British director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass), is to helm X-Men: First Class, the next addition to Twentieth Century Fox’s money-making series of films based on the Marvel Comics. It has also been announced that X-Men: First Class is to begin production this summer for a June 3, 2011 release. Bryan Singer, who has conceived and written the First and directed the original X-Men and X-Men 2, is producing along with Lauren Shuler Donner and Simon Kinberg. Singer commented on Vaughn’s new role saying:
“I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s since Layer Cake. He has a deft hand with multiple characters and storylines, and a great love of the X-Men universe. I feel the combination of this story and his vision will make for an exciting and original X-Men film.” (Deadline)
Emma Watts, president of production at Twentieth Century Fox also praised Vaughn for his previous work and defended the making of yet another X-Men film:
“X-Men: First Class presents an exciting opportunity to further explore the history and relationships of these beloved characters. Matthew’s combination of talent, verve and vision is perfectly suited to the task.”
X-Men First Class will act as yet another prequel to the series, but this time it will deal with the true beginnings of the X-Men war. Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants, some familiar, some new, to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-MEN.
Worldwide Wolverine took in $373 million, about $75 million more than X-Men 3, so it isn’t unreasonable for Fox to produce another Origin story. X-Men: First Class sounds like this could be a far more interesting prequel to the much X-Men series, and it makes one wonder why X-Men:First Class couldn’t have been made before Wolverine. Perhaps the attraction of Hugh Jackman had something to do with it.
In other news Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall will begin production in 2011 and see a 2012 release, according to Cint magazine (via Forces of Geek). The press release said the following:
Millar is also launching his sequel to the hit Kick-Ass movie in the first issue of the comic. “Kick-Ass 2: Balls To The Wall” has been scheduled for production in 2011 for a 2012 cinema release.
What do you think of Matthew Vaughn directing? Would you go to see X-Men: First Class? What about a Kick-Ass sequel?