Tuesday, November 10

• X-Men: The Last Stand: What Could Have Been

  Brett Ratner is tired of defending his directorial work in X-Men: The Last Stand, but fans continue to wonder what might have been if Bryan Singer had finished his X-Men trilogy, instead of defecting to Superman Returns. Michael Dougherty, the screenwriter for X2: X-Men United who joined Singer's defection, explained his ideas for X3 to Slashfilm in a recent podcast (transcribed by TheGeekFiles).

  You found out was that Phoenix [(Famke Janssen)] was going round the world taking things into her own hands and that she had basically returned as a god, which they did in X3. She had viewed herself as above the conflict, that she was here to end things on her terms, she was sick of the fighting and she was going to take things into her own hands and she did not give a s**t what the X-Men or the Brotherhood had to say about it.

  And ultimately the way it was going to end, at least the version I was pushing for ... she kind of becomes that cosmic force that Phoenix is known to be, she leaves Earth and becomes a god, or at least a higher level of intelligence, and she goes into the cosmos possibly to kick-start life somewhere else. The final scene for me would have been her telling Cyclops [(James Marsden)] or her telling the X-Men "I'll be watching."

  Dougherty also planned a different outcome for Rogue (Anna Paquin).

  The whole point of Rogue's character is that she is supposed to come to terms with who she is and also I don't think it's good to tell girls "Yeah you should change yourselves so you can get a guy."

  Instead The Last Stand saw Rogue lose her powers, Cyclops die, and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) kill Phoenix, all to the disappointment of the fans.

  You can check out the entire podcast here.

  
  

  Posted 11/10/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Anna Paquin | Bryan Singer | Famke Janssen | Hugh Jackman | James Marsden | Michael Dougherty | X2: X-Men United | X-Men: The Last Stand

Monday, October 12

• Bryan Singer to Return to the X-Men?

  Welcome back, prodigal son.

  During a talk at South Korea's Pusan International Film Festival, X-Men and director Bryan Singer revealed that he is looking to return to the franchise he helped create.

  I'm still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise. I've been talking to Fox about it. I love Hugh Jackman. I love the cast.

  Singer was set to direct X-Men: The Last Stand, but left the project to direct Superman Returns, a move Singer admitted he later regretted. Singer said he would like to return to the X-Men because of the social statements he is allowed to make while working in the world of the mutant outcasts.

  The excitement about working in science fiction and fantasy is — the stories, if they are good, are about the human condition. [I like to] trick audiences into thinking they're seeing fireworks, but they're learning about themselves and listening to what I have to say.

  With Singer negotiating with Fox, the only question remains, which X-Men movie will Singer direct? There's plenty of choices with X-Men: First Class, Deadpool, X-Men Origins: Magneto, Wolverine 2, and possibly even X-Men 4 to choose from. Singer has admitted that Magneto's concentration camp background was probably a no-go, and has been considering directing First Class since August.

  While a return for X-Men 4 makes logical sense, there's also the possibility of Wolverine 2, which is currently being written by Singer pal and The Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie. Gavin Hood directed X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but, Hood told ITN, is not signed on to direct the sequel.

  I think there is a very good chance that another Wolverine movie would be made. Whether I am the director or somebody else is, and whether I'll be available, and whether they'll want me. Nothing has been decided at this point.

  No matter what movie Singer ends up directing, X-Men fans have to be celebrating.

  
  

  Posted 10/12/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Christopher McQuarrie | Gavin Hood | X-Men Origins: Magneto | X-Men: First Class | Wolverine 2 | Deadpool

Sunday, September 13

• X-Men Producer Updates X-Men: First Class, Deadpool and More

  At a promotional event for the Blu-Ray release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, producer Lauren Shuler Donner gave out a few details regarding other X-Men-related movies. Donner has quite a few or them on her plate, including Wolverine 2, Deadpool, X-Men: First Class, and possibly, Donner told IGN, another X-Men:

  I think there are some wonderful storylines I'd like to pursue in X-Men 4 and 5, but who knows? Obviously Fox is my partner, so we're in discussions about what will be next

  As forDeadpool, Shuler sees that spin-off as a reboot, disregarding what happened to the character in Wolverine and instead making "it the Deadpool that's in the comics." Ryan Reynolds is set to play Deadpool again, even after Reynolds was cast in Green Lantern, but Shuler sees no problem with Reynolds playing both roles:

  Not on my end, personally, not on my end, no. I think you can do different characters. We've had different Bonds right, and I think if Harrison Ford can be in Indiana Jones and he can be in the Tom Clancy movies, I think if you are a good actor you become the character and it's alright.

