X-Men 3

[Dapper Dan]

Alan Cumming on X-Men 3!


Source: Andrew Weil
January 29, 2005





http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/cummingx3.jpg

Alan Cumming, who stars as Loki in the action-comedy Son of the Mask, told ComingSoon.net/SuperheroHype.com that he expects to start shooting X-Men 3 this summer. Cumming played mutant Kurt Wagner (aka Nightcrawler) in director Bryan Singer's X2: X-Men United.

"I signed for two films, so I'm going to. The last I heard is that we're starting on the 20th of June, but they don't have a script or a director yet so that may be pushed a little bit. But they have to release it in May of 2006 for some reason so it's gonna be shot in the summer," Cumming said.

"And it's one of these things, I kind of just want to know I'm going to do it cause it affects your whole life. You can do other things cause you know that it's a large amount of time; I'm going to a show on Broadway which I moved to January of next year just to make sure I finished X-Men…Every film you do you have to tell them just in case they're going to get it together really fast. You're under some options; it's quite weird."

After directing the first two "X-Men" films, Singer has moved onto Superman, but Cumming is surprisingly not disappointed. "No. I'm not disappointed; I cannot deny that. I think he's really talented and I'm very proud of the film and I think it's a great film. I didn't enjoy working with him on the film."

Cumming didn't really have any suggestions for a new director though. "No. My mom? It's a really hard act to follow."

He had to go through hours of makeup to transform into Nightcrawler for the last film. "I have this brilliant idea," Cumming added, "I want some kind of fabulous, crazy, terrible thing-some terrible accident happens to Nightcrawler and his face turns white."

New Line's Son of the Mask, also starring Jamie Kennedy and Traylor Howard, opens February 18th.

[Jill Monroe]

X-Men vs. SupermanBattles rage between "X-Men" and "Superman." Plus, the lowdown on "Hustle & Flow"
by Gregory Ellwood
Special to MSN Entertainment
Feb. 3, 2005

You'd think a quiet announcement regarding the casting of Jimmy Olsen in Bryan Singer (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=181312)'s new "Superman Returns" movie wouldn't amount to much. However, it sounded peculiar so I decided to investigate. The rumor mill speculated for months that Shawn Ashmore (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=190001) -- who starred as Iceman in Singer's "X-2 (http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=527919)" -- would play the energetic Daily Planet photographer. It was somewhat of a surprise then when the Hollywood Reporter announced Monday that Sam Huntington (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=171518) had been cast in the part instead. This is a huge break for Huntington, who hasn't starred in a major movie since 2001's "Not Another Teen Movie (http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=77621)." He first gained attention for playing Tim Allen (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=268784)'s son in "Jungle 2 Jungle (http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=74888)."

According to my sources, 20th Century Fox nixed the idea of up-and-coming Ashmore starring in Warner Bros' new Superman feature. Fox is telling actors who have options for the third, untitled X-Men film that it will begin shooting June 20th. That conflicts with "Superman Returns'" spring shooting schedule, which is anticipated to go through July 30. Ashmore is one of the few actors in the X-Men franchise that is contractually obligated to two sequels (one already being in the books). The other actors locked in include Alan Cumming (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=372517) (Nightcrawler), Aaron Stanford (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=356121) (Pyro), Anna Paquin (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=309842) (Rogue) and Rebecca Romijn (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=214679) (Mystique). Cumming confirmed the June 20th start date while speaking to the press for "Son of the Mask" over the weekend. My sources also say that Hugh Jackman (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=336026) (Wolverine), who did not have a third sequel option, has agreed to a new contract for the movie and has approval on the new director for the series. Unless a miracle occurs, James Marsden (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=227904) has already been removed from consideration as Cyclops after he took a smaller part as Perry White's son in "Superman Returns." We'll see if Marsden's loyalty to Singer was a smart career move.

The whole situation reeks of bad blood on Fox's side. The idea that Ashmore's shooting schedule for a minor part in "Superman" couldn't be negotiated so he could participate in both movies is ludicrous. Studios work together to coordinate conflicts like this all the time. It's good business. Marsden's schedule could also be worked out, though I personally feel an actor with more range wouldn't be a bad idea. More importantly, there is neither a finished script nor a director on board for this new X-Men flick. Just last week, Zak Penn, who has a story credit on "X2," was brought on board to start a whole new draft. Does Fox really believe "X3" will begin shooting in five months? No. But after Singer spurned them for "Superman Returns" and a production deal with WB, they aren't going to do him any favors.

