X-Men Film Franchise to Expand? Gambit, Deadpool, Magneto, First Class and another Wolverine?

The X-Men films have, to say the least, been a mixed bag. When Bryan Singer’s X-Men premiered, it was unlike anything that the world had seen or expected of a filmed version of the comic book. It was fun, the characters were mostly well done, and it had some added emotional weight to it. X2: X-Men United continued that journey, although I still have no idea what mutant is controlling Xavier. I didn’t recognize him from the comics, and spent a long time trying to figure out who he was supposed to be. X-Men: The Last Stand was a tour-de-force of mutants, with death running rampant. My only regret was that Phoenix was not visually what she could have been. The end of X2 foreshadowed her appearance, and the film never delivered on that promise.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine serves as a good prequel, with the establishment of Wolverine, throughout the last 150 years. It’s got some problems, primarily in the editing department. There are establishing shots as long as the scenes they establish, and sometimes longer… and there’s that adamantium bullet… but the rest of the movie was pretty good. The only other thing I would have liked to see is the origin sticking closer to the Origin comic book mini-series.

Since the film, I have mentioned that I wouldn’t mind seeing a Gambit spin-off. Turns out, I’m not alone.

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner has mentioned that discussions are underway for a Gambit feature film. ‘There are internal discussions, they are going to figure all that out. Nothing would please me more than to bring Bryan [Singer] on for another movie. And, if it’s like the first Deadpool or the first Gambit, I think, I mean, I hope he would be interested – Donner adds that Gambit is one of her favorite characters, referring to him as ‘such a rogue.’

Not only that, but here is the list of X-Men related films that are in the works at Fox:

  • X-Men Origins: Magneto
  • Gambit
  • Deadpool
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Prequel
  • X-Men: First Class
  • and if Halle Berry has her way: X-Men Origins: Storm

Now that Wolverine is a hit, they’re more likely than not already in serious talks about the X-Men Origins: Wolverine Prequel. Seriously…. a prequel to a prequel. Wonder where they’re going with that one. UPDATE: I found an answer, though, in a comment from Hugh Jackman, that they’d take Wolverine to Japan. That was something that was missing from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I believe it was because another film had its’ protagonist trained by a ninja clan: Batman Begins. But the question still remains, when will this movie be set? Based on the timeline, however, I think it’s best suited as a sequel to the prequel. The wording of a story at either IESB or SciFi Scoop is what threw me off on the setting in the first place. That should clear it up some. I think it’d make for a pretty interesting film, though. They could even bring in Silver Samurai.

Apparently the Magneto spin-off already has a completed screenplay, so that’s likely to head to production soon. They’d better hurry before The Hobbit heads to production though, so that Sir Ian McKellen is available.

I would really enjoy the Gambit film, if they do his character right. Bring in Mr. Sinister or Magneto’s Brotherhood and it’ll be on it’s way.

Deadpool will be great if they put him in a mask, and make him a costume closer to Spider-Man’s, like it is in the comics. Doing this film as a spin-off of Wolverine would make some sense, but I’m not too keen on him having Cyclops’ power in his arsenal.

X-Men: First Class was pretty well established by the Wolverine film. That was really pretty cool, and a good way to introduce the characters that could be involved.

Storm, however, needs some work to make her the African-based character that she is in the comics and the old cartoon.

All in all, a pretty exciting time to be an X-Men fan.

-via IESB, SciFi Scoop

2 Comments

  1. Please, please let the Gambit origins movie be true. He’s my favorite. I like the way that he portrayed in X-MEN Origins: Wolverine but felt that they didn’t do his accent enough justice. It needed to be much thicker. I really believe that this rumor is more than likely true because Gambit is such a popular character now. The demand for him starring in his own origins film is very high and FOX knows that there is plenty of money to be made off of the Gambit character. Please tell me it’s true ” Mon Frier “!

  2. It’s believed that if the deadpool movie is released as a sequel to X-men origins wolverine, him having cyclops’ power and being able to teleport will have been forgotten after he was dicapitated … I’m still not a fan of the whole katanas out of his arms or the adimantiam skeleton for that matter, he should just have the heal factor, also they need to include where he talks to himself due to insanity.

    Also I agree when they make the gambit movie they should include Mr.Sinister

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