Sequels The Future of the X-Men franchise.

[Advanced Dark]

Great write up:

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/01/23/revamping_the_x_men_movies_possibilities

 

[BMM]

Apocalypse, the rebirth of Cyclops and Phoenix as Horsemen, alternate realities, Bishop and Cable?... It's interesting, but I honestly don't see any of it happening.

 

[Advanced Dark]

It's either that or do an origin film.

 

[November Rain]

the future apocalypse is the way to go...

not sure about jean and cyclops as horsemen though, maybe rogue and gambit.

 

[BMM]

I think it will be the latter, or something more along the lines of the Mutant Massacre. I guess they could just make something up as well.

 

[X-Maniac]

It's either that or do an origin film.

No, there are other options. I'm writing an X4 in which there is no need for that stuff listed above. A more subtle approach can work, and still have key characters and key action, rather than shoving in stuff just because it's in the comics.

The reception of the X-movies proves that realism-based sci-fi drama works best for across-the-board satisfaction (Exhibit 1: X2...and also Batman Begins) and that throwing in comicbook stuff for the sake of it only enrages the fanboys at the end of the day even if they were the ones screaming for all the comicbook stuff in the first place (Exhibit 2: X3). I'd like to see something between X2 and X3 in style - drama and mood and character; but with energy, kick-ass action and a wow factor.

Fans, mainstream viewers and critics seemed happier with the toned-down Jean and Storm we saw in X1 and X2 than they were with the Phoenix and Storm in X3. I get the feeling that most of the people on these boards now, many of whom regularly whine about X3, did NOT want Angel, Beast, Juggernaut, Callisto, Arclight, Multiple Man, the Danger Room, Kitty, or any of the cameo roles (Leech, Psylocke, etc). They do not want any new characters, they wanted the existing ones developed from X2. And now all they want is Cyclops to come back, sometimes for Jean to come back, as though it's some bizarre soap opera. Obviously all that is not necessarily logical or balanced!

Clearly, X4 can continue the story (as I'm doing in my version) and it needs to bring in some new characters and not bring back everyone who was cured or killed. It doesn't mean we can't have Bishop or Cable or Apocalypse at some point, but not exactly as seen in the comicbooks. The important thing is a good movie that is respectful of the source material even where it makes changes to the stories.

 

[ANTOINE X]

That s maybe insane What I m about to say but I Think we should have many X-men movies from different company. Let say paramount do his own, Marvel, and 20 century fox. The same way there's many X-men comics book. The only rule is that they can't do it the same year.

 

[Neptune]

No, there are other options. I'm writing an X4 in which there is no need for that stuff listed above. A more subtle approach can work, and still have key characters and key action, rather than shoving in stuff just because it's in the comics.

The reception of the X-movies proves that realism-based sci-fi drama works best for across-the-board satisfaction (Exhibit 1: X2...and also Batman Begins) and that throwing in comicbook stuff for the sake of it only enrages the fanboys at the end of the day even if they were the ones screaming for all the comicbook stuff in the first place (Exhibit 2: X3). I'd like to see something between X2 and X3 in style - drama and mood and character; but with energy, kick-ass action and a wow factor.

Fans, mainstream viewers and critics seemed happier with the toned-down Jean and Storm we saw in X1 and X2 than they were with the Phoenix and Storm in X3. I get the feeling that most of the people on these boards now, many of whom regularly whine about X3, did NOT want Angel, Beast, Juggernaut, Callisto, Arclight, Multiple Man, the Danger Room, Kitty, or any of the cameo roles (Leech, Psylocke, etc). They do not want any new characters, they wanted the existing ones developed from X2. And now all they want is Cyclops to come back, sometimes for Jean to come back, as though it's some bizarre soap opera. Obviously all that is not necessarily logical or balanced!

Clearly, X4 can continue the story (as I'm doing in my version) and it needs to bring in some new characters and not bring back everyone who was cured or killed. It doesn't mean we can't have Bishop or Cable or Apocalypse at some point, but not exactly as seen in the comicbooks. The important thing is a good movie that is respectful of the source material even where it makes changes to the stories.

You are totally right. But i do think the movies need some new characters. They should at least introduce Gambit and Emma Frost in X-4.

 

[Genosha]

I see the X-Men movie series as a perfect set-up to follow a Star Wars-type of pattern.

We have our Episode I, II, & III. Now we can move towards a IV, V, and VI.

And a second trilogy of films that sort of have a different feel and vibe to them, much like the 2 separate Star Wars trilogies have. I even think they should follow Star Wars in keeping some of the same actors in their characters for the 2nd trilogy (just age them as the actors have obviously aged), while introducing a whole new set of characters.

This will create the illusion that all of the movies follow on the same trajectory, but the new trilogy will have a different flavor to it.

