UPDATE: Yes, this is happening, The Hollywood Reporter has the trade announcement this morning, confirming that Singer’s on board to direct. Josh Schwartz’s draft has been abandoned, and Jamie Moss (“Street Kings”) will be starting a new version from scratch, under Singer’s guidance.
ORIGINAL STORY: It’s been rumored for a little while, but unfortunately Bryan Singer appears to have returned, tail between his legs, to the X-Men franchise — he announced on the “Avatar” red carpet last night that aside from his upcoming “Jack the Giant Killer” project, currently in pre-production, he “just yesterday signed a deal to do an “X-Men: First Class” origins picture, which is kind of cool.” This is the long-rumored prequel, written by “Gossip Girl” and “Chuck” creator Josh Schwartz, following some of the original X-Men as teens.
Producer Lauren Shuler Donner compared it a few months back to “later, darker, Harry Potter,” so it seems that it’ll skew (even) younger than the other X-Men movies. We’re in two minds about this. On one hand, Singer clearly has an affinity for the material — we’re not crazy about the the first film in the franchise, but “X2” is probably the best, most entertaining superhero movie to date (yeah, including “The Dark Knight”), and both films have a personal, human subtext that we’re likely to see repeated in this one.
On the other hand, “Saved By The Bell: The Mutant Class?” “Jack the Giant Killer?” We sort of enjoyed “Valkyrie”, partly because it felt like a return to the grown-ups table of “The Usual Suspects” and “Apt Pupil,” but this stuff just seems beneath him. Singer’s always been a craftsman rather than a genius auteur, but is there really nothing he’d rather make? And wasn’t there a fair bit of bad blood between the director and Fox after he bailed to go and make stalker-Jesus movie “Superman Returns?” Time, and money, heals all wounds, it would seem.
Rene Russo In ‘Thor”?
In other superhero movie news, the long-absent Rene Russo, who hasn’t been seen on screen since 2005’s “Yours, Mine & Ours,” or in a good movie since 1999’s “The Thomas Crown Affair,” has joined the cast of “Thor.” The actress will play the amusingly-named Frigga, the wife of Anthony Hopkins’ Odin, and the mother of both the hero Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, and the villain, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston.
X2 better than Dark Knight. Yeah. Right.
While I prefer The Dark Knight overall, the first 50 minutes of X2: X-Men United represents the most perfect portion of superhero comic adaption history.
Josh schwartz's draft being abandoned sounds like a good thing. Sounds like real folks have come on board and will push that hack to the producer sidelines (or executive producer sidelines which would be even better.
X2 and Dark Knight are both pretty great comic-book films. No need to fight. I would give the edge to TDK though because of Ledger and the score.
"serious filmmaker". hahaha.Reminds me of that Paul Thomas Anderson interview where he talks about quitting NYU after a teacher told him "if you want to be making Terminator 2, you've come to the wrong place". Seriously, if the dude wanted to be making a 10 million dollar picture he would be. He's got that pull. But he's not, so cut him some slack. X2 was great, he obviously loves the universe and characters.
I think that's exactly what he needs to do – he needs to go away and make his Schizopolis, and come back refreshed. But totally agreed, if anyone's going to make this movie, I'd rather it was Singer – like you say, he loves the material.
If you heard about this in 2004 you would be creaming your panties. But because X3, Wolverine:Origins and Singer's lukewarm received efforts like Superman Returns and Valkyrie you aren't that excited. Keep in mind the first two weren't his fault and the last two weren't even THAT bad they just fell below expectations. He's still a great talent with a lot of potential.