  With X-Men: First Class, Donner would only say that the movie will concern "the X-Men's first class," set " way back when," implying that it would star Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, and Jean Grey, the first X-Men class in the comics, though Donner would not reveal which characters will be included. Bryan Singer has been mentioned as a likely director for First Class, to which Donner would only admit that "there's a possibility" and that Singer would not be too busy with other projects.

  Donner also said Gavin Hood may return to direct Wolverine 2, and that her husband, Richard Donner, director of Superman and Superman II, could return to the comic book world one day:

  He kind of feels like he did, he was very helpful, as you know he came and helped me on [Wolverine] but, look, I would never rule anything out but I don't know. He might, he might go back into the comic world, he might.

  Whatever X-Men movie is next to go into production, shooting will begin next year.

  
  

  Posted 09/13/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Lauren Shuler Donner | Richard Donner | Gavin Hood | X-Men: First Class | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Deadpool | X-Men Origins: Deadpool

Monday, August 24

• Bryan Singer Eyeing X-Men: First Class?

  

  Bryan Singer may be setting himself up to direct both a Battlestar Galatica and an Excalibur remake, but Variety reports that Singer is also "flirting with directing" X-Men: First Class, the spin-off written by The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz that would follow the adventures of a teenage incarnation of the X-Men team.

  Singer has admitted that he regrets leaving X-Men: The Last Stand and has even mentioned interest in directing X-Men Origins:Magneto, though he cited Magneto's Nazi back story as a possible deal breaker, considering the amount of Nazi-related movies on Singer's resume already. That may be the reason Singer is turning his attention to First Class.

  X-Men producer Lauren Shuler Donner has said, "Nothing would please me more than to bring Bryan on for another [X-Men] movie," and considering the amount of movies being lined up, like Deadpool and possibly a Gambit movie, there should be another X-Men project for Singer should he pass on X-Men: First Class."

  And despite all those other projects in the works, Singer's next feature may end up being Jack the Giant Killer, a riff on Jack and the Beanstalk about a boy who travels to the land of giants to rescue a princess.

  
  

  Posted 08/24/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Lauren Shuler Donner | Josh Schwartz | X-Men Origins: Magneto | Battlestar Galactica | X-Men: The Last Stand | Excalibur | X-Men: First Class | Deadpool

Saturday, August 22

• Bryan Singer May Remake Excalibur

  Writer-director-producer Bryan Singer has had many ups and downs in his career. After he received critical acclaim for directing The Usual Suspects, a taut crime thriller with a surprise ending, Singer became a fan favorite with X-Men and X2.

  Lately, however, his films have not been very well received. Singer has been blamed for the demise of the Superman franchise thanks to his meddling with the character's mythology in Superman Returns and the poor box-office results it generated. His last film, Valkyrie, was poorly received, opening in fourth place and inciting protests in Germany for casting Tom Cruise in the title role.

  Singer is looking to get back on track, but he seems mired in controversy. The recent announcement that he was going to produce and direct a big-screen version of Battlestar Gallactica, a property that he planned to relaunch before the Syfy Channel series, was met by the fan community with equal parts enthusiasm, confusion, and anger.

  Now, Singer's looking to resurrect another old concept with Excalibur, the 1981 film directed by John Boorman that helped launch the careers of Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byne, and Patrick Stewart. Though Singer has closed a rights deal for Excalibur through Warner Bros., Boorman still shares an interest in the property, so it's unclear just how the production will come together.

  
  

  Posted 08/22/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Bryan Singer | Excalibur

Saturday, July 4

• Brandon Routh's Superman Contract Expires

  Despite having survived his own death in the now-famous Superman (vol. 2, #75) back in 1992, Superman's future looks bleak. At least, that is, his future as a film star does.

  The under-performance of the relaunch film, Superman Returns, has led many to question whether the Man of Steel will return for a sequel. The 2006 film by director Bryan Singer cost an estimated $270 million to produce, but only took in $200 million at the domestic box office. International ticket sales of $191 million helped the film make a profit, but it was a major disappointment to the studio, especially in the wake of the $1 billion that The Dark Knight earned worldwide.

  In addition to the poor box-office numbers, Returns has been criticized by fans for having a plodding plot, borrowing too heavily from the 1978 Richard Donner-directed Superman, and for straying too far from the mythology established in the comic books. Actor Brandon Routh, who played the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent in Returns recently echoed those complaints by admitting that Returns suffered from a lack of action. Routh said that his Superman contract has expired, but that he is definitely interested in revisiting the role.

