, Nightcrawler, Beast, and Angel never stuck around after their inclusions... it's just Storm, Wolverine, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus.

Although on it's own, that's not a bad team of X-Men by any right, the core, central characters in this trilogy (even if they all didn't have the biggest roles) were Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Jean, and Xavier. And I don't think it's in good storytelling fashion, for an ongoing story that should intertwine with the installments before it, to change the core characters, and all of a sudden turn Iceman, Kitty, and Colossus into the focus of these films, when they never were before.

Okay, sure, Xavier is still alive, and Magneto barely moved a chess piece... but I don't think any of that is solid enough to constitute an "ongoing story arc" vital enough to justify a whole new core of characters.

Plus, unlike X-Men or X2, the ongoing story arcs through the trilogy have been concluded (perhaps not to satisfaction of many people, but concluded none-the-less)

Wolverine's past has been dealt with (even in the comics he never learns the full truth about his past), Iceman and Rogue have "solved" the "problem" of their relationship ( ), the Phoenix has risen, and been defeated.

There may be comic book elements that have yet to be touched upon, but in terms of the movie verse story arcs, there's really nothing left.

I acknowledge that it's possible for an X-Men 4 to happen, and to work. But, I think the odds are against it, considering how X-Men: The Last Stand wrapped things up. I don't neccesarily agree that it was the right direction to take... but it's how things happened, and I think by this point, a 4th film will just be overkill.

Did you read my post? Read it again. I feel bad after that long response but read my post. LOL

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

Did you read my post? Read it again. I feel bad after that long response but read my post. LOL

We're already getting prequels though, Wolverine for sure. Possibly Magneto... those are our prequels beforehand.

Prequels before X-Men would involve a very minimal amount of characters.

Cyclops, Storm, Jean, Xavier, and probably Beast, since he's considered an original in the movie trilogy. They'd be fighting against even more Magneto, something we've already seen.

In this case, I don't think doing a prequel will be a good idea, because it won't really bring anything new to the table.

Plus, Wolverine is pretty vital. I may not be the biggest Wolverine fan (although I do like the character), but I acknowledge his importance to the X-Men. Sure, he might not be an original, X-Men has existed without him, but by this point (even before the movies), Wolverine and X-Men are kinda one in the same. You can't really have the X-Men without Wolverine. He's the poster boy.

I dunno that they'd dare do an X-Men movie without Wolverine.

I just don't think prequels will really work (I don't even really want the Wolverine spinoff)

 

[Advanced Dark]

We're already getting prequels though, Wolverine for sure. Possibly Magneto... those are our prequels beforehand.

Prequels before X-Men would involve a very minimal amount of characters.

Cyclops, Storm, Jean, Xavier, and probably Beast, since he's considered an original in the movie trilogy. They'd be fighting against even more Magneto, something we've already seen.

In this case, I don't think doing a prequel will be a good idea, because it won't really bring anything new to the table.

Plus, Wolverine is pretty vital. I may not be the biggest Wolverine fan (although I do like the character), but I acknowledge his importance to the X-Men. Sure, he might not be an original, X-Men has existed without him, but by this point (even before the movies), Wolverine and X-Men are kinda one in the same. You can't really have the X-Men without Wolverine. He's the poster boy.

I dunno that they'd dare do an X-Men movie without Wolverine.

I just don't think prequels will really work (I don't even really want the Wolverine spinoff)

Prequels don't work? Justify that one. They work just fine. I'm not talking about spin-offs. I think it'd be cool to see the first real X-Men story where professor X first opens up his mansion, the intro of The Beast, Cyclops, etc...with no Wolverine. And at the end of the final film in that arc it could lead into a new one. I think a story taking place after X3 would be awesome. Not everything was tied together. The Beast and Storm are taking over the Mansion until Professor X somehow or another comes back. More of Angel/Archangle, Apocalypse and the Four horseman, etc...

 

[javon]

Too much has concluded because Scott, Jean, and Xavier are dead, Rogue is cured, Nightcrawler, Beast, and Angel never stuck around after their inclusions... it's just Storm, Wolverine, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus.

Although on it's own, that's not a bad team of X-Men by any right, the core, central characters in this trilogy (even if they all didn't have the biggest roles) were Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Jean, and Xavier. And I don't think it's in good storytelling fashion, for an ongoing story that should intertwine with the installments before it, to change the core characters, and all of a sudden turn Iceman, Kitty, and Colossus into the focus of these films, when they never were before.

Okay, sure, Xavier is still alive, and Magneto barely moved a chess piece... but I don't think any of that is solid enough to constitute an "ongoing story arc" vital enough to justify a whole new core of characters.

Plus, unlike X-Men or X2, the ongoing story arcs through the trilogy have been concluded (perhaps not to satisfaction of many people, but concluded none-the-less)

Wolverine's past has been dealt with (even in the comics he never learns the full truth about his past), Iceman and Rogue have "solved" the "problem" of their relationship ( ), the Phoenix has risen, and been defeated.

There may be comic book elements that have yet to be touched upon, but in terms of the movie verse story arcs, there's really nothing left.

I acknowledge that it's possible for an X-Men 4 to happen, and to work. But, I think the odds are against it, considering how X-Men: The Last Stand wrapped things up. I don't neccesarily agree that it was the right direction to take... but it's how things happened, and I think by this point, a 4th film will just be overkill.

t: That was pretty good. Although I surely wish if Halle could get in...even if she WANTED to.

 

[YJ1]

X4 WILL happen. The only question is if it'll happen before 2010 and will it feature the original cast.

