The folks at Empire had a chance to speak with Lauren Shuler Donner, producer of all films X-Men related, at the press junket for the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine on Blu-ray and they discussed the future of the franchise.
The feature that Empire put together on the interview was broken down into four sections for each of the movies: Wolverine 2, X-Men: First Class, Deadpool, and Magneto. We’ll go through and discuss each, passing to you the key things Donner says and giving our thoughts on it and how it relates to what we expected to see from these movies since their inception.
To start, here’s the latest on Wolverine 2 and X-Men: First Class…
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Update: Click to see Part Two on Deadpool and Magneto.
To start, they touched on the most definite film we’ll see coming our way in the next fear year: Wolverine 2.
“It’s actually the story we wanted to use for the first Wolverine film, but [Fox head honcho] Tom Rothman preferred to set the character up with an origin story first. This movie will really focus on the relationship between Wolverine and Mariko, the daughter of a Japanese crime lord, and what happens to him in Japan.”
The Chris Claremont-Frank Miller run on Wolverine which saw him on his adventures to Japan is one of the most classic Wolverine tales there is and so it’s no wonder they want to turn that story into a feature film. That being said, I can’t say I disagree with Rothman’s reasoning to want to tell Wolverine’s origin first. We saw hints of his origin scattered throughout all of the X-trilogy so it was a story that had to be told. Although I’d argue that X-Men Origins: Wolverine didn’t do a great job of that, it made sense to do that before seeing Wolverine head to Japan, something not touched on at all in the X-Trilogy. The alternative would have been to do the Japan story first as a prequel to X-Men, followed by another prequel based before it? Nah, that doesn’t work as well.
I wasn’t impressed by either of the last two X-Men movies but I still hold hope that the franchise can turn it around and it looks like they’re going in the right direction with Wolverine’s next adventure. With the hiring of Oscar-winner Chris McQuarrie to write the script, with Donner’s and Jackman’s desire to have this film closely follow the source material, and with the studio seemingly holding back until (hopefully) selecting the right director, I can’t deny that I’m excited to see Wolverine in Japan, especially with what Donner says next:
“We want to make it authentic so I think it’s very likely we’ll be shooting in Japan. Also, by the way, we are looking to have the Japanese Fox executives involved in helping and counselling us, because it’s a different culture and we don’t want to portray the way they speak, dress and act in an inaccurate way. I think it’s likely the characters will speak English rather than Japanese with subtitles.”
Remember when this was a big issue for that other film McQuarrie wrote, Valkyrie? Once we all saw the movie and how they transitioned from Tom Cruise speaking German with subtitles into speaking English along with the rest of the cast, it didn’t really affect the film’s story or characters in the end. Although I admit it was weird hearing a group of German characters on screen with a half-dozen uniquely different non-German accents. I never expected to see the Wolverine sequel mostly spoken in Japanese with subtitles so this is of no surprise and shouldn’t alarm any fans.
Another thing we can expect from Wolverine 2 is Hugh Jackman fighting a lot less with his claws (after the horrible CGI of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, this is a bonus):
“What’s cool about this part of the saga is that Wolverine will be fighting in a different style to what we’ve seen before… There’ll be samurai, ninja, katana blades, different forms of martial arts – mano-a-mano, extreme fighting. We’re going to come up with a new style of fighting. It’s going to be awesome.”
As you can tell, Donner is sure excited about the potential for Wolverine’s next story so let’s hope we get a high quality movie with Wolverine 2.
Click to continue reading about Wolverine 2 and X-Men: First Class…
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25 Comments
It’s hard to be excited for the next X-men movies after X3 and Wolverine Origins.
what happened to the “retweet” button at the end of every post?
@M-Cat
The software behind that button crashed my server, so I’ve decided to remove it.
You can use either the Share or Twitter buttons in the toolbar at the bottom of the page to do the same thing.
Vic
Okay got it Vic, thanks.
yeahhhh! I believe on you. I believe on everybody, the producers, writer, and Jackman, i think this will work as the others upcoming x-movies,it will be like 1 and 2, hopefully better, please don’t disappoint us
Rob
the director (Gavin Hood) isn’t coming back? Who do you think they will bring in? And why would they go away from Wolverine fighting with his hand claws? That’s what Wolverine does and you don’t stop something because the CGI was bad – you fix the CGI or get someone better. Anyone can improve on the horrible CGI we saw in Origins.
lol, it’s part of the Japan story where Wolvy is learning new combat styles and fighting against new styles.
It has nothing to do with the bad CGI, that’s just a complaint about X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
How about Hugh Jackman with a Katana?
Rob
Yes, I understand it’s part of the story but I was just wondering why Wolverine would want to fight with swords and other blades (no doubt very cool) when he has adamantium claws in his arms. I’m not trying to be a pain in the you know what here I was just curious.
nevermind, just overthinking it i guess. it’s something different and I love the sword fighting style so I’ll run with it.
First Class is the one I’m looking forward to most, but only because X4 is only in pre-preproduction. I get why people love Wolverine and Deadpool, but I just prefer the team dynamic that you don’t really get with single character origin films.
I’m pretty sure Donner saying that Gambit wasn’t a founding member, therefore not in First Class, is probably more of a description of the film continuity character than the comic book ones.
Gambit in Origins was a pretty self-confident guy who already had full control over his powers, so he really doesn’t need the help that someone like Xavier could give him.
The roster’s probably going to be Cyke, Jean, Storm, Emma, Beast, and possibly one more male character, if only to even the sides a bit.
