X-Men 3

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

Nothing spurs mutation like money. Still basking in the $155 million global opening for ''X2: X-Men United,'' Fox confirms that plans for a sequel are indeed in motion. But how exactly will it play out? ''X2'''s cliff-hanger ending saw the telekinetic Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) lay down her life for her friends. Or did she? Here, we present speculative answers to X-cruciating sequel questions.

 

What happens neXt? In the 1970s and '80s X-Men comics, Grey sacrifices herself to save her mutant comrades (as in ''X2''). She then rises, resurrected as Phoenix, a vessel of unlimited power. Eventually, she sacrifices herself again -- permanently -- to save the universe from an apocalypse of her own making.

 

Is this the blueprint for ''X3''? ''Wolverine's story is the fun one,'' says ''X2'' writer David Hayter, ''but the heart of the X-Men really revolves around what's happening to Jean and if we see her in the future.''

 

Here's the catch: For maximum impact, this story line requires all the X-ers. Janssen has signed on for another film. Which brings us to...

 

Who's coming back? ''Technically, I'm done,'' says Halle Berry, and boy, she sounds like she means it. The Oscar winner has made it no secret that she feels her character, Storm, has been marginalized; and with a career as busy as hers, she could easily afford to skip future ''X''s. The story might weather her departure, but could it afford to lose Hugh Jackman, whose Wolverine is in a love triangle with Grey and Cyclops (James Marsden, whose contract must also be renegotiated)? ''There's a lot to explore'' is all Jackman will say about ''X3.'' ''He's a very three-dimensional character.''

 

Ian McKellen (Magneto) also expresses guarded interest: ''If the script -- and my part in it -- were any good, and if I liked the director, and if, of course, I was asked, I should be happy to return.''

 

The X-kids -- Anna Paquin (Rogue), Aaron Stanford (Pyro), and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) -- will return, but a ''Generation NeXt'' movie seems doubtful. Says director Bryan Singer: ''The two that are most essential would be Wolverine and Professor Xavier [Patrick Stewart].''

 

As for Singer, he's not actually signed, but he's assuming he'll be back. ''The only issue for me is, I'm desiring to do something in between. I had wanted to do something between the first two films and I didn't.'' He's already developing a Sci Fi Channel project with ''Independence Day'' producer Dean Devlin.

 

Will there be new mutants? Is Patrick Stewart bald? Singer can't tell us who or what will be in the next movie; but he's a big fan of the winged Angel, the azure-furred Beast, and the card-throwing Cajun Gambit -- who might present Iceman with some competition for the affections of Rogue, Singer hints.

 

When should I start standing in line? Right now, geek boy. And don't forget your glue-on muttonchops.

 

(Posted:05/16/03)

 

 

Well Berry is probably gone and Jackman is questionable. We may get Gambit, but no Wolverine. That would suck and I can't see anybody else doing as good a job as Jackman.

[Guest El Satanico]

Alot of fans weren't buying into Jackman as Wolverine when he was originally cast. So just because you're use to Jackman now, doesn't mean it's impossible to recast the role of Wolverine.

 

Besides there's nothing in that article that shows Jackman as being questionable. The reporter put his return in doubt because Jackman didn't give him a straight answer. He'll be back, what's he going to do turn down guaranteed good money and a starring role to do romantic comedies or movies where he's the co-star.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

Alot of fans weren't buying into Jackman as Wolverine when he was originally cast. So just because you're use to Jackman now, doesn't mean it's impossible to recast the role of Wolverine.

 

Besides there's nothing in that article that shows Jackman as being questionable. The reporter put his return in doubt because Jackman didn't give him a straight answer. He'll be back, what's he going to do turn down guaranteed good money and a starring role to do romantic comedies or movies where he's the co-star.

He'll probably be back, but I always thought he did a good job even in the first one. He could be a little stockier built, but besides that he did a great job.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I wasn't sold on Jackman as Wolverine in the first movie, but I thought he was great in X2. And Storm just didn't have much to do in X2, won't miss her though.

[Guest CanadianChris]

FUCK!!! This desperately needed a spoiler warning.

[Guest El Satanico]

I never liked Halle as Storm...so I'm glad she's done. Now she can go back to being Miss Overrated.

[Guest El Satanico]

FUCK!!! This desperately needed a spoiler warning.

It does have one

 

It has X3 in the title...If you haven't seen X2 and entered this thread about X3 you have no room to complain about spoilers you may find.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

They really need a taller actress to play Storm. Berry was entirely too short for the part. I wasn't really happy with her in that part either.

