Magneto X-Men Spin-Off Movie Coming!
Source: Variety December 13, 2004


Variety reports that 20th Century Fox has set Sheldon Turner ("The Longest Yard," "The Amityville Horror," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" prequel) to write Magneto, an action-thriller based on the villainous character played in the first two "X-Men" films by Ian McKellen.

The project marks the second extension of the studio's "X-Men" comic book franchise. The move follows a Fox deal with "Troy" screenwriter David Benioff to write Wolverine, who is played by Hugh Jackman in the films.

The studio is developing the spin-offs as they separately develop X-Men 3. Simon Kinberg is writing the third installment. Magneto will likely be produced by the "X-Men" duo of Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.

The original "X-Men" film began with a prologue that showed Magneto as a child being led to a concentration camp by Nazis, and that is the period in which the new film will take place. Since the character will be seen almost exclusively in his formative years, it is not clear whether McKellen will be in the film at all, says the trade.

"I pitched a film that is almost 'The Pianist' meets 'X-Men,' about a guy who, after watching his family slaughtered, has an awakening of his powers and seeks revenge," Turner said.

The storyline will heavily involve Professor X (played by Patrick Stewart in the films). That character was a soldier in the allied force that liberated the concentration camps. The professor meets Magneto after the war, and while they bond over the realization that they are alike in their special powers, their differences soon turn them into enemies

If Ian McKellen ain't in it then forget it.

McKellen's portrayal of Magneto was pretty damn definitive and added incredible gravitas to the role so I for one can't see it working without his involvement.

Magneto without McKellen would be like Jaws without the shark.

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giotto said:

McKellen trying to pull off Magneto age 15 is a bit pulling it, mr.

GooeyTheHamster said:

Ian McKellen trying to "pull off" any 15 year-old would be a little grim.

giotto said:

I agree.
Obviously Ian McKellen can't play the younger Magneto, but it also seems a bit
redundant to revisit the territory already covered in X-Men 1's prologue.

BorisFishpaw said:

But ermmm. That prologue can be stretched up to a movie, Hollywood style! In other words; the 'The Pianist' meets 'X-Men' hint kinda makes me queezy.

Personally, I can think of a whole lot of other X-Men I'd rather see spun-off into their own film. Magneto's backstory is great, but it was already covered nicely in the first film.

I heard stories about a Jean Grey movie, which sounds a bit more interesting to me....

giotto said:

GOOD POINT!

ALL THOSE COMIC SUCK TOO CAUSE IAN NOT IN THEM EITHER!

UM

HEY WHAT ABOUT DARK PHOENIX?

POOK said:

You suck cuz you aint Sir McKellen!

GooeyTheHamster said:

I think they should base X3 on the Dark Phoenix saga, myself.

GooeyTheHamster said:

I think X-Men 3 will be that movie, Gooey.

Jean Grey's evolution into Dark Phoenix, which I reckon is the Jean Grey story everyone is really interested in, will be the meat of the next chapter of the saga.

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GooeyTheHamster said:

YEAH EVERYONE SUCK CAUSE NOBODY ELSE IAN!

Sir Ian McKellen went to school in my hometown! Bolton! Bolton!!! Bolton!!!!!

JediMaster said:

Hugh Jackman as Wolverine?

I definitely can see this spin-off working. Jackman has charisma in spades.

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giotto said:

That is definitely happening. The script is currently underway, and Jackman is signed (rumour has it that Tyler Mane is also signed up to reprise his Sabertooth role).

Personally, I would LOVE to see a Nightcrawler movie! He's my favorite X-Man, and Alan Cumming just nailed that role!

JediMaster said:

POOK LIKE IDEA!

POOK GO SEE NIGHTCRAWLER MOVIE

HE LIKE BLUE BAMFY MONKEY COUSIN!

POOK said:

Hey, you both have prehensile tails!!!

JediMaster said:

Sabretooth? Mmmm...

Personally, I'd very much prefer to see a movie revolving around the Mariko Ishida story instead.

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giotto said:

That would be fantastic. I'd especially love to see the Silver Samurai.

JediMaster said:

Keinuchio Harada?

I really enjoyed The Silver Samurai's brief stint in the Spider Woman comic.

That was a very interesting and complex villain Chris Claremont created right there.

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Personally, that Iron Man guy from movie two just looked really cute in just his pants...

MORE! MORE!

GooeyTheHamster said:

That was Pietrov Rasputin, Russian mutant, also known as Colossus.

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giotto said:

He was colossal indeed.

So. More! More!

Daniel Cudmore

Word has it that Colossus has a much bigger role in X3.

Not much chance of seeing "The Fastball Special" tho', Hugh Jackman's too tall...

X3 will have 2 go the way of Dark Phoenix 2 keep us geeks satisfied.

The WOLVERINE movie will b cool if based on the Frank Miller mini-series (IMHO)

A Magneto/Prof X prequel sounds interesting (altho' unnecessary), but I don't think it or a Nightcrawler spin-off is gonna do 2 well at the box office.

"R".

p.s. any1 reading the SUPERMAN/BATMAN "Absolute Power" story arc? Highly recommended.

WOLVERINE's solo title is also rockin' at the moment.

JediMaster said:

WORD!