And I still think First Class is the movie that should show Sabretooth’s evolution from Schreiber into Mane. And I definitely want to see some more Toad and Mystique.
thanks for the article josh cant wait 4 first class
@M-cat
Actually, you aren’t over-thinking anything. Sword fighting doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in a Wolverine film. Wolverine doesn’t just have claws. He has ADAMANTIUM claws! Any sword he uses, even if it is like the best steel alloy on the planet could still get CUT IN HALF by his claws. So what is the point?
I would rather not to have the story defy the internal logic set up by the franchise just to “look cool.”
Besides, sword fights aren’t really a threat to Logan. He heals. Here is how a sword fight with Wolverine should go: “OW! Your sword is in my abdomen!” “Now you have no head, bub.” END SCENE
there was supposed to be a “SNIKT” in between those two quotes… stupid HTML
Haha Evan that end scene made me laugh. “bub”
Remember this?
Rogue “Does it hurt when they come out?”
Logan “Every time.”
Wolvy feels guilt and shame with his claws. Logan never WANTS his claws out and regrets it everytime. The samurai way teaches logan control, discipline and meditation.
The Samurai way is Logan’s way of managing the beast inside. This is why he seeks the training.
As for the First Class, well… Ratner really screwed this one again.
Beast? He’s hairy in X-2 and 3 so… They have to show him before the BEAST takes over and he’s just a hairless simian.
Angel? Thanks to X-3, no Angel. AND how can it be a TRUE first class without Angel, the tension bewteen him and Scott over jean’s affection is essential to many early X-men stories
Marvel Girl? Well she already had her Dark Phoenix demise, so no Jean.
Iceman? He was a kid in all three X movies, so no Bobby.
Cyclops? Pocock playing the kid works for the next films but his fate is sealed, thanks once again for X-3.
So… in conclusion, First Class is NOT the actual first class. The class will be mostly second string mutants or mutants added to be the second class. (in Giant sixe X-Men #1 and Uncanny #94)
So Thunderbird could be added, then killed as in the comics. or Banshee would be a welcome addition, his daughter Siryn was implied in X-2. Maybe Havok or Shadowcat.
All in all… I’m sending out a GOOD LUCK to the writers who have to sort out this mess and keep the fans happy.
I am afraid that a “Worveline” film would just come across as a cheap imitation of Kill Bill.
As has been said, he has indestructible claws, and is nigh indestructible himself. Why on earth would he need to fight with a sword? Or learn how to “ultimate fight”?
In my opinion, that comic book series was an error, in and of itself. It’s all very nice having a “Frank Miller” graphic novel of Wolverine, and I understand Mr. Miller is the flavour du jour, but do we really need to have Wolverine become a second-class rehash of “Sin City”, or “300″? Or worse yet… “The Spirit”?
@pittman
the beast within? this is the most most kiddified version of wolverine outside of the cartoons. i wish he would be violent, i wish he could have lost control. i dont remember him growling or grunting or going crazy with bloodlust, which everyone will agree is the version that needed to be let loose in this film. why learn control of the beast? when he needs to let it out so we the audience can see the consequences of messing with our hero. If there are ninjas in this movie, I want to see a death toll of thousands. (sorry everybody, i am a little frustrated with them having messed with one of my fave characters). Just give him something to do with with his claws, because i didnt have a problem with the CGI. (Michael Chiklis in a foam rubber suit as the Thing, i have a problem with that).
@Allen
The Beast was something that builded through years of Wolvy in the x-men, Prof X helping him control. I didn’t necessarily mean the beast in the films. You’re right, there’s never been a proper “Beast Wolverine”. Really cutting loose on some ninjas, reavers, or Hellfire Club Soldiers.
It almost seems like there should be another Wolverine film bewteen Origins and the Japan story. One where he really goes off his nut. Claws a Blazing and Blood a flowin’.
@The Pitt Man
“It almost seems like there should be another Wolverine film bewteen Origins and the Japan story. One where he really goes off his nut. Claws a Blazing and Blood a flowin’.”
We saw a little bit of that in X2 right when the dudes start opening up live ammo instead of the trank darts in the school. Towards the beginning. He totally kills that one soldier “claws a blazing and blood a flowin” and it was awesome.
But I think it was awesome because we see his reasoning: the live ammo around all the children. One of my favorite wolverine moments. It shows that at his core, he is a GOOD GUY!
Evan
That is probably my favorite scene from all the xmen movies. It’s a toss-up between that one where Wolverine goes berserk in the kitchen or the opening scene of X2 where Nightcrawler (I think) sneaks into the White House to get the President.
Or the scene in the beginning of the original X-Men when Wolverine is fighting in the bar fights and the guy comes at him afterwards and accuses him of being a mutant. The first time the blades come out was so awesome. And continue that where him and Rogue are going down the road and hit the tree and Wolverine gets up and heals and then realizes it was a setup. Love that whole beginning of the franchise.
Hey all,
Not sure if including Beast in the original mix of folks is likely to happen either though. If you look at the second Xmen movie, they have a very human Hank McCoy talking about mutant rights in a brief news clip going on in the background. It’s not until X3 (which I only grudgingly acknowledge) that Hank is decked out as Beast. In X3, Xavier goes on about how he was always a part of the school and references are made to him always being big and blue, but that messes with the continuity from the 2nd movie. … Not that X3 was really concerned about continuity, but still. I’m not sure I’d mind seeing Beast, but it’d be weird depending on what movie they spin him off from.
i was hoping for Brian Singer to direct xmen 4 or Magneto, but know I want him to direct Wolverine 2, he was the only director who understood Wolverine, his version was the closest to the comics,very viril, angry,and arrogant, the Brett Ratner version was the worse as Jackman said he got too soft, and i didn’t understand why he became the leader in the third movie, he took Cyclops position, the last version from Gavin Hood,in Origins Wolverine,it got a little better,but not what we heard that this Wolverine was going to be darker and more violent thats why I hope Singer directs the Japan Saga
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