Before Marvel Studios existed as an independent studio, and before Sony even began the Spider-Man franchise, there was one movie which kickstarted the genre, proving to the world that comic book movies with superheroes (in costume) could dominate the box office: X-Men.
Since the debut of Bryan Singer’s story about mutants back in 2000, the X-Men film franchise has continued on with the release of four additional films, and two more in development, beginning with The Wolverine next July, and X-Men: Days of Future Past the following year. Bryan Singer has just officially stepped in as director of Days of Future Past and he’s bringing with him costume designer Louise Mingenbach.
Having worked with Singer on many of his past films, including X-Men 1 & 2, Apt Pupil, Superman Returns, The Usual Suspects and even the pilot of House for which Singer directed, Mingenbach brings with her plenty of experience and know-how with the comic book movie genre. When the first production images came out for X-Men, like with most movies involving adapting costumes from comic books, there was fan uproar over the black leather, seemingly Matrix-inspired designs. It even reached a point where the books themselves made poked fun at them, but they stuck around for the entire X-Men trilogy, and grew to be (mostly) accepted.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine didn’t involve the team costumes, but with Bryan Singer and Matthew Vaughn’s quasi-prequel X-Men: First Class, costume designer Sammy Sheldon (Kick-Ass, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) embraced a retro approach in suiting up the mutant heroes. With the film set in the ’60s, and being based around the origins of the X-Men team, the film utilized the classic yellow and blue designs reminiscent of the original X-Men Marvel Comics, with a hint of practicality thrown in since they were inspired by NASA and military uniforms of the era.
Comparing the above images of the casts in costume, there’s an obvious disconnect in design between the time periods, and we wonder what that means for the costumes coming in the time travel-focused X-Men: Days of Future Past, since it’s bringing the designer of the black leather outfits back. For the concerned, Singer tweeted the following last night:
For those of you wondering…no leather suits. #xmen
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) November 15, 2012
He’s undoubtedly specifically referring to the black leather outfits, but we wonder if there will even a part of the film where everyone suits up in traditional costumes, knowing the story of X-Men: Days of Future Past from the books. We expect the film to draw ideas from that storyline but that it’ll be quite a bit different in how it brings together the worlds (and casts) of First Class and the original trilogy. But I can’t say I wouldn’t want to see Hugh Jackman suit up in his modern costumes from the books (and they can be done in leather):
The yellow and blue, the brown and tan, and even the grey and black X-Force outfits from the comics were all unlockable costumes for Hugh Jackman in the X-Men Origins: Wolverine tie-in video game and looked great in action (the game is better than the film). Perhaps this is the one opportunity where Fox can make that happen in live-action. Do you want to see costumes faithful to the books in the next X-Men team-up mvoie?
Bryan Singer will direct X-Men: Days of Future Past with returning stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy and Jason Flemyng, who could be joined by the return of Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore. Stay tuned!
The Wolverine releases July 26, 2013 and X-Men: Days of Future Past hits theaters on July 18, 2014.
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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.
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Black leather has been found to scientifically repel stray bullets
(so we dont have anymore accidents)
It’s Days of Future Past, they should all have their street clothes.
Exactly. That’s why I question whether or not we’ll see everyone in costumes at all.
Yeah considering the plot they are supposed to be working from I can’t see them running around in bright costumes with giant robots out to kill them. And for the the most part aside from the team itself, Magneto and Juggernaut, most of the characters didn’t have costumes in these movies.
What’s so difficult to understand? The film will open in a concentration (just like X-Men 1) in the not too distant future where we find all the old X-Men with shaven heads and barcodes watched over by monstrous Sentinels (hopefully based on Grant Morrison’s Wild Sentinels). Xavier (Muir Island clone) and Jean Grey (Resurrected) send Ellen Page’s mind back in time to the point in time where the crap hit the fan, we then find ourselves at James McAvoy’s school where she takes over the body of (unknown) and warns them of Michael Fassbender’s planned terrorist attack on the White House. Mutant hijinx ensue.
