Title: X-Men: First Class
Description: Yet another X-movie in the works.
SamoaRowe - November 23, 2008 06:23 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
Will 'X-Men' Fans Accept a 'Gossip Girl' Script?
by Matt McDaniel
November 20, 2008 Professor X and Magneto. Wolverine and Sabretooh. Serena and Blair?
It was announced on Wednesday that Josh Schwartz, the creator of the TV teen dramas "The O.C." and "Gossip Girl," will be writing "X-Men: First Class," another installment of the superhero franchise. Variety reports that the new film will focus on the students at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, rather than the adults like Wolverine and Storm.
On paper the deal seems to make sense: Schwartz is a writer with a proven track record for soapy high school angst; the comic book was originally envisioned by Stan Lee to be focused on mutant teenagers and their issues; and assembling the actors from the first three films has likely become too complicated and expensive to do again. But will the younger-skewing take alienate the true fans?
The previous movie, 2006's "X-Men: The Last Stand," was the most financially successful of the series, bringing in over $234 million in the U.S. Some fans of the comic book, however, weren't happy with the liberties the script took with the source material. Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News spoke out on how the "Dark Phoenix" story from the book was shortchanged in the movie, writing, "I truly truly truly hate how they treated it." Others took exception to how major characters were killed off without much fanfare. David Cornelius at efilmcritic.com went so far as to call it "one of the very worst comic book films ever made."
So will Josh Schwartz's "First Class" franchise reboot push the core fanbase further away? It's difficult to say just yet. While he gained more notoriety for his shows about the rich and spoiled, Schwartz also co-created the geek-turned-spy series "Chuck," which is peppered with allusions to comics and sci-fi movies. And even if the fans reject this particular title, the franchise is branching out into other directions that might please them more.
Opening next year's summer movie season is "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," a prequel with Hugh Jackman returning to his breakout role. It will tell the story of how the mutant Logan was transformed into the metal-clawed superhero, with Liev Schreiber stepping into the role of his nemesis, Sabretooth. A brief montage of footage was shown at the San Diego Comic Con this past July to great applause. There was also a quick shot of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, another Marvel Comics character that may get his own spin-off movie.
Also in development is "Magneto," another "X-Men Origins" film about the early days of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr before the two friends became enemies. David S. Goyer, the co-writer of "Batman Begins," is on board to direct, but no cast has been announced. Ian McKellen, who so memorably played the villain in the first three "X-Men" movies, said he is unlikely to return for that movie, joking with Empire Online that, "I don't think I could get away with playing a 19-year-old."
Still, as a big fan of director Bryan Singer's first two "X-Men" movies, I personally hold out hope that a teen-oriented "First Class" flick will still deliver. Some of the most affecting moments in those movies were centered on the younger characters. The scene where Rogue (Anna Paquin) nearly kills her first kiss with her mutation or when Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) shows his parents his abilities got to the heart of the dilemma that's been a part of the X-Men stories from the beginning. With any luck, Josh Schwartz will turn in a script that's more "X" than "CW." |
Jillie - November 23, 2008 07:55 PM (GMT)
Is this First Class the one with Gambit!? I want Gambit! Why has there been no Gambit!? GAMBIT!!!!!
SamoaRowe - November 25, 2008 08:31 PM (GMT)
Gambit is supposedly in Wolverine's movie, so I doubt he'll wind up here.
Erick Von Erich - November 25, 2008 09:26 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (SamoaRowe @ Nov 22 2008, 11:23 PM) |
| QUOTE |
A brief montage of footage was shown at the San Diego Comic Con this past July to great applause |
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Just to reference this: you could screen a 5 second clip of Hong Kong Phooey masturbating and it would get "great applause" at San Diego Comic Con.
Truthfully, the reason Gambit doesn't get a lot of X-men movie or merchandising love is because he came along in 1989-- well after the original 5 X-men , as well as the "All-New, All-Different" New X-men from 1975. Those two classes are the iconic characters of the franchise and will always receive top billing. Gambit also hasn't been spotlighted as a main character in his stint in the books. No fault of his own, he just hasn't been featured in the book the way Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean/Phoenix, Shadowcat, or even Colossus have.
