The X-Men movie franchise is on the brink of making big changes to the normal formula that fans are used to seeing on the big screen. In the past, the films typically focus on two major plot points: Wolverine trying to find out about his past, and the dynamic between life-long friends and enemies Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr. With the franchise ushering a new group of younger mutants, is it the right time to change the X-Men film formula?
The X-Men franchise has a big schedule of films on then horizon that will start to usher in a new batch of mutants. From Deadpool, Gambit, and X-Men: Supernova, to New Mutants and Alpha Flight, we are about to meet a lot of new mutants. Taking the younger road allows the franchise to flesh out more mutants than were possible when the X-Men franchise began. In an interview with Vanity Fair, producer Lauren Shuler Donner says that the films will change their focus from the Professor Xavier/ Magneto relationship we’re used to seeing:
“We cannot, once again, explore the Erik/Charles dynamic… [A Charles and Erik-less world] is both liberating and makes me nervous—it’s mostly liberating. [Charles and Erik are] always essential to X-Men—but there are other stories to tell.”
This doesn’t mean that we won’t see the characters any longer. Patrick Stewart recent stated that he is done with the role after Logan, but will appear in Deadpool 2. James McCoy will also be returning to the role for at least one more film (X-Men: Supernova) and could also show up in New Mutants.
This announcement comes as producer David Hayter tells THR this week about other actors who were up for big roles in the original X-Men film. Terence Stamp and Michael Jackson were up for the role of Prof. X, Viggo Mortensen for Wolverine, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey for Storm, and Shaq for Bishop. He also stated that Angela Bassett and Rachael Leigh Cook were the first choices for Storm and Rogue. Each wanted too much cash for the roles.
How do you make an X-Men film without Professor Xavier? Let us know in the comments.
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