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Confirmed: Bryan Singer Only Producing X-Men: First Class

by Ethan Anderton
March 26, 2010

Earlier this week we heard rumblings from HitFix that Bryan Singer would no longer be directing X-Men: First Class as he was already deep in pre-production on Warner Bros' Jack the Giant Killer and couldn't be taken away from the project for Fox's quick plans to get a new superhero franchise off the ground. Deadline has confirmed this is the case, but as we speculated after that in-depth interview with Singer and producer Lauren Shuler Donner, Singer will stay on as producer. As excited as I was for Singer to return to X-Men (I think X2 is one of the best comic book films to date) there is at least one reason why this isn't a bad thing.

Fox is moving fast on First Class, not to simply screw Singer out of the directing gig, but because the execs flipped out over a spectacular script from Jamie Moss, based on a treatment from Singer himself, and seems to be the first installment of a new trilogy. So while it may be bad news (at least for me and some fans) that Singer won't be returning to direct First Class, it means that they've at least got a solid script to work from and just need the right director to bring it to life. However, this isn't officially the next X-Men project as Fox also was very pleased with Christopher McQuarrie's draft of the Wolverine sequel, so maybe Hugh Jackman can convince Singer to take on that job next. We'll have to wait and see. Still excited for more X-Men?

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

movie mike

NOOOOOO! -Darth vader
king

well then, that sucks
GET TO DA CHOPPAAAAAA!

Excellent...less Singer equals a better movie.
DRM

I'm perfectly happy with them not using Singer. Maybe now we can have an X-Men team that doesn't wear all black leather?
Loser

Brett Ratner is directing according to rumors,
PhoenixWright

A terrible shame, as Singer kick-started the modern era for serious superhero films, something that fanboys seem to have conveniently forgotten in the wake of Superman Returns. No Singer's X-Men = No Batman Begins Or Dark Knight. So be grateful. I'd rather he was making First Class than a sequel to someone else's movie, in a franchise he launched in the first place. Swallowing your pride is one thing, but helming X-Men Origins 2 is quite another. You don't need this, Bryan. Stay on as a creative producer maybe, but stick to original projects for yourself and get your directing career back on track. I think his Jack The Giant Killer fantasy epic for Warners is the right direction to take, and I glad he's stuck with it.
SlashBeast

Doesn't matter. Fox is guaranteed to fuck it up.
TheDirektor

"I think X2 is one of the best comic book films to date" Are you out of your mind? Remember, this is the guy that did Superman Returns. I think Fix should leave the X-men franchise alone for now (maybe even the whole Marvel Univ).
fabio

i like xmen and all but what kind of name is "xmen:first class" i think it will be a good movie but that title makes it sound lame...
badeboom

X2 is indeed the best - no matter what singer did with superman.
Joseph Tiberia

Actually Blade was the first guys...Stephan Nortington and Wesely. Pay your respects to the gods! Nortington was the grandfather of the comic book movie but Singer is the Father of the comic book. I am glad they have a solid script at least I hate to see another X3!
Governor

Meh. All the X-Men films were just Wolverine films. Until an X-Men film actually shows the X-Men as a TEAM then I'll be interested.