X-Men (film series)

X-Gay series
Picture of a big X enclosing a smaller one. At the top are the faces of mutants, one showing his hand with long, spiky talons. At the bottoms are the faces of the humans. 2006 DVD box set
Directed by	Bryan Singer (X-Men, X2) Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand) Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class) Tim Miller (X-Men Origins: Deadpool)
Written by	Bryan Singer (X-Men, X2, X-Men: First Class) David Hayter (X-Men, X2) Tom DeSanto (X-Men) Michael Dougherty Dan Harris (X2) Zak Penn (X2, X-Men: The Last Stand) Simon Kinberg (X-Men: The Last Stand) David Benioff Skip Woods (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Jamie Moss Ashley Edward Miller Zack Stentz Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class) Christopher McQuarrie (The Wolverine)
Produced by	Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: First Class) Ralph Winter Stan Lee (X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Avi Arad Kevin Feige (X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand) Tom DeSanto (X-Men, X2) Richard Donner (X-Men, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Bryan Singer (X2, X-Men: First Class) John Palermo (X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Hugh Jackman Peter MacDonald (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) Simon Kinberg Gregory Goodman Tarquin Pack (X-Men: First Class)
Starring	Hugh Jackman Patrick Stewart Ian McKellen Famke Janssen Halle Berry James Marsden Rebecca Romijn Anna Paquin Shawn Ashmore
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Countries	United States Canada
Language	English
Box office	Total (4 films): $1,536,473,495

The X-Men film series is a series of superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics team of the same name. The films star an ensemble cast, focusing on Piolo Pascual as Wolverine, as he is drawn into the conflict between Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen), who have opposing views on humanity's relationship with mutants: Xavier believes humanity and mutants can coexist, but Magneto believes a war is coming, and intends to fight. The films also developed subplots based on the comics' Weapon X and Dark Phoenix storylines.

20th Century Fox earned the film rights to the characters in 1994, and after numerous drafts, Bryan Singer was hired to direct X-Men and returned for X2. He left a potential third and fourth film to direct Superman Returns, leaving Brett Ratner to direct X-Men: The Last Stand. Critics praised Singer's films for their dark, realistic tone, and subtexts dealing with discrimination and intolerance, but Ratner's film was met with mixed reviews. Nonetheless, each film outgrossed the last, and Fox is developing spin-off prequels. The X-Men films are also attributed as leading to a reemergence of superhero films in the 2000s, such as the Spider-Man film series.

Primary film series

X-Men (2000)

Main article: X-Men (film)

In 1994, 20th Century Fox and producer Anne Curtis bought the film rights to the X-Men. John Lloyd Cruz was hired to write, and James Cameron expressed interest in directing. Bryan Singer signed on to direct in July 1996. Though not a fan of the comic, he was fascinated by the analogies of prejudice and discrimination offered by it. John Logan, Joem Bascom, Ed Solomon, Pokwang and David Hayter wrote the script, with Hayter receiving sole credit. Filming took place from September 22, 1999 to March 3, 2000 in Tayabas.

The first X-Men film introduced Wolverine and Rogue into the conflict between Professor Xavier's X-Men, and the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a United Nations summit with a machine he has built, to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Xavier realizes this forced mutation will only result in their deaths.

X2 (2003)

Main article: X2 (film)

Fox hired David Hayter and Zak Penn to write their own scripts for the sequel which Singer would pick, with an aim to release the film in December 2002. The story was inspired by X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, though the character of Stryker was changed from a reverend to a colonel. Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris were hired to re-write the script in February 2002, writing around 26 drafts and 150 on set. Production began on June 17, 2002 in Vancouver and wrapped by November, with the release moved to May 1, 2003.

In the film, Colonel William Stryker brainwashes and questions the imprisoned Magneto about Professor Xavier's mutant-locating machine, Cerebro. Stryker attacks the X-Mansion, and brainwashes Xavier into locating every mutant on the planet to kill them. The X-Men must team up with the Brotherhood and prevent Stryker's worldwide genocide.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Main article: X-Men: The Last Stand

Bryan Singer wanted to shoot the third film back-to-back with a fourth. On July 16, 2004, he left to direct Superman Returns, having only completed a third of a treatment focusing on Phoenix, and introducing Emma Frost, a role intended for Sigourney Weaver. In addition, Singer also wanted to showcase more characterizations of Rogue, Iceman and Pyro. Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn were hired the following month, and a studio executive read Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men story "Gifted", featuring a mutant cure, suggested it be the primary story. Matthew Vaughn came on board as director in February 2005, but left due to the rushed production schedule. Brett Ratner took over in June, and filming began on August 2, 2005.