Forget clones or twin brothers. If they want to bring back Xavier, all they have to do is establish that Jean didn't disintegrate anyone in X3. Rather, she just transported all those people to another dimension ALA Nightcrawler. That way, it's just Xavier communicating with Moria through that body from another dimension. Also, Cyclops and Psylocke can rejoin the franchise. That's a bit silly and it lessens the impact of X3 but it beats the twin brother crap mentioned by the writers on the DVD commentary. Also, Jean can still be trapped under the Lake as it was just a corrupt doppelganger created by her fractured mind that arose and did damage in X3.

X4 should feature NO Storm, Rogue, Magneto, Mystique or Brotherhood. It should feature the rest of the X-Men seen to date and Gambit. Resurrect everyone and rescue Jean using Psylocke and Xavier within the first 20 minutes of the film. Keep Jean in a coma until the end of the film where she rises and saves the day with full Phoenix effects. Use Cyclops more and give us a full Registration Act storyline featuring plenty of real Sentinels.

See, easy plot with both fans and the general public happy as can be. Eliminating Halle & Ian's salary as well as their costly displays of power would give X4 budget flexability. This is how Fox should be thinking at this early date and X4 should be planned directly after the Wolverine spin off.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Why is it a lot of X3 supporters say that too much has concluded? Nothing has really concluded, nor has anything really been set in stone.

The bottom line is nothing is forever in the Marvel Comics universe. You can easily bring back Cyclops, Magneto, Mystique, Rogue, and Xavier(Since he never truly died in the first place), and you can even bring back Jean without it being ridiculous at all.

I want the rights to go back to Marvel instead of remaining in Fox. It's clear Fox didn't really want a great film to begin with, so they just rushed out a film to beat Superman Returns to the theater.

 

[MorningStar06]

X4 WILL happen. The only question is if it'll happen before 2010 and will it feature the original cast.

Forget clones or twin brothers. If they want to bring back Xavier, all they have to do is establish that Jean didn't disintegrate anyone in X3. Rather, she just transported all those people to another dimension ALA Nightcrawler. That way, it's just Xavier communicating with Moria through that body from another dimension. Also, Cyclops and Psylocke can rejoin the franchise. That's a bit silly and it lessens the impact of X3 but it beats the twin brother crap mentioned by the writers on the DVD commentary. Also, Jean can still be trapped under the Lake as it was just a corrupt doppelganger created by her fractured mind that arose and did damage in X3.

X4 should feature NO Storm, Rogue, Magneto, Mystique or Brotherhood. It should feature the rest of the X-Men seen to date and Gambit. Resurrect everyone and rescue Jean using Psylocke and Xavier within the first 20 minutes of the film. Keep Jean in a coma until the end of the film where she rises and saves the day with full Phoenix effects. Use Cyclops more and give us a full Registration Act storyline featuring plenty of real Sentinels.

See, easy plot with both fans and the general public happy as can be. Eliminating Halle & Ian's salary as well as their costly displays of power would give X4 budget flexability. This is how Fox should be thinking at this early date and X4 should be planned directly after the Wolverine spin off.

Works for me. =)

 

[fallenAngel]

wow that goes to show that Lee's Executive producer title had no real meaning to it.

"Executive Producer" usually means next to nothing. At most it has to do with distribution or they just wanted an established name to attach to a no name project.

 

[fallenAngel]

Storm is kind of the headmistress of the school. She's in charge of the school and the X-Men. She's kinda vital...

Vital like Scott vital, or like Xavier vital?

I for one am sick of hearing these kinds of statements. If they really wanted to end it. Then they should have paid off all the characters from the last movies and not even bothered with new pointless characters who had no development anyway CoughAngelJuggernautKittyCollosusCallistoCough.

It seems that only the Wolverine spin off is a for sure thing. Oh joy.

 

[fallenAngel]

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[LastSunrise1981]

If the film was as big of a conclusion as a lot of people say it is, then they wouldn't have ended it the way they did. It would've ended with Magneto staying cured, with Xavier staying dead, and with Cyclops fate not being established whatsoever.

The fact that Magneto isn't cured reopens the stories of Mystique and Rogue for sure.

It's time to get the rights away from Fox and give them to a studio like Warner Bros, Sony, New Line Cinema, or even LGF. X-Men deserves a studio that will give it the care and focus that it truly deserves. What Fox did to the Phoenix Saga is something that no one, and I mean no one, should ever truly forgive or forget.

I'm not trying to rip on anyone or rip on anyone who supports the film. But how can you(the supporters of the film) as "true comic book fans" just accept X3? How can you just sit back and say "well, everything is concluded and X4 would just be overkill"? If Batman fans or even James Bond fans had that kind of attitude then neither film would've gotten a restart.

My opinion? Wait a good 3-5 years and either restart it or adapt the story of Apocalypse/Mr. Sinister and bring back Cyclops(As the true leader of the X-Men), Beast, Gambit, Rogue, Iceman, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Bishop, Angel, Mystique, and I can't see Magneto being recasted since Ian did such a brilliant job with the character and brought him to life.

Ian isn't getting any younger and I don't know who could play Magneto.

Don't bring back Halle and recast Storm either casting Thandie Newton or Angela Bassett. Both are excellent actresses and could play the part of Storm easily.

X4 NEEDS to be done. Plain and simple. I don't care how much money, hype, and care is given to the Wolverine or Magneto film they will not do that well for the studio or in the box office.

Has Fox learned anything from Elektra? Yeah, it bombed horribly in the theater and made money via DVD's, but Wolverine and Magneto's stories are not going to appeal to the regular audience at all.

In my opinion, while their stories are unique and interesting, they're not really interesting enough to be made into a motion picture.

 

[Primal Slayer]

They could get around the Storm not being in the movie if they wanted to.

Just say that she was on a mission in Africa and that she left so and so in charge of the school until she comes back.

Ofcourse I hope she would be back if there were an X4 but it could be done without her if needed.

 

[gap5ewl]

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