[Guest Heel In Peril]

I think it's rather simple as far as returning cast members are concerned. Once Jackman can't play Wolverine, the X-Men franchise is done. Feel free to mark my words and use them against me later if I'm proven wrong. I mean that, no ill feelings. And I don't believe the reason for the death of the franchise will be people thinking Jackman was best suited (necessarily), but I'm convinced that comic-to-movie fans are sore from some of the character-actor switching done far too many times in movies with far too much potential otherwise. Granted, in some of those cases, they may not have had a choice. I don't necessarily "blame" anyone or anything. I just believe it would fail, or at least begin to fail, once Wolverine is recast or discontinued. Aside from him, I think the only person who cannot be replaced, although is not as integral a majority draw as Jackman's Wolverine, is Patrick Stewart as Professor X. He doesn't just become the part perfectly. He is the man in every way. Sure, you can argue that somewhere out there someone else might. But, come on, look at him. Read any issue with Xavier in it. Stewart is X. It really is that simple. If you think about it, absolutely anyone else in the two movies can feasibly be recast or written out without hurting the franchise too bad. But not these two. It's not entirely optimistic, I know. But I do think it's the truth. I love the movies though and everyone in them regardless of the incontinuity from book to movie. They're doing an awesome job and my ass is in my seat. Let's hope for the best, huh?

Edited May 13, 2003 by Heel In Peril

[Guest El Satanico]

As long as they did a good recast I don't think fans would care who's playing Wolverine, but a bad recast would result in a disaster. Jackman is a good Wolverine, but he isn't so good that he has salted the earth around the role and no one else could live up to him as Wolverine.

 

Xavier must never be cast as anyone not named Patrick Stewart.

[Guest starvenger]

I never liked Halle as Storm...so I'm glad she's done. Now she can go back to being Miss Overrated.

When did she stop being Miss Overrated? I give her credit for Monster's Ball, but everything else she's been in she hasn't been all that good.

[Guest Heel In Peril]

100% agreed, El Satanico. My point about Wolverine though was not that Jackman has salted anything. I'm not comparing Jackman's Wolverine to Stewart's Xavier, though I do think Jackman was INTENSE in X2. My point is that with the major character-actor switches (positive or negative) such as in the Batman series and Mortal Kombat among others, I believe most comic-movie fans will be disappointed enough in the franchise for losing the potential it would have if they keep the same actors for every respective character they use. It's not really a point I'm trying to convince anyone of or anything. More of a prediction. In short, I think Batman & Robin and Mortal Kombat Annihilation pissed off A LOT of people to the point that most won't take another beating like that again on purpose. (And yeah, "beating" may sound harsh, I know. But think about said movies. They really were.)

[Guest El Satanico]

Well she wasn't made out to be some great actress by everyone in the entertainment industry before Monster's Ball so I only consider her being truly overrated since Monster's Ball.

[Guest El Satanico]

Yes you're right that actor changes concerning major characters may bother the comic-movie fans who are going to see it because it's a comic book movie.

 

I guess what I meant was that the general fans who are just seeing it because it's a big budget summer action movie wouldn't care.

[Guest Reservoir_Kitty]

Mmmm, Gambit.

 

Personally, I wouldn't miss Storm in the next movie. Honestly, I never really liked her as much as some of the other X-Men, and she didn't do all that much anyway. I didn't like Halle Berry as Storm, either. The nerdy fan-girl in me says she just wasn't right for the part.

 

I'd be sad if Jackman didn't sign on for Wolvie again, though. I thought he did a good job.. despite a few things that could easily be overlooked - his height, muscles, etc. He was very intense in X-2 and did a damn good job. I think he'd stick with it.

 

I hope so, anyway. I'd be ever so sad if he left.

 

...Who in the hell would they cast for Gambit? Thoughts?

[Guest Heel In Peril]

...Who in the hell would they cast for Gambit? Thoughts?

Wonderful question. It'd be nice if they can get someone with (or able to portray) a Caijun accent and who is maybe a year or so older (looking, at least) than the actor playing Bobby/Iceman perhaps to more easily tear Rogue's attraction in two. I've heard different names floating around:

 

Heath Ledger

Ryan Phillippe

Josh Hartnett

 

Not that I agree or disagree with any of the above. It's just what I heard. I personally think that if they go with the late teen/early 20's student Gambit (which in the book never existed, but I can live with it) then the above names would be a little old for the part. Though if Ryan got it, I'd mark the feck oat regardless. Most likely they'll go with a not-so-well-known. We'll see.

[The Dames 0]

Personally, I think that all three, including Ledger, are too "big" for those roles. Not in size, but in Hollywood status. They would overshadow the rest of the cast in terms of star power.

 

Berry doesn't count seeing as how her role was never one that was focused on and neither does Jackman because he became a star because of X-Men.