  
  
  

  Superman Returns - Trailer

  Posted 07/04/2009 by BrentJS

  Related: Brandon Routh | Bryan Singer | Richard Donner | Superman | Superman Returns

Tuesday, June 2

• Bryan Singer Wants to Return to the X-Men Franchise

  X-Men trilogy actor Shawn Ashmore has already stated that he thinks a X-Men 4 is impossible, however with the success of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a renewed interest in the X-Men franchise has surfaced, particularly from X-Men / X2: X-Men United director Bryan Singer, who left X-Men: The Last Stand to direct Superman Returns but told Britain's Total Film Magazine that he regrets the decision:

  It's weird for me to watch [X-Men: The Last Stand], because I'm so close to the universe. I'm eternally intertwined with X-Men now. What takes an audience four hours to watch -- the first two movies -- took six years of my life. So, to not be part of it ... It's a shame.

  Singer went on to say that he may be interested in another prequel, namely X-Men Origins: Magneto:

  Possibly. The only thing that concerns me about Magneto is that if the prequel were to follow the track I used in X-Men, which is Magneto's history in the concentration camp, then I've lived in that world. Apt Pupil, X-Men and now Valkyrie ... I've lived in that Nazi universe for quite a while. I just might need to take a little break before I do something like that.

  If Magneto is a little too much, there's always X-Men 4. Ashmore wouldn't complain. Neither would Wolverine producer Lauren Shuler Donner who has mentioned that she would love for Singer to return and direct almost any X-Men movie.

  
  

  Posted 06/02/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Bryan Singer | Lauren Shuler Donner | Shawn Ashmore | X-Men Origins: Magneto | Valkyrie | X2: X-Men United | X-Men Origins: Wolverine | Apt Pupil | X-Men | X-Men: The Last Stand

Thursday, March 19

• Brett Ratner May Never Get a Comic Book Franchise

  X-Men: The Last Stand director Brett Ratner wants to keep working with comic book adaptations, but may never get his chance. Ratner told MTV:

  I was so upset when I left Superman [Bryan] Singer has his X-Men, [Christopher] Nolan has Batman -- there's nothing left. Hulk has been exploited already. There's nothing left for me.

  Ratner originally left the Superman adaptation because he could not find a suitable actor to play the Man of Steel. Ratner's Superman script, written by J.J. Abrams, "took place on Krypton for about half of the movie," and was "darker, because there was a civil war on Krypton," according to Ratner. He then turned to the highly criticized X-Men: The Last Stand, which Singer had ironically left to direct Superman Returns.

  Is there a franchise Ratner wouldn't have touched? Yes, Iron Man. "I wouldn't have been interested in Iron Man. I have a lot of respect for [Jon Favreau] because, to me, it was a B-character.... But look what he did."

  Ratner still has a chance for a comic book franchise, just not a traditional, super hero one. The director, hard at work possibly killing off another franchise with Beverly Hills Cop 4, is close to officially signing on to direct a Conan reboot.

  
  

  Posted 03/19/2009 by Ryan

  Related: Brett Ratner | Bryan Singer | Jon Favreau | Christopher Nolan | J.J. Abrams | Iron Man | Superman Returns | X-Men: The Last Stand | Beverly Hills Cop IV

Saturday, February 21

• A Sneaky Spoiler "Unleashes" Superman Sequel Title

  A SlashFilm spy somehow got into the password protected portion of Warner Bros web assets and saw something that he wasn't supposed to -- the name of the next Superman sequel!

  The sneaky spoiler immediately leaked the title Superman Unleashed to the Internet, but it has not ended a long time debate about the movie -- namely, whether it will it be a reboot or not. If this is indeed the true description of the next offering, it's definitely a sequel, but it is unclear whether a new director is attached -- since Bryan Singer already leaked his sequel's chosen title as The Man of Steel early on, and this obiously ain't it.

  Comic book movie fans will see the title as a good omen for the franchise. They widely panned Singer's reflective take in his Superman Returns. Plus, if the loss of the previous helmer wasn't reason enough for rejoicing, the title card description also suggests a much more action oriented effort...

  Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to ‘Superman Returns’ promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve.

  This is exactly what the fans have been hoping for. Now if they will just keep Lex Luthor out of it this time, all will be well in moviedom. With the number of Superman movies starring Lex as the antagonist, you'd think there weren't any other villains in all the DC Universe.