It’d be fantastic if they gave the X-Men true superhero costumes. If the Avengers can have their awesome costumes why can’t the X-Men!
Didn’t have Hawkeye costume
It’s actually Hawkeyes’ ‘Ultimate’ costume from the comics
Which is basically no costume at all.
His costume was my fave.
Considering he’s a SHIELD agent in the movie it wouldn’t make much sense for him to have a flashy costume.
Hawkeye is the lamest superhero ever!
Not concerned with the costumes. I’m more concerned that the story will hold true to its roots or the original! Please don’t make a mess of this classic arc! PLEASE DON’T!!….Excelsior
Yeah, so lets go back and get rid of all the costumes in all comic books and lets see if sales drop.
How about putting out-of-shape/substandard (as compared to the comic characters) actors into tight form-fitting outfits, in poorly written adaptations of highly regarded, popular comics? Not like that didn’t happen before. Costumes are important especially in genre such as this but if it sucks in terms of content it just makes it worse. X-Men:First Class wasn’t visually flashy but more than made up for it with content. As for the black leather outfit of the past wasn’t it rationalized by the fact that the X-men chose to operate in an covert/low-key (?) manner? If the mutants are being hunted by huge high tech robots wearing an brightly colored, tight,shiny bodysuit migt not be the way to go unless you’re Magento who just doen’t give a damn. Not everyone can be an Hugh Jackman , Ryan Reynolds or Halle Berry, so spandex may not be the way to go if you want an exact comic reproduction on screen.
Exactly
Before Marvel Studios existed as an independent studio, and before Sony even began the Spider-Man franchise, there was one movie which kickstarted the genre, proving to the world that comic book movies with superheroes (in costume) could dominate the box office: Superman 1978, Superman 2 and Tim Burtons Batman.
Well The “Superman” films and Tim Burton’s “Batman” films were very successful, but they certainly didn’t kick off a lasting trend of CBM like 2000′s “X-Men” did. There’s pretty much been CBM’s on our cinema screens consistently ever since.
Point taken.
I just feel they had to look back at the begining and up until those movies got out of hand (Schumacher!!!!) all of those heroes were in costume, were ‘steady’ and fairly succesful in the Box Office.
AND Unlike the Xmen stayed fairly true to their costumes.
Actually, Blade (1998), proved the succces off CBM. If a character hardly anyone had heard of before could be the lead of a movie, than the more well-known cb characters would definitely succeed.
Yes but I think this convo/post is more directed to the ‘costumed’ spandex type hero.
While I do agree with you and Blade I would have to say he really doesnt have a costume per se.
It may not be a “traditonal” comic book costume, but Blade does have a costume. And, one can purchase it for Halloween every year.
So you can basically purchase a black trench coat and a big fake sword every year?
I never said that it’s a good costume. It’s still a costume though.
Actually, Blade did have an costume of sorts-Wayfarer shades, an old US Army jacket and an bandolier of hand craved wooden throwing knives . Refer to the old Tomb of Dracula comics. The movie Blade”s now classic image was likely created to enhance his appeal to those who didn’t know the character. And it did work , with X-Men its an risky thing in that because the comic media depends heavily on visual appeal those costumes work well, on an big screen (just think of IMAX!) maybe not so well. STORY FIRST!!!
Actually, that’s true. I think “Blade” cashed in on the action horror genre which always does well. Besides, it didn’t really resemble the funky 70′ Blaxploitaion era of the comic.
True. But Everyone knew who Batman and Superman were. They were massive brands themselves. Your average movie goer had never heard of the X-Men.
However we are speaking of just “proving to the world that comic book movies with superheroes (in costume) could dominate the box office”
Well known or not is irrelevant (and Xmen DID prove that) it is speaking to the costumes. I still feel Supes and Batman did it first and showed that it could be done. They just lost traction when they started seeing the dollar signs before stories and characters.
I was glad to see X:FC Ironman (CAP/Thor) and more recently with The Avengers put that stigma to rest with regards to costumes, brightly colored at that.
