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Bryan Singer Interested in Excalibur & Maybe More X-Men?

by Alex Billington
August 20, 2009

Don't get your hopes up about X-Men yet. And no, we're not talking about the Wolverine sequel, rather the X-Men: First Class movie that Fox has been nurturing for a little while. First and foremost, Bryan Singer has closed a rights deal to remake the 1981 movie Excalibur, potentially the same remake that Warren Ellis is writing the script for, but it won't be his next project. Instead, word is that Singer will next direct New Line's Jack the Giant Killer. However, hidden in the Variety story is this tidbit: "At the same time, Singer has been flirting with directing X-Men: First Class." Thought it sounds like he's just teasing us about that.

Bryan Singer is wrapped up in a hell of a lot of projects at the moment. We most recently learned that he was attached to produce and direct a big screen version of Battlestar Galactica, news which seemed to upset and confuse fans of the TV show. Both Variety and THR are reporting that he'll direct Jack the Giant Killer next, which was originally meant for D.J. Caruso. As for Excalibur, the project is still in the early stages, with Warner Brothers sharing the rights with director/producer John Boorman. Now you might understand why it seems like that X-Men tidbit is a bit far-fetched. Sure, Fox wants him back, but will they get him?

The original Excalibur, directed by John Boorman and released in April of 1981, launched the careers of actors like Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson. It also starred Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Stewart and Ciaran Hinds. The movie told the well-known myth, in a gritty and dramatic fashion, of the young man who draws the sword Excalibur from a stone, is mentored by Merlin, establishes Camelot, loses his wife, Guenevere, to his best friend, Lancelot, and engages in the quest for the Holy Grail. Singer's Excalibur will be a more epic and fantasy version compared to Clive Owen's King Arthur from 2004. What sounds like the best to you?

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Rorschach90

I hope he does all of them just so that he doesn't have time to do the Battlestar Galactica movie. That was the worst idea ever. I'm praying for development hell on that one
Bladed

TOO BAD BRYAN SINGER IS A TOOL! Fuck the X-Men movies, I'll get my dose of Marvel animation from 90's cartoons.
KO

Rorschach90 - Agree 100%. Next to a Superman Returns sequel, a Battlestar Galactica movie that ignores the acclaimed tv reboot, is the stupidest idea ever. I swear, f'n up Superman has made Singer lose his mind.
cat

this guy just throws his own name out there for people to start rumors. he's a weak director. get him away from the Xmen franchise.
cat

oh and i forgot. please don't ruin Excalibur! One of my favorite movies from back in the day.
Scott

...yeah I just want an X-Men with DEADPOOL/RYAN REYNOLDS. gah
http://www.twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

I'd rather he did more original projects rather than remakes, reboots or sequels. So I'll plump for Jack The Giant Killer. I love Singer's X-Men features, but the last two that he had nothing to do with have spoiled the franchise for me. Best to step away from all that. I'm seemingly one of the few that has no problem with a new Battlestar Galactica movie. As someone who likes BOTH the original show and the recent 'reimagining,' I'm perfectly okay with seeing a different interpretation that is closer to the story Glen Larson wanted to tell back in the seventies, but wasn't able to due to the technical and financial limitations of the time. It's not going to replace anything, and an argument could be made that if you can do one reboot, why not two or three? As long as it's good, that's all that matters. But again, I'd rather see completely new concepts from filmmakers in general, not just Singer.
Thinking Man

@#4 I think your spot on, Singer is a very weak director. "Superman Returns" says more about Bryan Singer than I ever could. Keep this man away from film.
JL

No. All I can say is no.
Branden

dang, why all the hatin? What about Usual Suspects and Valkyrie? Those were great movies. I didn't read the X-Men comics or watch too many of the cartoons, but I enjoyed both moives. Superman was obviously a let down, but it wasn't horrible as far as summer blockbusters go. He doesn't seem like the right Director for Excalibur, but he's done enough decent movies for a shot.
David Banner

Excalibur(1981) was the first movie I bought on LaserDisc, and one of my favorite movies. I am abit upset it is going to be remade, even if Warren Ellis might be writing the script. But what is this, could there be 2 remakes of Excalibur, or is Warren Ellis working on a script for the Marvel Comic 'Excalibur'(hope it's the last one!) Why do 2 movies of simmilar plot come out at the same time, 2 Robin Hood, 2 volcano, 2 meteroids, 2 illusionists, ect??
Jeep-Fu

Instead of the studios telling us that they're remaking Excalibur how about they tell us WHY they're remaking Excalibur? As for X-Men...Singer already fucked up the first two (not that the third was worth anything mind you) so why should he be allowed to make another one?
Tra la la la la di da

Hopes? Hopes that it doesn't happen? We use Singer as joke with my friend on how he'll direct the new Superman movie. Gets him mad every time. So my only hope is that Singer and McG go play gold somewhere exclusive near some cliffs and drive off and die.
http://www.twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

I don't undestand all the hate, just because one movie, Superman Returns, didn't meet the expectations of comic book fans - despite being streets ahead of the last two appalling Superman sequels. Look at his initial run - Public Access, The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X-Men and X2. McG has yet to make a film even half as good as any of these movies. It really isn't fair to lump Singer in with someone like him (although I must concede that McG's track record as a TV producer is pretty darn good - maybe he should stick to the small screen?). There have been countless versions of the Arthurian legend over the years and it's in the public domain, so I have no idea why they feel the need to buy the rights to one particular interpretation of it. Make a Knights of the Round Table tale, by all means, but there's no need to call it Excalibur!
DoomCanoe

If Jack the Giant killer is a Jack and the Beanstalk sort of tail i would adore that movie. Dude a Jack and the Beanstalk remake would be epic with all the technology we have today it would look so good, could be so funny and wound end up being just an awesome family movie. Someone should get on that bandwagon ASAP & Fuck X-Men: First Class... that is seriously one of the last things we need. someone please show up, re-do all of the X-Men, give me the child hood memory's i so fondly remember!!! one thing i can say about those movies though is who ever did the casting was spot fucking on
Fisherr

X-Men First Class i wouldn't mind at all Mr Singer to be back and do the movie.
brent

excalibur is a great movie and doesnt need to be remade, it still stands strong even by today's standards.. at least in my oppinion.. they would ruin it all with lame CGI... save that for the comic book movies