Warning: Psuedo-Spoilers

Director Brett Ratner revealed these details about X-Men 3 in an interview with Wizard magazine (some of which are not news to many fans):

* In terms of the story, with Ratner on board, fans can expect a love story between Storm and Wolverine, at least three mutant deaths and a theme that revolves around a "mutant cure" developed by Warren Worthington to cure his son-- the high-flying Angel.

* According to producer Avi Arad, if he "were a betting man....yes, you will see Phoenix in this movie -- and she may be responsible for at least one mutant death."

* Halle Berry is back as Storm and fans can expect the larger role she's been asking for since the first film.

* Hugh Jackman is also a producer on this film

* Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler character will not be back

* The new mutants include Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Kitty Pryde, Angel and Gambit-- not clear whether or not the latter character would be on Xavier or Magneto's side

* All of the new characters will have shortened origin arcs or retellings, but the biggest secret origin will lie within the current roster: what Xavier did to Jean Grey the first time they met (and why Magneto was there), as well as the history between Juggernaut and Xavier.

* Former soccer pro Vinnie Jones will play Juggernaut.

* The current script does "reportedly" contain a short scene of Iceman and Kitty Pryde training in a World War II scenario inside the X-Men's famed training facility called the Danger Room (it can recreate any environment).

* Arad says that fans "may" see more Colossus, but Daniel Cudmore (the former bouncer who portrayed him in X2) may not be cut out for the bigger role.

* The Sentinels will likely not make an appearance -- at least not yet.

* Target release date: Memorial Day weekend 2006. Begins shooting: August 2005.

* The film will not be rated R, it will be rated PG-13, just like X-2.

* What's up with the Magneto and Wolverine spin-off movies? Both films are in the script stage, but with Jackman's "name value", expect his project to be put on the fast track after X3 wraps production.

* Ironic note: director Bryan Singer left X3 to cover SUPERMAN RETURNS, while director Brett Ratner at one point was going to direct SUPERMAN RETURNS, but is now helming X3.
[Edited 9/10/05 13:36pm]

thank you VERY much.

Lammastide!

Thanks, bruh.

I do hope this doesn't suck!

I really liked the first 2 X-Men movies, Bryan Singer did a great job. I did
hear various rumors and script ideas about the direction X-Men 3 was taking
and I have to say I was more than a little concerned! That's not to say that
there aren't any good things with storyline (as there are some great sequences)
BUT there are also several things that I think will be HUGE mistakes. And this
report kinda confirms what I'd been worried about... 3 mutant deaths! Now if
they're still shooting the script I'd heard about, we're talking MAJOR
characters here! I just hope they don't fuck the franchise up with this one.

I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

m

Well, it sounds like there's going to be a lot of mutants this time, too, so killing some of them is probably a good idea. I thought the biggest flaw of the second movie was that it had way too many mutants and now we are getting even more?

Lammastide said:

Shucks, this X-fan was hoping that Angela Bassett/Iman/Nona Gaye recasting would finally take....

ThreadBare said:

no offense but haveing Angela Bassett or Iman as Storm would make her more on the same plane as Prof X and Magento. They need to keep her young.

I'm so excited about the Phoenix. She is the BEST!

ehuffnsd said:

Hmm. Hadn't considered it that way.


Nah, I still like them better than Halle.

ThreadBare said:

Me too. Well, not Iman -- she'd have been PERFECT for the role, say, 20 years ago, but not now. Nona is right on the mark, though.

It's gonna b sooooo great !!!

Lammastide said:

Yeah, I see Nona the most out of that bunch, too.

Kelsey Grammar as Beast?


WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!





sometimes, I don't know what these casting directors are on, I swear....

jerseykrs said:

He'll be able to duplicate Beast's diction and intellect. And, he won't need much padding...

scififilmnerd said:

I'm not sure you'd agree if you knew who they're killing off in this one.

BorisFishpaw said:

Wolverine I hope

next to the phoenix saga...this would have been my choice as a good storylilne to do


those were the best years of any comic ever..phoenix saga, days of future past, the brood saga...introduction of dazzler and sprite/shadowcat, majik saga...

meltwithu said:

Yep,

issues 134 through 201 are my fave. I sold my issues. I'm an idiot.


M

ThreadBare said:

Yeah.....I like Angela Bassett way more than Halle too.

Lammastide said:

yay....Gambit still no official word on who's playin' him? I still say Harry Connick shoulda played him

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Yep. 80's X-men kicked ass. Just like 80's Prince kicked ass.

BOOMshockaLockaBOOM said:

Is Gambit going to make Rogue leave Bobby?

Didn't Kitty have a cameo in the first x-men?

wait...

are we gonna see Kitty Pryde, or Shadowcat?

GlitterStream said:

one in the same

Thanks for the updates.

I really hope they decided on an up-and-comer for the role of Gambit, because I can't think of any actors right now who'd do him justice.

ehuffnsd said:

No, but from what I've heard, Kitty Pryde might make Bobby leave Rogue.
[Edited 9/11/05 15:44pm]

meow85 said:

hellooooo Harry Connick Jr....duh no,really I like Harry

BorisFishpaw said:

I don't wanna know. There has to be some surprises when I go see the movie.

Shohreh Aghdashloo (24, House Of Sand And Fog) is scheduled to appear in X3 also. She told Entertainment Weekly that she was going to play the part of Dr. Cecilia Reyes, but other reports have said she was mistaken and will instead be playing the part of Dr. Kavita Rao (from Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men series).

That's a relief. When I first read her interview in EW, I wondered how in the hell she would pull off playing a twenty-something Puerto Rican. Dr Kavita Rao makes a lot more sense.