I think that it was a poor first sentence for this article. Nevertheless, if the discussion is specifically about super hero costumes, then you have a point. But, if it comes down to a movie that showed that the superhero genre can thrive, I think Blade was the key film. In that regard, the fact that Blade was not really known is highly relevant. Besides Batman sequels, there was a decent sized lack of comic book movies until Blade was released. After that movie proved to be a success, many more comic book movies were made.
Son and I just watched that recently…..
Was it even ‘billed’ as a Superhero/Comic movie? (not that it matters but could have influenced the outcome always wondered about that)
I cant remember and cant watch to many vids at work so cant get the trailer.
It’s a good flick.
I don’t recall.
totally disagree….when X-men was relaunched in 1991 those comics sold almost a billion dollars…not to mention all the cartoons & comics since.
Well they did prove that Super Hero movies could have a serious approach. And without Superman 1978, Superman II, and Tim Burtons Batman their never would have been a X-Men movie!
They had WB to thank for that & other people who didn’t appreciate comic book heroes that got in the way of things.
I guess people forget how hyped Burtons Batman was because it came out of no where!
@ pawn65
People forgot how it was mostly WB, that Schumacher’s two Batman films became less dark & more campy.
While that is true, lets look at an important factor. As an long time comic fan one of the reasons I favored Marvel over DC was that I found even at an young age that Marvel came across as more …”grounded” . I could easily picture Marvel comic events occurring. DC always came across as truly fantasy, I could never find an connection to reality (yes even with the Speedy on drugs thing!) their character were always too “larger than life”. It wasn”t until Nolan’s Batman did the character (with the exception of Micheal Keaton) come across with any true sense of being real. Superman was honestly (no disrepect to Chris Reeve fans) kinda silly and his film alway seemed like just comic book adventures . This why the Ultimates seris was so good , the grounding in an possible reality makes the comic elements pop off the book /screen! The Avengers was great, The Crow -no words needed, Blade gritty and kinda believable (yeah, even Blade 2&3!)
The first Superman and Batman films lasted a few years themselves, so there were comic book being made. The main reason there has been such a rise in movies based off of these properties is the fact that computer effects have made doing certain visuals a thousand times easier then it was 15-20 years ago.
None of which kickstarted the genre considering there was a decade between Burton’s Batman movies and X-Men where the genre didn’t grow and no other franchises jumped in and prospered. After X-Men, there’s been multiple superhero films every year, continuing to break world box office records.
Burton started Batman but it didnt end (thank god it did) til 1997. So from 1989 to 1997 you had a Comic Book movie with comic book characters in costume that was succesful.
The thing I would like to point out is they did not take as much liberty (well early on) with the costumes as Xmen did. If I remember correctly the reason was people wouldnt accept it.
The reasons if again I remember correctly that others did not jump on the comic band wagon was for various reasons, notority of characters being one and financing/special effects being the other.
Sorry I just disagree with that openeing statement. Batman and Superman movies proved it COULD be done.
Just because Studios didnt want to take a chance until Xmen to see how far they could push it doesnt mean they were the first proving to the world that comic book movies with superheroes (in costume) could dominate the box office. It was already proven it could be done.
First TEAM movie? First characters generally unknown? First movie to totally change the costumes showing it could still be succesful….
Sure. However not the first comic movie with superheroes (in costume) that shows the genre could dominate the box office.
One franchise with movies every 2-3 years is not a genre.
If we want to get technical the advances in CGI and the way the Lord of the Rings and the second Star Wars trilogy utilized them helped in making comic book based movies more practical. With a built in audience and the draw it has developed with casual fans comic book movies are money makers, but the genre has hit a creative wall so to speak that may slow down it’s growth.
On the subject of movies proving points, (costumes and kick starting franchises aside), none of the movies made with Xmen in the title have even proved that an Xmen movie can be made.