What about the rest of the mutant crew? Expect Ian McKellen (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=118500) (Magneto), Patrick Stewart (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=115708) (Professor X) and Famke Janssen (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=350015) (Jean Grey) to return for the right price. Yes, Jean Grey 's character died at the end of the last flick, but as any fan of the comic knows, a "Phoenix"-like resurrection should occur. And Halle Berry (http://movies.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=237628)? Well, the gossip rags published numerous stories about her contentious relationship with Singer and unhappiness with the small roles in the previous films. The gossip was pretty much on the mark. However, Berry's celebrity helped "X2" achieve its massive box office (do you recall whose image was second biggest on the poster after Hugh?). And with Singer out of the picture, it's up to Fox as to whether they want to pay enough to bring her back. Considering the "Catwoman (http://movies.msn.com/movies/movie.aspx?m=546937)" fiasco, she'd be smart to meet them halfway.

[Dapper Dan]

Jean Grey will definately be back... she just did an interview :D

Famke Janssen Back for X-Men 3

Source: Moviehole (http://www.moviehole.net/news/5011.html)
February 7, 2005



With "Hide and Seek" opening in Australia on February 10th, director John Polson and star Famke Janssen talked to Australian TV show "Today". Janssen confirmed that she's done filming "Nip/Tuck" and will next be shooting X-Men 3.

While her character, Jean Grey, met a certain fate in X2: X-Men United, Famke previously said that "Dark Phoenix is part of that script... she's a big part of it."

If you would like to watch the video interview online, just click here (http://g.msn.com/0VD0/39/83?m=News&mi=Today&i=79f6397a-b1df-4eaa-820e-d5b0843b275a&p=AUnews_AUtoday).

[Dapper Dan]

Got some more news for y'all:

Matthew Vaughn Helming X-Men 3

Source: Ain't-It-Cool-News (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19635)
March 14, 2005



http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/xmen3director.jpg
Ain't-It-Cool-News (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19635) has confirmed that Layer Cake (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=5882) director Matthew Vaughn will direct X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662) for 20th Century (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8745#) Fox. Bryan Singer directed the first two films (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8745#) of the franchise and is now shooting Superman (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4666).

The anticipated third film (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8745#) is expected to center on the Dark Phoenix saga. Both Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn wrote scripts, but the site says the studio will use Penn's draft for the movie (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8745#).

In related news, while Hugh Jackman (who is also producing), Famke Janssen, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming and more are all coming back, Halle Berry still isn't sure. She tells XMenFilms.net (http://www.xmenfilms.net/xnews/18a.html):

I have not read the script. All I have asked, is that if I come back as Storm, she need to be closer to the comic book (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=8745#). So, if they have in fact written her closer to the comic book character, then I'm in. If not, I'm out. I hope I'm in though. I love Storm, and really want to be part of the last film.

Fox and Marvel Studios are eyeing a Memorial Day, 2006 release date for X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662).


Ok, how can they center on the Dark Phoneix saga when they truly haven't even done the Phonix Saga?!

[Dapper Dan]

3 New Mutants Aboard for X-Men 3?


Source: Ain't-It-Cool-News (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19662)
March 16, 2005


Ain't-It-Cool-News (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19662) is reporting the rumor that Beast, Gambit and Angel will join the mutant line-up for 20th Century (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2732#) Fox's (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2732#) X-Men (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2732#) 3. While fans will be pleased to hear this, the site adds that Angel might actually be a girl in the movie (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2732#).

Check out the link above for more on this

[Dapper Dan]

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/phoenix.jpg "X3" & Spidey 3 Villain Talk
Posted: Tuesday March 28th, 2005 1:02am
Source: IGN Filmforce (http://filmforce.ign.com/) & Aint it Cool (http://www.aintitcool.com/)
Author: Garth Franklin

IGN FilmForce (http://filmforce.ign.com/x-men/articles/598/598967p1.html?fromint=1) has learned that Dark Phoenix is indeed the big villain in X3. Not the Sentinels, Mr. Sinister, Dr. Bolivar Trask, or the Hellfire Club. We were cautioned, however, that it still doesn't make her the main story. So far this is in line with what Avi Arad has said.

Also in regards to "X3", Comics Continuum (http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0503/28/index.htm) spoke with Halle Berry who seems more open about returning to play Storm - "I have not read the script. All I asked is that if I come back Storm needs MORE TO DO. So, if they have in fact written her closer to the comic book (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050329c.php#), then I'm in ...if not then I'm out. I hope I'm in though. I love Storm and really want to be a part of the last film (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050329c.php#)" said the Oscar-winning actress (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050329c.php#) during an online chat.

Finally, AICN (http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=19747) reports that multiple spies at Sony have confirmed that Thomas Hayden Church will indeed be playing the villain The Sandman. There's apparently a ton of Sandman conceptual art all over the Spidey-offices. The character was a prison escapee hiding out at an atomic testing facility when a explosion goes off. His molecules fuse with sand, giving him essentially shape shifting ability along with various other skills.