 

Dames

[Guest AlwaysPissedOff]

Why is Jackman's height a problem? Hell, Wolverine in the comics is one short bastard(around 5'8, I think).

[The Dames 0]

Actually, I believe that Wolvie is even shorter. 5'6 or 5'4-ish.

 

Dames

[Guest Polish_Rifle]

They don't need Storm in anymore X-Men movies. I never liked the character. As for Jackman, no one even knew who he was until he did X-men so I don't think it will be that difficult to get a replacement.

 

I was kinda disappointed that Gambit was not in this one but all is well if he's in X-3.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I just rewatched the first X-Men...and after seeing the 2nd one I liked the first one more.

 

Jackman is a great Wolverine. I'd be disapointed if they used another person for Wolverine, Rogue, and Prof X...other then that I don't care who's who...but I liked James Marsden as Cyclops more the 2nd time though.

 

And I'd rather Gambit be played by an unknown.

[Guest El Satanico]

Heath Ledger

Ryan Phillippe

Josh Hartnett

I wouldn't mind Heath or Ryan, but I'd hate it if Josh Hartnett was cast. Josh Hartnett is on my Keanu level of hatred and it would piss me off to see him cast.

 

Hopefully they learned from Halle who never seemed pleased to be doing the movie and keep any new castings as unknowns or actors who aren't big names.

[Guest converge241]

"It has X3 in the title...If you haven't seen X2 and entered this thread about X3 you have no room to complain about spoilers you may find. "

 

funny i read an article that had X2 in the title after 1 came out that said they wanted to do sequels ..i thoguht this thread was going to be an article about them greenlighting X3 i mean it doesnt say X3 PLOT just in for Entertainment Weekly does it?

 

I can understand how that guy feels who just got it ruined as having run a comic store im kind of overloaded on the characters and was saving stuff like Xmen 1 and 2, Spidey, daredevil to see later down the line..ive read numerous other threads and articles about X3 and 4 where they give a spoiler if they start giving away key plot details from a previous movie as in they discuss they want to have this character or that character in the movie without blurbing stuff out w/o a spoiler

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

anybody who likes Beast, Angle and Gambit is coo' with me.

 

Storm's one of my favorite X-men, but since she's done literally nothing in the first two movies it wouldn't matter if they dumped her. Plus, people automatically didn't like Storm because she was played by the not-likeably Halle Berry.

 

The problem with Jackman is that he's been the main star of two movies now, so there'd be some weirdness if someone else took over the part. It didn't sound like he wouldn't do another one though.

[Guest DrTom]

Wolverine is 5'3" in the comics, IIRC. The problem is, it's impossible to find someone who's 5'3" (or just an inch or two taller) and 200+ pounds of muscle. The casting of Jackman was excellent, since he not only looks like Wolverine (height and unrealistic comic-book bulk aside), but has captured the nuances of the character well. I think the franchise would suffer if his part were recast. That said, I don't think it will be: I think all the principal players will return for X3. This is a franchise that's going to mint its own money, and I can't see people turning down the X3 paycheck.

 

If they're going to recast Storm, I'd go with Tyra Banks. We still need some eye candy in the role, damnit!

[The Dames 0]

The problem is, it's impossible to find someone who's 5'3" (or just an inch or two taller) and 200+ pounds of muscle.

For once, I'm actually taller than the role. Dammit.

 

Dames

[Guest Heel In Peril]

If they're going to recast Storm, I'd go with Tyra Banks.  We still need some eye candy in the role, damnit!

I've been saying that ever since I knew Berry was gonna be in the first one. Good shit, Dr. Tom! However, I am against any recasting, even a smaller one like that. I would personally prefer if they just wrote out Storm to say working on a distant mission or heading up a new team with Black Panther or something. It's a real stretch from the book but they can bend it. She had a relationship (plutonic, I'm sure) with BP in the books. I'd prefer that greatly! To make room to put over new talent! Hahaha. Iceman, Colossus, even Nightcrawler deserves the screentime more than her. I don't hate Halle Berry. But I agree her Storm is the weakest draw of the characters, face or heel.

[Mrnoitaull 0]

FUCK!!! This desperately needed a spoiler warning.

Yeah it really does ( though I've seen the movie)

[Mrnoitaull 0]

They really need a taller actress to play Storm. Berry was entirely too short for the part. I wasn't really happy with her in that part either.

I said Niomi Campbell( with her having the exotic , African look that Storm often had) but I got ragged on.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

With a movie like this they don't have to stick dead on to the comic book (Storm and Wolvies height)...they just have to keep enough true to the comic to keep those people happy.

 

And did Stan Lee have a part in X2? He has a tiny spot in the first one.