  
  

  Posted 02/21/2009 by Jim

  Related: Bryan Singer | Superman: The Man of Steel | Superman Returns | Superman

Thursday, February 12

• Bryan Singer Losing Superman Sequel to Wachowskis?

  According to AICN the Wachowski Brothers are set to take over the Superman franchise from ousted Bryan Singer, and if they are in charge, they will want to reboot it into a Matrix-style trilogy.

  The "dub-bros" were set to start work on another super-flick, Plastic Man, but Warner Bros. has put that project on hold, which would allow for the brothers to work on Superman.

  AICN goes on to say...

  The Wachowski's are currently reviewing their options as its like being asked to take the final play in a Superbowl final. [McTeigue] says if they do agree, he will likely either succumb to providing second unit support on the movie or will champion the directorship of 'Plastic Man.' The very thought of the brothers making a 'Superman' movie is unbelievable as they have grown up in the world of comic books and they would be ideal for the project.

  No need to shed tears for Singer, however. He's taking the helm of a Logan's Run remake.

  
  

  Posted 02/12/2009 by Jim

  Related: Andy Wachowski | Bryan Singer | Larry Wachowski | Superman: The Man of Steel | The Matrix | Plastic Man | Logan's Run

Wednesday, July 2

• Wanted's Millar Wants to Revive Superman Next

  Flush with confidence after the boffo opening of his Wanted, comic book scribe Mark Millar wants to take on none other than perhaps the greatest superhero of them all. Last week he revealed to London's Daily Record that he plans to "reinvent Superman for the 21st century," which I can only assume to mean that he wishes to make the Man of Steel dark, brooding and ultra-violent. That might be just what the doctor ordered after 2006's shrug-inducing Superman Returns, but is it realistic?

  Indeed, it appears that Millar's musings may not simply be the delusions of some crazy comic book nerd. "I've been planning this my entire life," he told the Record. "I've got my director and producer set up, and it'll be 2011. This is how far ahead you have to think."

  If that's indeed the case, someone might want to give Bryan Singer (director of Superman Returns and the franchise's go-to guy) a heads-up.

  
  

  Posted 07/02/2008 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Wanted | Superman Returns

Monday, April 7

• Cruise's Valkyrie Pushed to 2009

  Tom Cruise's return to the silver screen (from the gossip shows and supermarket rags) will have to wait.

  Variety reports that Bryan Singer's Valkyrie, in which Cruise portrays a German officer leading a real-life plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, has been pushed back from a release date of October 3, 2008 to February 13. 2009.

  
  

  Posted 04/07/2008 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Tom Cruise | Valkyrie

Thursday, March 13

• Spacey still game for Superman sequel

  Hopes for a sequel to Superman Returns, Bryan Singer's 2006 reboot of the fabled comic book franchise, received a welcome shot in the arm recently when Singer announced that he's moving forward with a follow-up, ending speculation that he might be finished with the Man of Steel. The project's still in its infancy, but if it does indeed take flight, star Kevin Spacey is down to reprise his role as the follicular-challenged archvillain Lex Luthor:

  "I'm scheduled to come back, meaning that I made a deal to do a second film, and I think Kate (Bosworth) did as well," said Spacey today during press conference to promote his new gambling flick 21. "Bryan and I spoke last spring and I knew he was gonna do this film in Germany and then he was talking about doing another film after that. My suspicion is that if they are moving forward, it probably wouldn't start shooting until sometime in the spring of 2009 to be released in 2010."

  Spring of 2009 -- that'll give producers more than enought time to find a replacement for Brandon Routh.

  
  

  Posted 03/13/2008 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Kevin Spacey | Superman Returns | 21

Tuesday, August 21

• Warners taking another run at Logan

  After spending several years mired in the purgatory known as "turnaround," a remake of the 1976 sci-fi hit Logan's Run is back in the works over at Warner Bros., says The Hollywood Reporter.

  A high-concept flick if there ever was one, Logan's Run depicted a futuristic society that barred its citizens from living beyond the age of 30, with folks who refused to be euthanized declared fugitives (aka "runners").

  Various big-name directors were attached to the remake during its initial journey through development hell, including Robert Schwentke (Flightplan), James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) and Bryan Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns). Of the three, Singer came the closest to seeing it through, engaging in extensive pre-production before bailing to direct Superman.

  Helming the newly-resurrected remake will be architect-turned-filmmaker Joseph Kosinski. Tim Sexton (Children of Men) is working on the script, which is said to adhere more closely to the novel than the original film. No word on how else the story will be updated, but Sexton might want to consider changing to maximum age to 40. It is, after all, the new 30.