True, with the exception of First Class. The same ills constantly plague all the films: budget restrictions, substandard, poorly imagined SFX, Poor scripts/adaptations, bad casting and an inability to find an middle ground where Fanboys will stop b****in’ and whining and new fans can enjoy the films. First Class was actually really good and closest to the comics besides the original film. Fanboys ARE NOT going to get John Byrne styled visions of the comics, so to cry about it is futile. Singer adapting this story with so little pre-history available to the average filmgoer is very risky. As far as the costumes are concerned in this new movie I’d go with the clothing that appered in the original comic. No one had them on, so any budget for that can go to SFX , screenwriters and casting. The major problem of this team based book/movie is there are so many character all having heavy SFX base powers -some of which are critical to the plot of the story. I think we all see huge problems already .
.
First Class for me had the weakest characters overall in the series, which isn’t saying much since they take about ten seconds to explain many of the characters. As for the special effects, the whole series seems to be up and down as far as that is concerned. The first movie didn’t have a lot of money for effects and it showed. X-3 had to much of an effects budget and it was a mess of unnecessary special effects. First Class was weird because the effects were wildly inconsistent even though most of them were done in some form in one of the other movies. The Emma Frost diamond skin looked terrible compared to the similar effect they did in Wolverine.
I agree with that. I think you can follow comic book movies back from X-men at a steady enough pace to at least go back to Tim Burton’s Batman. From Batman, I don’t think comic book movies were seriously seen as strong box office contender until Spider-man destroyed expectations. X-men was good, but not that good.
As well as Blade
It’s official.
The X-Men will be naked in Days Of Future’s Past
Bodypaint!!!
Eh, hang on….Wolverine in bodypaint……ewwwwww!
speak for yourself!
Great way to save money. Perhaps just the male cast get costumes. Increased viewership in key demographics.
Personally, the biggest issue with costumes has always been helmets. I doubt Hugh would look cool in the Wolvy head-mask or even that armored looking grey one. Cap’s just did not sit well with me in Avengers, though I liked it in FA. I guess we will see though. That won’t be a deal breaker for me.
Although I like Thor’s movie costumes (The one in “Thor 2″ looks best), I was hoping for a more medieval flavour to it. Especially when it came to his helmet. He’s barely worn his fiberglass one on screen.
Thor’s helmet on film is more like a crown than battle attire. So I’ve been got over that.
Singer sucks. But not as bad as he would have if he used leather.
singer is absolutely terrible
I’d love to see a one off “1602″ movie set in medieval times with a completely new cast. It would be cooler if they didn’t market it as a Marvel comic book movie to see if most people catch on, or just enjoy it as it is, as an adventure fantasy.
As far as costumes go, street clothes to match the storyline. as much as i would want to see the original costumes in a movie,if there is a big suit up scene, I would want the Xmen to look like a team, a la the Ultimate Xmen for example
I didn’t hate the black leather suits. It was the first major comic book movie in a long time so it’s obvious they were unsure about how to adapt a comic to film without looking silly in the real world. First Class showed that it can be done so I presume they will follow on that path. Or a movie where team costumes aren’t a part of the plot is fine too.
Costumes are the least of this franchises problems.
Yup…
FILTHpig has nailed it.
The black suits made sense since the X-men are kinda like a military unit vs. an ecletic bunch of solo superheroes a la Avengers.
Flash Gordon predates Superman in both comics and film. He was featured in three serial films starring Buster Crabbe in 1936.
Flash Gordon is not considered a “super” hero. He’s an early Sci-Fi character and doesn’t have any super powers, but his outfit is very superhero-ey. Look at his original outfit in the first comic:
http://www.portlandbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Flash-Gordon.jpg
And his outfit in the film serial from 1936:
http://images.wikia.com/flashgordon/images/f/fe/101bustercrabbe.jpg
If the original film universe is the Days of Future Past timeline, then they will all be wearing the concentration camp uniforms, except for Wolvie and his wooly jacket
I think we’ll see both teams making fun of each other’s outfits and then moving forward with future X-Men movies, a complete change that may or may not slightly resemble the comic books as far as the “older team” continuity.
I would like to see Wolverine with his mask!