Personally, I would have X4 start with the Mutant Massacre and then follow that up with 2 divergent storylines that will eventually be crossing each other throughout the trilogy.

#1 storyline: Introduce Sinister and the Marauders (following a similiar Brotherhood formula) as the new mutant threats.

#2 storyline: Have the human/mutant issue escalate into Trask creating the Sentinels.

And like Star Wars movies, I would have other sub-plots divide the mutants into separate groups and storylines, so as to create a more epic series. (I remember Bryan Singer mentioning this specific aspect as inspiration for the plotting of X2.)

All of this would obviously end up with Apocalypse being the major baddie, sort of the Emperor Palpatine character of the story, having a presence throughout and finally being a major physical factor in X6.

Of course, we can still have Magneto involved somehow, bring Professor X back, bring Cyclops back.................the Star Wars movies are great examples of having a lot of different characters and making them feel integral to the storyline.

I think its very doable for Fox. They know/distributed Star Wars. The blueprint is there. It will be interesting to see where they want to take the X-Men series (besides the spin-offs).

 

[X-Maniac]

You are totally right. But i do think the movies need some new characters. They should at least introduce Gambit and Emma Frost in X-4.

Absolutely. My post may not have been clear. I don't want to see Magneto, Mystique, Cyclops, Xavier or Jean in an X4 - and in my own X4 script they do not appear at all. Time to move on new characters.

 

[ANTOINE X]

Thats not bad. But I m tired of the idea of linking the trilogy all together with the same company. What I want is something like James Bond but instead of one company taking care of the buiness there s Many. Like I say before I think the movie industry should not fight for copy right anymore especially superheroes. Each company could have his own x-men version. Each of them pays the right to Marvel. So everybody is happy: the fan get more x-men movies, Marvel get more money for the copy rights and The movie companies have more freedom of creation, they don't need to follow the previous sequels. With multiple stories the future of X-men Franchise will be more than healty.

 

[X-Maniac]

Thats not bad. But I m tired of the idea of linking the trilogy all together with the same company. What I want is something like James Bond but instead of one company taking care of the buiness there s Many. Like I say before I think the movie industry should not fight for copy right anymore especially superheroes. Each company could have his own x-men version. Each of them pays the right to Marvel. So everybody is happy: the fan get more x-men movies, Marvel get more money for the copy rights and The movie companies have more freedom of creation, they don't need to follow the previous sequels. With multiple stories the future of X-men Franchise will be more than healty.

The problem is that it's not a workable idea in reality. Only one company can have the rights to the X-Men.

 

[ANTOINE X]

The problem is that it's not a workable idea in reality. Only one company can have the rights to the X-Men.

I don't see what is the problem and why it s not workable. I mean the same way you have the uncanny X-men, Astonishing X-men, Utlimate X-men, the NEW X-men Ect...I know its all marvel but the point is you get more fan more money and more creativity!

There must be away to fix the copy right problem. Maybe Marvel can name new divisions so that we have X-MEN uncanny to 20 century fox, Astonishing X-Men to paramount Ultimate X-men to New line cinema...

I wouldn't talk about that 10 or 15 years ago but Now There s a big market for superheroes movies. X-MEN franchise is expandable.

 

[BMM]

I don't see what is the problem and why it s not workable. I mean the same way you have the uncanny X-men, Astonishing X-men, Utlimate X-men, the NEW X-men Ect...I know its all marvel but the point is you get more fan more money and more creativity!

There must be away to fix the copy right problem. Maybe Marvel can name new divisions so that we have X-MEN uncanny to 20 century fox, Astonishing X-Men to paramount Ultimate X-men to New line cinema...

I wouldn't talk about that 10 or 15 years ago but Now There s a big market for superheroes movies. X-MEN franchise is expandable.

Yes, there is... and a studio does not want give up its share of that market, which is why Fox will not give away the license to any of the characters it holds in its X-Men catalogue. The more assets the studio has at its disposal, the better it is for the studio.

 

[the a1ant]

Marvel can't name new divisions for the X-Men (theatrically) because it would breach contract. The only way of that happening is if 20th Century Fox agrees to it, which won't be happening anytime soon. Unless someone pays them an incredibly massive amount of money to change it.

 

[thegameq]

The X-franchise is doomed to continue along it's current path until it leaves Fox and is totally rebooted. Remove the franchise from the lackluster vision Singer created (take the shackles off). Bring in the talent to let this franchise breath and be the best it can be.

X-men are a fantasy comicbook and the films should reflect that. The general audience will do as they always do when it comes to well done fantasy films--turn out in droves to see someething amazing and fantastic for an hour or two.

Let the general audiences decide what they like rather than deciding what they won't like.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Singer had the right take on X-Men... sorry guys... but its true... I mean I hate the guy for not finishing X-Men and ****ing up SR but if I was doing X-Men... I would have done EXACTLY what he did... with more action/excitement of course... but no one is perfect...