Gambit is to X-men as Lando Calrissian is to Star Wars.
SamoaRowe - November 25, 2008 09:44 PM (GMT)
Yeah, it's a shame. I didn't get into the X-Men until the early 90's, when Gambit was arguably at his peak of popularity and being utilized (he was all over the Fox cartoon, etc). I always considered him to be a legit X-Man due to that. It wasn't until much later that I went back and read the old comics, and at the time the line-up to the cartoon was the true team in my mind.
Erick Von Erich - November 25, 2008 10:10 PM (GMT)
Also--now that I think about it-- Gambit didn't come to the X-men as a "student". He was just some random guy with superpowers whom Storm encountered in the midwest. Started following her around and eventually joined the team. Even Rogue came in as a "student" (and she's probably, chronologically, the most recent X-man to be included in the iconic category).
Probably another reason why writers don't grab his name when writing stories about Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Way I see it, you can lump the X-men in three categories;
Group A (big "icons")- the franchise wouldn't work without these guys
-Cyclops
-Marvel Girl/Jean/Phoenix
-Wolverine
-Storm
-Professor X
Group B (lesser "icons")- help to fill out the cast. Important, but not as essential as Group A
-Beast (although I'm inclined to throw him in Group A)
-Rogue
-Colossus
-Nightcrawler
-Angel
-Iceman
-Kitty/Ariel/Sprite/Shadowcat
-Havok
Group C- Take 'em or leave 'em, as the plot deems necessary.
-Banshee
-Gambit
-Polaris
-Bishop
-Cannonball
-Psylocke
-Thunderbird (I)
-Forge
-Longshot
-Dazzler
-Emma Frost
-Sunfire
-Any character who has joined the team since 1996.
Jillie - November 26, 2008 07:40 PM (GMT)
Well, I also started with the X Men franchise in the nineties (because I'm a young whipper-shnapper). Gambit and Jubilee are my two favourite characters with Wolverine a close third (and I am not ashamed to admit that it's solely because of yummy Hugh Jackman and the first X Men movie that Wolverine holds this spot on my list. That and, ultimately, he's Canadian).
Getting back to the original post, I totally agree with the guy that they supremely fucked up the Dark Phoenix storyline. Like, hardcore. I liked the direction they were trying to take it, but they failed miserably. I am really interested to see if they are going to bring Dr X back, too (if anyone saw the bit that played after the credits, you know what I mean), because that would be super awesome (btw, did that ever actually happen in the comics?).
Anyway, I am STILL looking for the third, fourth and fifth seasons of X Men the Animated Series. :( If anyone has a lead for me, let me know!
Erick Von Erich - November 26, 2008 08:19 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Jillie @ Nov 26 2008, 12:40 PM) |
| I am really interested to see if they are going to bring Dr X back, too (if anyone saw the bit that played after the credits, you know what I mean), because that would be super awesome (btw, did that ever actually happen in the comics?). |
You mean Professor X? :)
Actually, he's died and returned a few times in the comics. First time was back in the 60's when he "died" -- the original 5 X-men all moved to San Francisco, got new costumes and worked with the CIA. Circa issue 44 or so of the original series.
It was all a ruse as, in the final issues of the series, Xavier returned and revealed that he had actually switched places with Factor Three's Changeling (whom the FOX cartoon character "Morph" was based on) right before the "death". All a part of Xavier's plan to prepare for an alien invasion against the Z'nox (or some other hyphenated aliens). The series ended right after the alien battle.
Note: it didn't really "end". Just went into hibernation until it came back with reprints in the early 70's. Eventually the "New X-men" took up the numbering of the title.
I think Xavier died once again in the late 90's. Then again, recently, when everyone returned from "House of M". Plus he disappeared to Shi'ar galaxy for a few years in the mid to late 80's and even had full use of his legs for a spell (around the original "Secret Wars" period).
BTW, I completely forgot Jubilee. I'd throw her in the "C" category, since her "teenaged chick who joins the team" has been appropriated for both Shadowcat and Rogue when translated to other mediums. Although Shadowcat was the "original Jubilee" in the comics, if that makes sense.