No black leather? Good. Let’s use the classic costumes of the 60s and 70s comics. They would look just fine on the screen, and in fact help us identify more with the heroes and villains we grew up with during those years (at least fans my age); the costumes were a part of those characters that made their reputations famous today.
It’ll be interesting to see what other garbage Fox has in store with this horrible franchise. Nothing (imo) can make up for the mess that they’ve made of the X-men. Hopefully I’ll get to see a Marvel X-men film in my life time.
I’d really love to see Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender share an intense dialogue scene.
sure it shouldn’t wear a black leather costume
I’d like to see Famke Janssen as White Phoenix of the Crown to wear a white one.. Halle Berry would have to be back in X men Days of Future Past wearing a sexy costume like in comic book ! I’m complain January Jones as Emma Frost I would like to meet an older Emma Frost in future is Charlize Theron.
I don’t know with Rebecca Romijn as Mystique should she wear a costume ?
and I would like to meet the Scarlet Witch’s role is Angelina Jolie..
in X men Days of Future Past MUST see main Villains are
Apocalypse Mister Sinister Exodus Holocaust and Archangel!
Yeea people need to see AGE OF APOCALYPSE! Anna Paquin has to return as Rogue with Taylor Kitsch as Gambit! I love with Lady Deathstrike involving in DOFP.. Halle Berry can’t be left she has to return because she’s the x men woman leader only.. Famke Janssen will come with big super an explosions her power stronger completed than in the Last Stand. she get’s a bigger role and yea White Phoenix of the Crown.. when I think White Phoenix of the Crown can beat Apocalypse.. and I agree bring January Jones out and change with Charlize Theron as Emma Frost, Angelina Jolie is pretty so sweet yes I hope she will be Scarlet Witch.. don’t forget bring Havok, Juggernaut, Sabretooth, Selene, Blob, Avalanche, Toad, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Beast.
Yes but does she wear the original costume from the books or is it altered?
@Aknot actually Blade did have an costume-shades, an old Army jacket and an a bandolier of hand craved wooden knives . The Wesley Snipes outfit was created more for visual impact and effect . Gotta go back to the old Tomb of Dracula books. In Singer’s current X-men project to put them in costume would take away from the post-mutany apocalptic mood and setting of the comics. Singer has more than enough to work with without trying to aplease fanboys need for an exact copy of the comics they already own and read constantly. Stick to the story the right way and the visual flash will be there!
No no. Everyone knows that the movie that launched CBMs into stellar popularity was Marvel’s 1990 Punisher. Attempting to erase the image of Dolph Lundgren worshiping a skull in the buff while underground is impossible for anyone growing up in the 90s..
Nothing beats Adam West fending off a styro-foam shark with shark repellant in the original Batman television movie.
I am still very worried for this movie. This is one of my favorite stories in the X-Men universe. I am more worried about the plot and how they plan to tie all of the movies together. I am not crazy about mixing all the cast members from the previous movies either. Ug, I guess I need to see a plot outline of a trailer to know where this is going. Right now it just seems like a huge mess. I really hope I am wrong. I hope I am very wrong.
Lol,to be honest i didnt hate the black cause i knew it would be both kinda goofy and terrible to see the yellow and blues done on screen. granted they look a group of S&M people lmfao. Maybe original isnt entirely terrible. Black has become the official live batman colors and Supermans new custume doesnt make him look like a boy scout. Wolverines X-Force uniform(black&gray) would look amazing on screen. While Cyclops Ultimate X-Men and Age of Apocalypse Uniforms maybe trench coat look bad ass(to bad bryan singer only focuses are Professor X,Magneto,Wolverine and Mystique characters. We could’ve had something more Avenger style with the X-men). One character who needs a custume change badly is magneto. They were all bad lol. Maybe Joss Wheadon and Chris Nolan will pick this Franchise up when they reboot this series
I want Wolverine’s suit to be the same color (yellow and blue or grey and black) like in the comic books.
I’d really love to see Wolverine wearing his blue and yellow classic tiger stripe costume from 1975 although I don’t mind his red and brown one from 1980 or his current redesigned blue and yellow tiger stripe suit from 2004.