Twentieth Century Fox's seventh and by far the biggest Marvel movie to date (X-Men: Days of Future Past) is currently shooting in Montreal. Director Bryan Singer is bringing back everybody from the original X-Men trilogy along with the principal cast of X-Men: First Class and many new faces for the ambitious team-up involving a story featuring time travel.

Over at Marvel Studios where four films are in various stages of production, Joss Whedon has handed in the first draft of his screenplay for The Avengers 2 and in it he's introducing a pair of new heroes, the same two characters that Bryan Singer and Fox may be using in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Two studios, two characters, two separate Marvel Cinematic Universes.

Whedon has been sharing his excitement for introducing the "brother-sister act" ever since teasing their introduction weeks ago at the world premiere of Iron Man 3 - an odd time to begin namedropping new characters for a movie two years out. Since that time, multiple publications have spoken with Whedon who's since confirmed that the pair of new characters will be Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, aka Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

X-Men Quicksilver Marvel Comics

The timing of Whedon's (intentional) reveal is as odd as the character selection itself since these two particular characters are the only two that are shared with another studio: Fox. As Marvel Comics readers know, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are the mutant children of X-Men villain Magneto and so they fall under the film license agreement Fox has over all mutant characters. They're exceptions to the rule however, since they've also been main characters of The Avengers  in the comics so Marvel Studios can technically use them as well, albeit with certain restrictions.

With the two superpowered siblings earning headlines already, X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer took it to the next level by tweeting out the surprise casting announcement that Evan Peters (American Horror Story) would be playing Quicksilver in his own film. Some unverified sources claim this was a powerplay by Fox and that the studios aren't exactly best friends. Others remain optimistic that the hopes of key people such as X-Men producer Lauren Shuler DonnerThe Wolverine star Hugh Jackman and Fox's Marvel movie consultant Mark Millar - who wish to see the studios work out a deal to crossover their film universes - may have helped make it actually happen and that Evan Peters' Quicksilver could, just maybe, be the same Quicksilver that Joss Whedon will be directing in The Avengers 2.

Oddly enough, when appearing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last Friday, Joss Whedon managed to ensure Fallon wouldn't even ask about the hot button topic but last night when the Film Society of Lincoln Center held a special screening of Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing followed by a Q&A session, it couldn't be avoided. The event was appropriately dubbed "An Evening with Joss Whedon," and after the show the attendees had a chance to interact with The Avengers 1 & 2 director.

Avengers Spider-Man X-Men Movie Crossover

To no surprise, he was asked the question: What's up with Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch being in The Avengers 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past and will he change his script as a result of Bryan Singer's casting announcement of Evan Peters as Quicksilver?

"And so continues the Q and not-A… That's not something I can really talk about, but Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are going to be in the movie and they're going to be AWESOME."

Whedon is not changing his mind and despite what Marvel Studios President of Production Kevin Feige says about the script potentially changing in a few months time, Whedon has every intention of using these two characters and he will. The question remains on whether or not he's going to have his own unique take on the characters with different actors in The Avengers 2 or whether something miraculous has happened and Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch are the first two links connecting the franchises together.

Iron Man Movie Quicksilver Scarlet Witch

If Whedon knew he was casting his own Quicksilver, would he not say so? The hopeful and optimistic might point out that the timing of Whedon's reveal of the two new characters is so odd that it almost sets up Bryan Singer to cast them and literally double the buzz. It's also an interesting coincidence that Marvel Studios may have an actress in mind in Scarlet Witch with no info on Quicksilver, where it's the opposite from Fox - as if they're intentionally holding back that reveal due to the implications of such a confirmation. But that's a stretch.

It could be a while before we find out more concrete info since Whedon is the king of dodging answers while keeping everyone happy and despite there seemingly being many reveals coming from Bryan Singer's Twitter account, he's yet to confirm any of the roles taken on by new actors. Except for Quicksilver. Strange.

X-Men: Days of Future Past releases July 18, 2014 and The Avengers 2 releases May 1, 2015.

Let me know on Twitter @rob_keyes if you'd like to see Marvel & Fox share the characters!

Source: Coming Soon