Deadline is reporting that Fox is indeed moving forward with the X-Men spin-off Gambit. Also confirming that Channing Tatum (22 Jump Street, Foxcatcher) will take the title role and also produce the film. They've hired Robocop screenwriter Josh Zetumer to work on the film's script, which is based on a treatment from X-Men comic writer Chris Claremont. X-Men Days of Future Past was highly influenced by the comics of the same name, that Claremont wrote in the 80s.
For some reason they included an image of director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland, Gangster Squad, 30 Mintues Or Less) in the article. Could this mean he's in the mix to direct? The writers/creators of Zombieland penned Deadpool, so it's possible that's the connection. Ruben currently doesn't have any projects about to go into production, but did announce plans to make Zombieland 2. Ruben has been in the running for other action blockbusters such as Mission Impossible 4, Ghosbusters 3, Ant-Man and Man of Steel. Being in the mix wouldn't surprise us. However, Deadline only provides an image and doesn't explain why it's there.
Some new set images reveal ninjas will be involved in the film thanks to TheDailyTelegraph (via CBM). It's possible they are The Hand or hired assassins for The Yashida Clan. Either way, it's promising to what we can expect action-wise from the film. Included, are some older ones that give us our first look at Viper, Silver Samurai, Mariko and Yukio. My impression is that this seems very faithful to the original Japanese-saga comics from the Frank Miller and Chris Claremont run. I'll wait for a trailer to give an ultimate opinion but things are looking good at this point.
We've been hearing bits and pieces of possible storylines for the X-Men First Class sequel. During the week it was revealed that Fox registered the film title Days of Future Past leading us to believe the famous alternative time-line could be used as source material. That could mean that we could see the return of both Kitty Pryde and Wolverine. Lucas Till who plays Havok has his own idea who he'd like to see join the X-Men lineup as he talks with IGN. He mentions Polaris (Lorna Dane) as a possible love interest who had been teased in X2 on Stryker's computer which also included Gambit. Currently, Till hasn't been listed as a returning cast member for the sequel. One thing the X-Men in the sequel will be lacking is female members so it's likely characters like Jean Grey, Rogue (rebooted) and Storm could be making appearances as well. You never know with this new franchise they could make Havok and Polaris the parents of Cyclops.
"All I know is that my mom told me we're going to start shooting in January. It's funny because she tells me everything that goes on before I know. I don't know if you saw, but Havok shoots hula hoops out of his body. I remember when (director Matthew Vaughn) told me, and I was like, 'NOOOO!' It's going to ruin it for all the fans of Havok and I tried to make the best of it, but I really hope in the next one that the chest piece—because there's always that circle in the middle so you could tell where his power level was at—but not necessarily used as a device to channel the energy from. I want some gauntlets or something to shoot it out of my hands, and I want Polaris in there. I want a sexy green-haired girl to fall in love with. That's all I'm asking for."
AICN (via ThePlaylist) has learned that 20th Century Fox registered Days of Future Past with the MPAA. This doesn't seem like a big deal until you discover it's attributed to one of the most well-known X-Men storylines. We know for sure this won't be used for Japanese set The Wolverine, so it only leads to X-Men First Class 2. Chris Claremont's story takes place between present time and a possible future where all mutants are hunted/killed like animals. The biggest revelation here is that the sequel could involve Kitty Pride (Shadowcat), the infamous Sentinels and even see the return of Wolverine. It would be interesting to see two different X-Men teams from different eras in a single film.
One of my little birds Weapon X recently dropped me some information that 20th Century Fox had recently registered the title DAYS OF FUTURE PAST with the MPAA Title Registration Bureau. The Bureau exists for studios and productions companies to stake their claims on certain titles that they intend to release and distribute, so that others can stray from using a similar title.
The Sentinels had been teased in X3 in the danger room scene but ultimately have never been used as the main villains. You might remember that The Wolverine is taking it's influence from the classic Japanese saga written by Claremont and Frank Miller. It wouldn't be a stretch for Fox to mine the other important Chris Claremont comics for more movie goodies. We've also seen glimpses of these alternative futures in First Class when Sebastian Shaw planned to wipe the humans in a global nuclear war for the rise of the Children of The Atom (mutants).
Writer/director Matthew Vaughn has previously stated he wants to include an assassination attempt by Magneto on the life of President Kennedy. Perhaps, the X-Men foiling this act could cause the Sentinels to be created sparking the mutant holocaust which Magneto and Charles have been fearing their whole lives. It will be interesting to see what direction Matthew and the studio will ultimately go. As it's going to hard to sell a story that has the anti-hero killing a non-fictional President on screen. This would also be a way to transform Raven (Mystique) and Magneto full-fledged X-Men villains.
The storyline alternates between present day, in which the X-Men fight Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and a future timeline caused by the X-Men's failure to prevent the Brotherhood from assassinating Senator Robert Kelly. In this future universe, Sentinels rule the United States, and mutants live in internment camps. The present-day X-Men are forewarned of the possible future by a future version of their teammate Kitty Pryde, whose mind traveled back in time and possessed her younger self to warn the X-Men. She succeeds in her mission and returns to the future, but despite her success, the future timeline still exists as an alternative timeline rather than as the actual future. (The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 gave the numerical designation of "Days of Future Past" Earth as Earth-811).