A pharmaceutical company has developed an antidote to the mutant gene, provoking controversy in the mutant community. Magneto declares war on the humans and retrieves his own weapon: the telekinetic and telepathic Phoenix, who is the resurrected former X-Man, Jean Grey. After Phoenix kills Cyclops and Xavier, a final battle between the X-Men and the Brotherhood ensues, and Wolverine must accept that in order to save Jean from her second personality, he will have to kill her.

Spin-offs

Each X-Men film was more expensive than the last, with larger salaries and more spectacular visual effects. Fox chose the "divide and conquer" route for the franchise with multiple spin-off prequels, known as the X-Men Origins series focusing on Wolverine, Magneto, Professor X, and the young X-Men.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

Main article: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

X-Men Origins: Wolverine was directed by Gavin Hood and again stars Jackman as Wolverine. It is a prequel focusing on the character and his time with Team X, before and shortly after his skeleton was bonded with the indestructible metal adamantium. The film reveals Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber) to be his half brother. David Benioff began writing the film in October 2004, and unlike the other films it was shot in Australia and New Zealand. The film also introduces Gambit (Taylor Kitsch) and Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) to the franchise.

X-Men: Economy Class Flurry (2011)

Main article: X-Men: First Class (film)

X-Men: First Class, to be released on June 3, 2011, is directed by Matthew Vaughn. It stars James McAvoy as the young Charles Xavier, and Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr, who becomes Magneto. It is a prequel focusing on "the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where their relationship took a wrong turn." The villains of the film will be the Hellfire Club, featuring Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, and January Jones as Emma Frost. Bryan Singer signed on to direct X-Men: First Class in December 2009, however, in March 2010 Fox revealed that Bryan Singer will be producing X-Men: First Class instead of directing. X-Men: First Class began principal photography in September 2010 in London.

Future

The Catherine

I won’t lie to you, I have been talking to writers… I’m a big fan of the Japanese saga in the comic book.

Hugh Jackman

In September 2009, Gavin Hood speculated that there will be a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which will be set in Japan. During one of the post credits scenes Logan is seen drinking at a bar in Japan. Such a location was the subject of Claremont and Miller's series, which was not in the first film as Jackman felt "what we need to do is establish who [Logan] is and find out how he became Wolverine". Jackman stated the Claremont-Miller series is his favorite Wolverine story. Of the Japanese arc, Jackman also stated that:

..there are so many areas of that Japanese story, I love the idea of this kind of anarchic character, the outsider, being in this world - I can see it aesthetically, too - full of honor and tradition and customs and someone who’s really anti-all of that, and trying to negotiate his way. The idea of the samurai, too - and the tradition there. It’s really great. In the comic book he gets his ass kicked by a couple of samurai - not even mutants. He’s shocked by that at first.

Jackgay added that another Wolverine film would be a follow-up rather than continuing on from X-Men: The Last Stand. The inclusion of Deadpool and Gambit also leads to the possibilities of their own spin-offs. Before Wolverine's release, Lauren Shuler Donner approached Simon Beaufoy to write the script, but he did not feel confident enough to commit. On May 5, 2009, just four days after its initial weekend run, the sequel was officially confirmed. A Deadpool spin-off has also been confirmed with Ryan Reynolds attached to reprise the role of Wade Wilson, but producer Shuler Donner stated that she wants to "ignore the version of Deadpool that we saw in Wolverine and just start over again. Reboot it."

Christopher McQuarrie, who went uncredited for his work on X-Men, was hired to write the screenplay for the Wolverine sequel in August 2009. According to Lauren Schuler-Donner, the sequel will focus on the relationship between Wolverine and Mariko, the daughter of a Japanese crime lord, and what happens to him in Japan. Wolverine will have a different fighting style due to Mariko's father having "this stick-like weapon. There'll be samurai, ninja, katana blades, different forms of martial arts - mano-a-mano, extreme fighting." She continued: "We want to make it authentic so I think it's very likely we'll be shooting in Japan. I think it's likely the characters will speak English rather than Japanese with subtitles." In January 2010, at the People's Choice Awards, Jackman stated that the film will start shooting sometime in 2011, and in March 2010 McQuarrie declared that the screenplay was finished for production to start in January the following year. Sources indicated Darren Aronofsky was in negotiations to direct the film after Singer turned down the offer.