The first trilogy is EXACTLY what it should be... discrimination against a particular group of society by the masses and the government... and two opposing idealogies combating that discrimination and persectution... that story needed three movies to flesh out... too bad they couldn't finish it off strong with X-3 but that's another story... but yeah I would have had the Brotherhood vs X-Men with the humans and their own agendas just like Singer had... he kept it realistic just as it should have been...

But now to the new trilogy... NOW you can go Star Wars and go crazy... I want Sentinels... I want Sinister... I want Apocalypse... and FOX should wait a while before they do this... because if they make the sequel trilogy any time soon and use different actors then people will lose interest... wait another five or six years... then do the sequels and recast down the line... maybe bring back the younger X-Men like Ellen Page if those actors are still interested in reprising their roles... but most of the actors will have become WAY TOO OLD so recasting down the line is better... I'd bring Cyclops back if I could but I can obviously see why they might not want to go there... and that's fine... because we NEED new characters... heck I'd be cool if Storm, Shadowcat, Iceman, Rougue, and Angel were the only X-Men that returned.

 

[BMM]

They started with the right idea, but it became skewed along the way...

X-Men v. Brotherhood
X-Men v. Humans (via Sentinels)
X-Men v. One of their own (via Dark Phoenix)

Where they go from here I don't know. I have a feeling it will be along the lines of an origin story/reboot.

 

[Hellion]

I thought some of the ideas in the article were pretty interesting but probably won't happen...

What did you guys think of the casting suggestions? Myself...I don't want Zac Efron anywhere near an X-Men film...I think Taylor Ball's a decent actor and IMO looks more like Hellion than Efron...I never thought of Ron Perlman for Cable but it could work, now that I think about it he's perfect for Cable...I'm not sure time-travelers would work well on-screen though...? I thought the other suggestions were pretty good too...

Thats just me though...

Again...nobody thinks Haven would be an interesting villain?

 

[EnSabahNur]

Very interesting read. Apocalypse sure seems like the only solution to make the future films (if ever made) truly epic. The thing is if they go this way they have to go all out. They need to do atleast 2-3 movies and film them all at the same time so we don't get this non consistant trilogy which I found was the big problem with the first 3 movies. There is some plot holes that could have easily been avoided. I personaly hope to see a sequel to the franchise but if not hey whatever, atleast X-men left on a better note than the third Spiderman.

 

[Hellion]

Not related to the article...but does anybody else think Kevin Zegers would be a good Gambit?

 

[Mistopurr83]

the future apocalypse is the way to go...

not sure about jean and cyclops as horsemen though, maybe rogue and gambit.

I agree. Adapting a story involving Apocolypse is the best way to go for an X4.

Cyclops and Rogue have more potential than anyone else in the films to become horsemen for Apocolypse. It's the only way they'll become main characters getting action and power upgrades. Most of us have been sick and tired of watching them get sidelined and so are their actors.

 

[demitri_vampiro]

I agree. Adapting a story involving Apocolypse is the best way to go for an X4.

Cyclops and Rogue have more potential than anyone else in the films to become horsemen for Apocolypse. It's the only way they'll become main characters getting action and power upgrades. Most of us have been sick and tired of watching them get sidelined and so are their actors.

i always thought that aoa is a good way to do a new trilogy. and by doing that they don't have to come back on the happenings from previous movies, but they also don't have to start from scratch.

 

[javi1024]

i want to see a new roster of x-men: iceman, colossus, kitty pryde, cannonball, angel. i wouldnt mind a recast, but i really want to keep ellen page (so cute).

introduce havok as a new (older) student and have him work his way up to the new field leader. id also like to keep rogue around, since we know the cure isnt permanent, and have a subplot involving that and eventually returning to the team. even though its a slightly larger team than before this will give them opportunities to split into groups for individual missions for more complex plots.

keep storm and beast at the school as the brains/co-headmasters. weve seen them in action plenty and id really like the kids to shine. and of course recasting is encouraged (STORM!)

as far as the threat goes, either all the movies lead up to sentinels (continuing the whole gov't vs. mutants angle) or lead up to apocalypse. but i would love to see hellfire club or the acoyltes become new threats. we can see emma frost, sebastian shaw, throw in scarlet witch/quicksilver as acolytes....and so on.

personally i think its only inevitable to have wolverine return. since they eliminated professor AND scott (idiots...) the only poster boy left is wolverine.

i guess im one of the few who liked X3 (still with problems) so i would like the new trilogy to be its own but branch off from it.

 

[DoctorJones]

Here's the future of the franchise:

X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
X-Men Origins: Magneto.

Anything else is speculation. Frankly, Fox are not even throwing us a bone, making it dull really.