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Matthew Vaughn Dropping 'X-Men: First Class 2', Singer May Return?

by Alex Billington
October 25, 2012
Source: Deadline

Well this is going to put a damper on the otherwise exciting X-Men/Wolverine news. Deadline is saying that filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, who signed on in January, is no longer going to direct the X-Men: First Class sequel. Vaughn directed and delivered the first X-Men spin-off in 2011, and was expected to return for the follow-up, which Fox is pushing into development. But Deadline says "Vaughn has decided not to direct the sequel", passing on this and the Kick Ass sequel (being directed by Jeff Wadlow). However, they drop one other juicy tidbit: "Atop the studio's replacement short list is Bryan Singer." Now I'm listening!

The report doesn't have any reason for why Vaughn has left, but they do say this is a last-minute decision. The screenplay for the sequel, titled X-Men: Days of Future Past, is ready and the cast is set to return: Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence. As for Singer, he's not signed or confirmed yet, but they're making it out that he might be a strong possibility. "If this works out, Singer and Vaughn would essentially be switching roles. Vaughn, who wrote the treatment for the sequel for X-Men: First Class–Days of Future Past that was scripted by Simon Kinberg, would step back to produce the film with Kinberg and Lauren Shuler Donner." Very interesting. I'd be happy to see Singer back, but who knows what will happen.

As of just last week, Mark Millar (now overseeing all Marvel movies at Fox) hinted about sentinels in Days of Future Past, saying "you've got robots, you've got time travel, you've got superheroes." They're obviously deep in development and have a script with some big ideas. I still contend that X-Men 2 is one of the best comic book movies ever, and if they can actually get Bryan Singer back, hopefully he'll get back to those roots, as his most recent fare (including Jack the Giant Slayer) hasn't been that great. Singer did help write the script and produce X-Men: First Class, as outlined here. Deadline says Matthew Vaughn may direct the Secret Service comic book adaptation instead. I'm anxious to see what happens with both films. Stay tuned!

Filed under Development, Discuss, Movie News

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