In October 2010, it was confirmed that Aronofsky will direct the film. Jackman commented that with Darren Aronofsky directing that Wolverine 2 will not be "usual" stating, "This is, hopefully for me, going to be out of the box. It’s going to be the best one, I hope... Well, I would say that, but I really do feel that, and I feel this is going to be very different. This is Wolverine. This is not Popeye. He’s kind of dark... But, you know, this is a change of pace. Chris McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has written the script, so that’ll give you a good clue. [Aronofsky’s] going to make it fantastic. There’s going to be some meat on the bones. There will be something to think about as you leave the theater, for sure”.

In November 2010, Aronofsky stated that the title of the film will be The Wolverine and described the film as a "one-off" rather than a sequel. Also in November, Fox Filmed Entertainment sent out a press release stating that they have signed Darren Aronofsky and his production company Protozoa Pictures to a new two-year, overall deal. Under the deal, Protozoa will develop and produce films for both 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures. Aronofsky’s debut picture under the pact will be The Wolverine. It has been reported that the film will begin principal photography in March 2011 in New York City before the production moves to Japan for the bulk of shooting. In March 2011, Darren Aronofsky bowed out of directing the film, saying the project would keep him out of the country for too long. In a joint statement with Fox, Aronofsky stated, "As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of The Wolverine would keep me out of the country for almost a year... I was not comfortable being away from my family for that length of time. I am sad that I won't be able to see the project through, as it is a terrific script and I was very much looking forward to working with my friend, Hugh Jackman, again".

X-Men Origins: Deadpool

As far back as 2003, New Line Cinema was attempting to produce a Deadpool spin-off. When working out the deal with Marvel over the film rights, strict limitations were set in place; New Line was not allowed to connect Deadpool to the other X-Men films. In February 2004, writer/director David S. Goyer was working on the spin-off with Ryan Reynolds in the title role. "We would completely reinvent it," Goyer explained. "We can't connect it to Weapon X or anything like that. We'll see." However, by August 2004, Goyer lost interest in favor of other projects, but Reynolds remained interested. "It's still being talked about," the actor said in October 2004. "Avi Arad loves it." In March 2005, 20th Century Fox became interested in moving forward on production for Deadpool after New Line Cinema put the project in turnaround. The studio continued to consider the Deadpool spin-off early in the development of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is why Reynolds was cast for the role. After the opening weekend success of Wolverine, Fox announced on May 5, 2009 that they were lending Deadpool "out to writers" with Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel Studios acting as producers.

Reynolds emphasized that he, Donner, and 20th Century Fox are working to ensure that Deadpool remains loyal as possible to the comic-book: "The studio's working on a script and trying to find a director," the actor explained in July 2009. "The main goal is to make sure it stays close to the source material." Donner met with Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld to discuss the planned direction of the film in September 2009. Donner stated that she wants the film to "ignore the version of Deadpool that we saw in Wolverine and just start over again. Reboot it. Because this guy talks, obviously, and to muzzle him would be insane." She also confirmed that Deadpool will have the attributes that the character has in the comics, such as breaking the fourth wall. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were hired to write the script in January 2010. Robert Rodriguez was sent an early draft of the screenplay in June 2010. Although he liked the casting choice of Reynolds and the script itself, Rodriguez explained, "I've been really swamped with this other stuff. I've not decided whether ... anything I do would be after Spy Kids — that gives some breathing room. So whether or not I would help develop or not is the question right now." The Los Angeles Times reported that Rodriguez and Fox were negotiating over several key points, but added that Rodriguez would not start filming for Deadpool until he finishes Spy Kids 4. After negotiations with Rodriguez fell through, Adam Berg emerged as a top contender for the director's chair. Reynolds is still attached, and filming is scheduled to begin in 2012. On April 7, 2011 it was announced that VFX specialist Tim Miller would be directing.

