The time-traveling storyline for X-Men: Days of Future Past - the sequel to X-Men: First Class, with Bryan Singer replacing Matthew Vaughn in the director's chair - sets the stage for cast members to reprise their roles from the first X-Men trilogy, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen as the older Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto).

Word leaked a couple weeks back that Hugh Jackman is likewise coming back as Logan (Wolverine), which would make Days of Future Past his sixth portrayal of the fast-healing, metal claw-wielding, brawler (seven, if you count his First Class cameo). Last night, Singer made the news "official."

Here's what the filmmaker Tweeted (via his official Twitter account):

I would officially like to welcome @RealHughJackman to the cast of #Xmen Days of Future Past. Very excited! More to come...

Singer's use of "officially" might be an indicator that Jackman has indeed signed on the dotted line for Days of Future Past; by comparison, Singer announced the news about Stewart and McKellen before they had formerly boarded the project. As of right now, the two are technically not locked down. However, it's considered all but a done deal at this stage, seeing how the two geek-favorite actors have expressed their enthusiasm about collaborating with Singer on another X-Men movie (one which won't feature those polarizing black leather costumes, no less).

The Wolverine 2 (Hugh Jackman) Official First Look

Jackman reprises his iconic X-Men role in next summer's The Wolverine, which is being sold as foremost a standalone superhero story. However, it takes place after the events of X-Men 3 and as such, raises questions about how much its events might end up tying into the narrative for Days of Future Past. Newly-appointed Fox Marvel movie curator Mark Millar confirmed certain aspects from Chris Claremont's source comic are carried over into the film - which he describes as X-Men meets Terminator - but how far he script goes to "repair" the fractured continuity of the X-Men movie universe (and tie events together), is up for speculation right now.

Of course, if Days of Future Past manages to successfully restructure the franchise, then perhaps Fox will take up Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie on his offer to expand the X-Men cinematic universe in subsequent installments.

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X-Men: Days of Future Past is based on a script written by Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass), Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes) and Matthew Vaughn. Its cast includes James McAvoy, Jason Flemyng, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and Hugh Jackman.

The Wolverine releases in theaters on July 26th, 2013. X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters (possibly, in 48 FPS 3D) on July 18th, 2014.

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Source: Twitter