I agree, you know I think instead of trying to compete with Superman and throw something out there because they want to, I think they should wait for the talent to be there. I'd hate to see a thrown together movie that may fail against its competition. If they get too hasty it's gonna blow up. I know everything is still considered rumors with Marsden but it's looking grim.
I don't want anything thrown at me for saying this... so bear with me...
Superman is a great series. If it wasn't for Superman, I wouldn't be an X-Men fan. I don't blame James for wanting to be a part of it especially since a director that he respects and had worked for is directing it. I respect both of their decisions.
With saying that, I hope they aren't jumping the gun to compete with Superman. They had a chance to do well against it. I hate to say that I don't think they'd do as well as Superman no matter what but I feel that way. I say that because of the hardcore Superman fans that have been waiting years for this. I know I have.
With as long as its taken to get the rest of X-3 prepaired from director issues to actor issues and a script and what not, I don't think they have a snowball's chance in he77 to completely compete now, they surely wont top it. Recasting actors will make it worse. It takes away from the story when a face changes, or atleast I think.
I wan't X-3 to be great. I fear it won't be if they let their own stubborn issues interfere.
I was really excited to find out that Singer is directing Superman. I mean estatic, because of what he did with X-2 mainly. Then I was really excited to find that James Marsden signed on too. I didn't think we'd get a response from who ever it was that said something like, "Well I hope being faithful to Singer works out with him although it's a smaller role."
Not the exact quote but you get my point. I'm sure everyones read it. I think that was crap. He signed on for something that was a sure thing. I know X-3 seems pretty solid but he needs to work and I think it was childish on the behalf of who ever the quote came from. I kind of think it's because of the grudge against Singer.
I know it still hasn't been officially stated that Marsden is off X-3. I kind of wonder if they haven't officially stated it because they are hoping to get him to drop his role in Superman for X-3. That would be crap too. I know he knew that X-3 would be filming soon and that they could interfere with each other. I wonder if he thinks he can do both at the same time. Surely Marsden didn't go into this blindly.
This has been on my mind for a couple days and I still don't know how to explain my feelings about it but theres a beginning.
I guess to add to that, the fan base would be much happier with a movie carefully planned as opposed to one thrown out at a certain date because thats what they originally planned. I say wait a few months, he77 release it around the holiday season.
And with what Quidam said above about the rumor thing, man I hope it's true. They could be getting the hype up to get it possible to compete. It is a plausable tactic.
Added: I don't mean by this that their only competition is Superman there are other movies it's just that recently Superman seems to be a big concern.