Out of the blue today, word broke that Fox is developing multiple X-Men and Fantastic Four spinoffs over the coming years. A few we've known about, like X-Force and the Kitty Pryde solo movie, but fans were shocked to learn a Silver Surfer solo movie is in the works as well. Fox hasn't really nailed down their Fantastic Four characters yet, but plans have been underway over the years for a variety of projects without the First Family. Even as the Disney buyout looms, things don't appear to be slowing down for 20th Century Fox when it comes to their Marvel output.RELATED: Doctor Strange 2 Is The Best MCU Film To Introduce A MutantThe report of what's in the works also teased Fox hopes to release three Marvel releases each in 2019 and 2020. That was actually the plan this year, before The New Mutants was pushed back and Gambit was once again reshuffled. Now, Fox is about to attempt what Marvel only pulled off last year for the first time, and fans are likely worried given the company's shaky track record. And considering the production issues many of Fox's Marvel films have had, there's always a chance this plan will change. But for now, we have a pretty good guess as to what will likely hit theaters in 2019 and 2020.This Page: The New Mutants, Gambit, X-Force
2019: The New Mutants, Gambit, X-Force
The potential 2019 films are the easiest to predict given the information we have so far. That said, at least one of the movies has been stuck in development hell for years and has changed release dates twice already. What's most certain is that The New Mutants will hit theaters on February 22, 2019. The film was meant to arrive this April, but Fox worried it would overlap with Deadpool 2 in overseas markets. Plus, we've heard The New Mutants is being made scarier in reshoots. Considering it's billed as a horror film, that's likely a good thing. It also means the film probably wasn't testing well and would have been bumped regardless of the Deadpool sequel.
We also learned today The New Mutants is adding another character during reshoots, so the film that arrives next year could look a lot different than the first trailer teased. Still, there's no reason to doubt it will be ready to debut in the beginning of next year and test out a different take on the traditional X-Men formula.
Less certain than The New Mutants, given its history, is Gambit. The film has been in development for years with Channing Tatum in the lead, but his star power can't seem to keep writers or directors attached. Gambit lost Gore Verbinski as a helmer recently, so it's currently still seeking a director before it can start. Still, Fox has it scheduled to arrive June 7, 2019. Gambit should shoot this summer, but any later than that and we may see it pushed back.
The third film we're likely to see next year (or second if Gambit can't get going) is X-Force. The film has been planned for awhile with Drew Goddard in charge, and X-Force should shoot in October. Both Deadpool and Cable will be returning, and Domino and some of the other new characters from Deadpool 2 might also appear. Given the popularity of Deadpool, X-Force is Fox's safest bet over the next few years, so getting it out in fall of 2019 will be a priority. But with what we know about its shooting schedule and the minimal development of Fox's other Marvel movies, Gambit's issues could mean another two-film year in 2019. Luckily, there's plenty of time for 2020 to have three films lined up.
2020: Kitty Pryde, Multiple Man, Silver Surfer
The 2020 slate is a bit harder to predict given nothing is scheduled to begin shooting or has a release date. Still, a few projects are clearly further along than others. While the dates are difficult to nail down, Kitty Pryde will probably lead the pack in 2020. We first heard that Deadpool director Tim Miller was working on a Kitty Pryde movie, which took a number of fans by surprise. Still, she has a long history in the comics and there's no shortage of stories that could be told around her.
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Kitty could also open the doors for more X-Men cameos, and her connections to Magic and Colossus mean The New Mutants and Deadpool ties exist. What's more, comic legend Brian Michael Bendis is writing Kitty Pryde and Ellen Page is down to return to the role. There's no word on whether the character will be played by someone new or if Page could return (she was last seen in X-Men: Days of Future Past), but with a director and writer involved it seems like the film could easily get going by early next year for a 2020 release.
The other project that seems to be well into development is the James Franco Multiple Man movie. Like Kitty Pryde, the choice was a strange one and only seems to exist because Franco and X-Men universe overseer Simon Kinberg hit it off. Franco and Kinberg are set to produce with the actor starring as the multiplying mutant. There doesn't seem to be a writer or director attached, but it's at least got as much going for it as Gambit. Marvel is launching a new Multiple Man comic as well, indicating that the character could soon have a bigger spotlight on him.
The final option for a 2020 film is a bit of a toss-up and will probably be down to a Fantastic Four-related project. Noah Hawley is working on a Doctor Doom film, bringing his experience from Fargo and, more importantly, Legion to the big screen. But while the idea is intriguing, it's hard to imagine such a project moving forward with the character appearing in so many poorly received films. We've also heard of a family-friendly Fantastic Four film, but alliteration aside there doesn't seem to be much going on there.
More exciting is today's announcement of a Silver Surfer movie in the works. Written by comic scribe Brian K. Vaughn (Y: The Last Man, Runaways), the character could go in a number of directions. Surfer has been in a Fantastic Four movie already, and while it didn't do well critically it fared better financially. That was a long time ago in superhero movie terms, however, and Silver Surfer is a dynamic and interesting character with a lot of cosmic adventures to pull from. He's also been part of a stellar comic run for the past few years by Dan Slott and Mike and Laura Allred, that has played up the comical, psychedelic, and heartwarming nature of the character. If the film can channel some of that energy, Fox could have its answer to Guardians of the Galaxy and may finally crack the Fantastic Four code.
For now, we're still awaiting Fox's first release in well over a year when Deadpool 2 arrives this summer. But as 2018 continues, expect to hear a lot more about the future of Fox's Marvel projects and how the potential Disney buyout will affect their comic book output. After all, if the deal goes through many of these films may never happen at all.
MORE: All 13 X-Men Films Fox Still Has In Development