Thanks to 'Doug'.

[Dapper Dan]

Halle Berry Talks X-Men and a Return to Storm


Source: 'Reese the Law Girl'
April 4, 2005


Halle Berry while attending the Kids Choice Awards is quoted in USA Today as saying she is very excited to possibly play Storm in the last X-Men (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2799#) movie (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2799#).

"Halle Berry's bad experience with Catwoman (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2799#) apparently hasn't
completely soured her on super-hero films (http://www.superherohype.com/news/x-mennews.php?id=2799#). After long separating herself from X-Men 3, Berry now says it could be her next project because her character, Storm, has been given a stronger story line. "I love Storm," Berry said. "And it would be the last one, so I'd love to be a part of the end of the trilogy."

[Dapper Dan]

Janssen and Jackman Back for X-Men 3


Source: Variety (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117920657?categoryid=13&cs=1)
April 6, 2005




Since most of the primary cast of The X-Men (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9062#) only signed up for two movies (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9062#) originally, the pot had to be sweetened to get them to do the third movie (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9062#) in the series starring the Marvel Comics (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9062#) characters.

It was already announced that X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662) would be directed by Matthew Vaughn, who helmed the British crime film (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9062#) Layer Cake (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=5882), which comes out May 13.

Variety now reports that Famke Janssen and Hugh Jackman have both signed their deals to return as Jean Grey and Wolverine respectively, and that Halle Berry, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are still in negotiations, but will likely return as well.

X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662) is scheduled to be released on May 26, 2006.

[Dapper Dan]

http://www.darkhorizons.com/2003/xmen2/x21t.jpg Benioff Talks "Wolverine"
Posted: Sunday April 17th, 2005 10:56am
Source: Newsarama (http://www.newsarama.com/)
Author: Garth Franklin

Newsarama (http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31765) scored an interview with Wolverine screenwriter David Benioff and the Troy scribe talked about his job writing the "Wolverine" spin-off movie (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050417d.php#). Benioff says he wants to "rough" Wolverine/Jackman up a bit, giving him an opportunity to show sides the first two movies (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050417d.php#) didn't afford the character aside from the Mansion invasion scene in X2.

Promising his story will be a "bit darker and a bit more brutal", Benioff says he's writing an 'R' script and that Marvel Studios and director (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050417d.php#) will have to decide where to go from there.

Benioff also confirmed his script and vision stays away from the more "fantastical" elements associated with the X-Men (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050417d.php#) franchise. "I'm going to stay away from the 'Four Riders' kind of stories and the science fiction (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050417d.php#) stories where he was battling aliens or demons...I'm sticking with something more realistic...my concept of him for this movie is the one I grew up with: He's a gritty character, a tough, working-class Canadian guy who was born with certain special powers and granted more through a series of brutal experiments - for more that's my Wolverine reality."

The full interview is in the new issue of Comics Buyer's Guide on sale now.

Thanks to 'JHBlade'

[Dapper Dan]

Matthew Vaughn on X-Men 3 & Stardust


Source: Edward Douglas
April 22, 2005





http://superherohype.com/nextraimages/vaughnxmenint1.jpg

Director Matthew Vaughn has been making films for a number of years, working as the producer of Guy Richie's three films. When Richie declined on directing the crime drama Layer Cake (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=5882), Vaughn stepped up and decided to take up the directorial reins. Even before the movie was released in the States, it was announced that Vaughn would also be taking over for Bryan Singer on X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662), much to the surprise of many fans of the franchise.

Almost a month to the date of the announcement, Vaughn was in New York to talk about Layer Cake (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=5882), so ComingSoon.net/SuperheroHype.com had a chance to learn more about how he got involved in that highly-anticipated project, as well as a second comic book (http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9280#) project, and to get his thoughts on how he will approach them.

"It was a mutual finding of each other," Vaughn told us when asked about how his involvement with X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662) came about. "I heard Singer wasn't doing it, and I just told my agent that I'd be intrigued and asked "can you get me in a room?" They saw the film and really liked it. 'X-Men' has sort of taken me by surprise. One of the reasons I'm attracted to it is also the reason why I'm scared of it, is that it's such a short amount of time to get it done. I thought maybe it would be good to do it because there's a lot for me to learn if I do it. The irony is that I haven't got the luxury of casting most of these guys, which is going to be odd, especially if I don't like what they're doing, cause I'm going to have to pull them aside and tell them to ignore everything they did in the last film."

Many people wonder how Vaughn's approach will differ from Singer's two films. "I can empathize with what's gone on," he said. "I think Singer probably treats it in a more simplistic manner then I'm going to. It's going to expand on things. There's three or four scenes I know people will just be shocked and close to tears."