  
  

  Posted 08/21/2007 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Tim Sexton | Logan's Run | Logan's Run

Wednesday, July 11

• Movie Dealz

  Footloose, Superman, and Dracula - Oh My!

  In today's dealz...

  ...Paramount will be doing a musical remake of Footloose (a la the musical remake of Hairspray that comes out next week). Movie musical crowned prince Zac Efron (High School Musical, Hairspray) is in talks to star as Ren McCormack (i.e. Kevin Bacon's part) and Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) is in talks to direct...

  ...A film adaptation of journalist Toby Young's amusing memoir about his time at Vanity Fair, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, is being made by British film company Number 9 Films. It will star Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Gillian Anderson, and Jeff Bridges as Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, and will be directed by Bob Weide (Curb Your Enthusiasm)...

  ...Animated French feature Persepolis will be given a new cast to do an English language version. The cartoon, which is based on the bestselling graphic novel about Marjane Satrapi's experience growing up during the Iranian revolution of 1979 will include Sean Penn, Iggy Pop, Gena Rowlands, and Catherine Deneuve...

  ...There's a bevy of Dracula films swirling about town, including Dracula Year Zero, which will be about Vlad the Impaler--the Romanian royal who inspired the whole dracula myth to begin with. Alex Proyas (I, Robot) is set to direct...

  ...And finally Kevin Spacey has signed to reprise his role as Lex Luthor in Superman: The Man of Steel, director Bryan Singer's sequel to Superman Returns...

  Source: Variety.com.

  
  

  Posted 07/11/2007 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Jeff Bridges | Kevin Spacey | Zac Efron | Alex Proyas | Kenny Ortega | Footloose | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People | Superman Returns | Dracula Year Zero | Superman: The Man of Steel

Sunday, July 8

• Germany gives Cruise mixed messages

  The Fatherland is having a hard time figuring out exactly where it stands on Tom Cruise--specifically in terms of his new project, Valkyrie.

  The movie, which will be written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander, and directed by Bryan Singer (Superman Returns), is about Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, a German man who was executed for staging a 1944 assassination attempt against Adolf Hitler. Cruise, who will play Stauffenberg, is struggling to shoot on location where the events really took place, Variety is reporting.

  While German filmmakers are clearly happy to support a WWII movie that is able to paint their country in a positive light and to bring awareness of a man who is now considered a hero, Valkyrie has hit several snags.

  As of June 25, the German Ministry of Defense announced Cruise et al. would not be allowed to shoot at military sights (namely the Bendlerblock building where Stauffenberg was executed) because of Cruise's outspoken relationship with the Church of Scientology, which is considered a "totalitarian cult" by the German government.

  But three days later, the Ministry revised its statement, saying the problem was actually that part of its offices are located in the Bendlerblock, and the shooting would be disruptive. The Defense Ministry offered a filming permit if that problem could be solved.

  Unfortunately for Cruise, the Finance Ministry overruled the decision on the grounds that that filming in the memorial Bendlerblock would disrespect and exploit its spirit as "a place of mourning."

  The team's request to shoot at a Berlin police station was also denied. And Stauffenberg's son, Berthold von Stauffenberg, expressed his intense displeasure at the project by informing Cruise that he "should keep his hands off my father."

  However, the news isn't all bad. As of July 5, The German Federal Film Fund (DFFF) announced it will be granting $6.5 million to support the project. That should come in handy if Cruise and the German government can ever agree on where to shoot.

  
  
  Next Showing: Valkyrie is set to begin filming July 18. We'll see about that.

  Posted 07/08/2007 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Tom Cruise | Valkyrie

Wednesday, March 21

• Tom Cruise and Usual Suspects crew team up

  

  Variety.com is reporting that Tom Cruise and producing partner Paula Wagner have inked a deal for him to star in the next Bryan Singer movie.

  Singer, who is best known as the director of Superman Returns and The Usual Suspects, will be directing an (untitled) WWII thriller about Germans plotting to assassinate Adolf Hitler. This is the second project for United Artists that Cruise and Wagner have put into motion since partnering with that label. The other is Lions for Lambs, a drama directed by Robert Redford, starring Redford, Cruise, and Meryl Streep.

  The WWII thriller was co-written by Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander. This is the first collaboration between McQuarrie and Singer since The Usual Suspects.

   

  
  

  Posted 03/21/2007 by reelz

  Related: Bryan Singer | Paula Wagner | Tom Cruise | Christopher McQuarrie