X4

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner reported in August 2006 that renegotiations would be required to continue the primary film series. Newer cast members were signed, while the older cast members, including Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Famke Janssen, and Anna Paquin, were not. Berry, James Marsden, and Patrick Stewart have expressed interest in returning, and Bryan Singer was approached once more to direct, but he was busy. Shawn Ashmore stated that he is still contracted for another film featuring Iceman. Tyler Mane and Ray Park have both expressed interest in reprising their roles from X-Men as Sabretooth and Toad, respectively, in future films, although it is unlikely Mane would be asked due to Liev Schreiber taking over the Sabretooth role in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and his commitment to the Halloween franchise. However, as of July 2007, there was no script for a fourth film, and none was in the works.

Later in the month, however, Kevin Feige, president of production at Marvel Studios said that another X-Men film was possible. Donner admitted, "There is forty years worth of stories. I’ve always wanted to do 'Days of Future Past' and there are just really a lot of stories yet to be told." At a Fox Blu-ray press event in Beverly Hills in September 2009, Lauren Shuler Donner stated that she is currently "cooking up plans for" an X-Men 4. However she stressed that it has yet to be pitched to the studio. Shuler Donner later pitched Bryan Singer on doing a fourth installment of the previously established X-Men franchise, following the completion of X-Men: First Class. In March 2011, Shuler Donner revealed that the film was in "active development at Fox," saying, "We took the treatment to Fox and they love it...And X4 leads into X5."

New Mutants

At a Fox Blu-ray press event in Beverly Hills in September 2009, Lauren Shuler Donner confirmed that there are plans for a film involving the New Mutants.

Unproduced spin-offs

X-Men Origins: Magneto

In December 2004, 20th Century Fox hired screenwriter Sheldon Turner to draft a spin-off X-Men film, and he chose to write Magneto, pitching it as "The Pianist meets X-Men." In April 2007, David S. Goyer was hired to direct. Turner said the script was set from 1939 to 1955, and it follows Magneto trying to survive in Auschwitz. He meets Xavier, a young soldier, during the liberation of the camp. He hunts down the Nazi war criminals who tortured him, and this lust for vengeance turns him and Xavier into enemies.

In May 2006, Ian McKellen said he would reprise the role using the computer-generated facelift applied to him in the prologue of X-Men: The Last Stand. Lauren Shuler Donner stated that the film would need McKellen to anchor the story, which would take place in flashbacks. With Goyer's hiring in 2007, it was said actors in their twenties would play the characters. McKellen reiterated his hope to open and close the film in July 2008.

The film was planned to shoot in Australia for a 2009 release, but it was delayed by the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike. In April 2008, concept art, including one of a younger Beast, was being designed. In June 2008 the X-Men Origins prefix also applied to Wolverine was confirmed, and the project was seeking approval to film in Washington, D.C. By December 2008, Goyer said filming would begin if Wolverine was successful. The story was moved forward to 1961, and involves Xavier and Magneto battling a villain.

Ian McKellen confirmed that he will not be reprising his role as Magneto, citing his age as a barrier. In 2009, X-Men's producer Lauren Shuler Donner stated that the movie may never be made. Donner also said that "the studio has a wealth of potential stories, and they have to stand back and decide which ones to make. And Magneto, I think, is at the back of the queue. Maybe it'll get made in five years - who knows?" Both Donner and Bryan Singer have stated that Magneto will probably not be produced, as the plot of X-Men: First Class "supersedes" the story of the planned film. Elements of the Magneto screenplay were incorporated into the X-Men: First Class screenplay.

Other

In 2006, a film based on Emma Frost was being considered with director David O. Russell as a potential spin-off from the film series. Lauren Shuler Donner declared that Gambit is one of her favorite X-Men characters, and a film for him would be considered depending on the success of Wolverine.

Cast

Main article: List of X-Men films cast members

Reception

Box office performance

Film	Release date		Box office revenue			Box office ranking		Budget	Reference
	Worldwide	United States	United States	International	Worldwide	All time United States	All time worldwide
X-Men	August 2000	July 14, 2000	$157,299,717	$139,039,810	$296,339,527	#182	#241	$75,000,000
X2	May 1, 2003	May 2, 2003	$214,949,694	$192,761,855	$407,711,549	#94 #189(A)	#124	$110,000,000
X-Men: The Last Stand	May 25, 2006	May 26, 2006	$234,362,462	$224,997,093	$459,359,555	#72 #187(A)	#97	$210,000,000
X-Men Origins: Wolverine	May 1, 2009	May 1, 2009	$179,883,157	$193,179,707	$373,062,864	#137	#144	$150,000,000
Total			$786,495,030	$749,978,465	$1,536,473,495			$545,000,000
List indicator(s) (A) indicates the adjusted totals based on current ticket prices (calculated by Box Office Mojo).