Things like that tend to make fans worried, but Vaughn didn't seem to nervous about the amount of pressure of him to follow in Singer's footsteps. "I'm all for fans being wary of me; they've got the right to be," he explained. "I'm just going to make the film as good as I can, and hopefully, they'll like it. I know that there's going to be elements I'm going to be bringing to it that will worry the fans in the sense that I want to make a movie that stands up in twenty, thirty years time basically. The film I'm doing is more in the tone of [the Clint Eastwood (http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9280#) Western] 'Unforgiven'." He wasn't too worried about the bigness of this type of project compared to his smaller-scale debut. "I just want to make films that I think are entertaining. I like the idea of doing big budget films with a heart."


http://superherohype.com/nextraimages/vaughnxmenint2.jpg

Vaughn is hoping that his long-time pal Vinnie Jones would be in the movie, more than likely as Juggernaut, but he hasn't signed anything yet. "What's interesting about Juggernaut is that he's the brother of Professor X, and that's why I thought it would be interesting having an English thug opposite Patrick Stewart." Vaughn wasn't too familiar with the origin of the character, but he didn't think it would have anything to do with Vietnam, as with Stan Lee's (http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9280#) origin. He said that he had been looking into the Dark Phoenix story, but admitted that he thought "bits of it are great but other bits are a mess."

A few months ago, it was announced that Vaughn would also produce and direct an adaptation of Neil Gaiman (http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9280#) and Charles Vess' graphic novel (http://comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=9280#) Stardust sometime after he finishes X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662). "I've written the treatment, but I'm not a writer, so I'm just trying to find the right writer," he updated us. "Obviously, to make it into a movie, I have to change it a bit, and put a new third act on. It's going to be cool, sort of like 'Princess Bride' meets 'Midnight Run'." Vaughn mentioned that he has some limited edition art that Charles Vess sent him, but that his movie would look somewhat different. "The way he paints is very Victorian in a way, but I want it to have more of a modern look. I think the problem is that when people say 'we're going to do a fairy tale, so therefore, let's shoot it in a fairytale way.' I wanted to shoot it more modern and grittier."

Vaughn wasn't sure which film he'd get to first after finishing X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662), since he also has a spy film with writer John Hodge on his plate, which was originally intended as a film version of The Man from U.N.C.L.E..

With two very different comic book movies on his plate, we had to ask whether Vaughn was a fan of the medium. "I like comic books, but I don't read them like I used to," he told us. "I quite like graphic novels more than comic books. That's how I got to know Neil Gaiman. I like to be entertained and I like good stories. I think people who write comics take them very seriously, so you get that serious application to quite a commercial world." He wouldn't tell us what his favorite comics were because they might give away the plot for X-Men 3 (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=4662). According to him, " they have become the basis for the film", but he did admit a fondness for Joss Whedon's recent run on the characters.

In the meantime, Layer Cake (http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=5882) opens in New York and Los Angeles on May 13, and elsewhere after that

[Dapper Dan]

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/matthewvaughn.jpg Matthew Vaughn Talks "X3" Direction
Posted: Tuesday May 3rd, 2005
Source: About.Com (http://www.about.com/)
Author: Garth Franklin

Out promoting "Layer Cake" in the US, Director (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050503g.php#) Matthew Vaughn spoke with About.Com (http://actionadventure.about.com/od/xmen3/p/aavaughnX3prev.htm) about his next gig - the third "X-Men" which is currently slated for an August 1st start of shooting in Canada.

At present "We're trying to see if we can get it off the ground at the moment. There's just a hell of a lot. We're meant to be filming in August. We're working on it at the moment. As far as I know, Halle's doing the film (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050503g.php#). In the script, she's got a lot to do. I've got a lot of experience in dealing with a lot of character in a film, so multi-character movies (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050503g.php#) don't intimidate me at all. I think I know how to get that balance" said Vaughn.

In terms of his plans for the film - "I have plans to put my stamp on it. I thought when I pitched them [Fox] the way I wanted to make the movie, they'd run a mile. But I think they understand. I think the X-Men are pretty much movies of the '90s and I think it's time for them to toughen up a bit. X-Men was pretty good because you saw the flaws and the conflict that they're going through, but I think that conflict needs to be expanded on. I wanted the villains to be less [cartoony]. At the moment, I think a lot of moustache twirling happened in the last films (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050503g.php#). I want to get rid of that and make the villains really scary and more realistic." He cites "Buffy (http://www.darkhorizons.com/news05/050503g.php#)" creator Joss Whedon's work as an inspiration.

Amongst his is plans to use as little CGI as possible - "I hate CGI. I'm trying to do everything in camera. Listen, there are times you have to use CGI, but I want to do as much in camera as possible". His only real concern is the time factor with the pressure to get it done by next May. He's also only signed on for this film, no further.