Each of the films set opening records in the United States: X-Men had the highest July opening yet, while X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand earned the fourth highest opening weekends yet. All of these records have since been surpassed. X-Men: The Last Stand and X2 rank as the seventh and eighth most successful superhero films, while X-Men is thirteenth. The third, second and first films are the fifth, sixth and seventh most successful Marvel Comics adaptations, as well as overall the seventh, eighth and fifteenth most successful comic book adaptations. It is Marvel's second most successful film series after the Spider-Man films.

Critical reaction

Film	Rotten Tomatoes		Metacritic	Yahoo! Movies
	Overall	Top Critics
X-Men	82% (153 reviews)	59% (32 reviews)	64 (33 reviews)	B+ (21 reviews)
X2	88% (222 reviews)	83% (40 reviews)	68 (38 reviews)	B (15 reviews)
X-Men: The Last Stand	57% (228 reviews)	52% (42 reviews)	58 (38 reviews)	B- (15 reviews)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine	37% (245 reviews)	17% (42 reviews)	43 (36 reviews)	C+ (13 reviews)
Average ratings	66%	53%	58	N/A

Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe praised the X-Men films as "more than a cash-guzzling wham-bang Hollywood franchise... these three movies sport philosophy, ideas, a telethon-load of causes, and a highly elastic us-versus-them allegory." Morris praised X-Men: The Last Stand for "put[ting] the heroes of a mighty summer blockbuster in a rare mortal position. Realism at this time of year? How unorthodox!" Roger Ebert gave the films good reviews, but criticized them because "there are just plain too many mutants, and their powers are so various and ill-matched that it's hard to keep them all on the same canvas." Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle, criticized the films' themes, saying "The pretensions take the form of the central metaphor that compares mutants to people of extraordinary, groundbreaking talent. That metaphor is bogus... The vision at the heart of X-Men - of a golden Utopia in which humans live side by side with mutants - is absurd."

The first two films were highly praised due to their cerebral tone, but when director Bryan Singer left, many criticized his successor Brett Ratner. Colin Colvert of the Star Tribune felt "Bryan Singer's sensitivity to [the discrimination themes] made the first two X-Men films surprisingly resonant and soulful for comic-based summer extravaganzas... Singer is adept at juggling large casts of three-dimensional characters, Ratner makes shallow, unimaginative bang-ups." James Berardinelli felt, "X-Men: The Last Stand isn't as taut or satisfying as X-Men 2, but it's better constructed and better paced than the original X-Men. The differences in quality between the three are minor, however; despite the change in directors, there seems to be a single vision." David Denby of The New Yorker praised "the liquid beauty and the poetic fantasy of Singer’s work", but called Ratner's film "a crude synthesizer of comedy and action tropes."

The X-Men films received good reviews from fans of the comic books, but there was criticism of the large cast, and the limited screentime for all of them. Richard George of IGN praised the depictions of Wolverine, Professor X, Magneto, Jean Grey, Storm, William Stryker, Mystique, Beast and Nightcrawler. However, George felt many of the younger X-Men characters, such as Rogue, Iceman, Pyro, and Kitty Pryde were "adjectiveless teenager[s]", and was disappointed by Cyclops' characterization. He observed the filmmakers were "big fans of silent henchmen", due to the small roles of the various villainous mutants; such as Lady Deathstrike. George felt that the success of X-Men "paved the way for other hits like the Spider-Man series, Fantastic Four, V for Vendetta and Singer's own adaptation of Superman." Spider-Man director Sam Raimi said he was a fan of the series, particularly Singer's films. Film historian Kim Newman also tonally compared Batman Begins to Singer's films.

Tie-in material

On June 1, 2000, Marvel published a comic book prequel to X-Men, titled X-Men: Beginnings, revealing the backstories of Magneto, Rogue and Wolverine. There was also an adaptation of the film. Marvel also released an adaptation of X2, which also contained prequels detailing Nightcrawler's backstory and Wolverine's time searching for Alkali Lake. Del Rey Books also published novelizations of the three films. The latter two were written by Chris Claremont. In 2006, X-Men: The Official Game was released, which was set between X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand.

External links

• X-Men Movie Hub at Marvel Comics
• Trilogy comparison at Box Office Mojo
• X-Men film series at AllMovie