Jennifer Lawrence Confirmed For First Class Sequel

HeatVision ups the original announcement of Matthew Vaughn directing the sequel to X-Men First Class. They confirm the entire cast of the original film are returning, even high profiled actors Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence. Fassbender will be shooting the indie period drama 12 Years A Slave with director Steve McQueen (Shame, Hunger) this summer. Jennifer Lawrence who leads the Hunger Games franchise is expected to start production on the sequel Catching Fire sometime soon as well. It's really the first time we've heard that Lawrence is indeed coming back to play Raven/Mystique.

Matthew Vaughn Confirmed For X-Men First Class Sequel

Deadline confirms that Matthew Vaughn has signed to direct the sequel to X-Men First Class. I assume that with news that the sequel could end up shooting sometime this year. Simon Kinberg has written a script but it's expected Vaughn and his writing partner Jane Goldman will do their own rewrites. The cast including James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender will return as it was apart of their original contracts. Also, Bryan Singer is returning as the film's producer. I just hope that Fox doesn't rush the production and post-production. Giving the sequel a longer shoot and bigger effects budget.

CAST EM": X-Men First Class Sequel

20th Century Fox seems eager to start production on a sequel to X-Men First Class. They already have a writer working on draft while they still have to resign Matthew Vaughn to direct. We know that the original cast is likely returning as they signed a three picture deal which is common with these type of films.

One of my biggest pet peeves with First Class was that most of the supporting mutants were beyond obscure even for me as an X-Men fan. Mutants like Darwin, Riptide and Angel Salvadore could have been replaced with ones fans recognize. I understand having Havok and Azazel in there to plant seeds for future films. If this is indeed a reboot of the franchise we need to see wronged characters retooled and reintroduced similar to what they plan to do for Deadpool.

A few characters that deserve redemption include Juggernaut, Psylocke and Gambit. Two unused characters that have been rumored for a while include Cable and the villain Mister Sinister. Throw in another decent sized cameo for Wolverine and we're in business. I feel like this is still very much the story of Erik and Charles now that they've chosen their sides. We need to see them fully explore that new relationship. Jean and Scott no matter how popular they are, really should be saved for the third film.


MY CASTING THOUGHTS

AARON JOHNSON AS REMY LEBAEU (GAMBIT)

STEPHEN LANG AS NATHAN SUMMERS (CABLE)

RICHARD MADDEN AS CAIN MARKO (JUGGERNAUT)

MICHELLE RYAN AS BETSY BRADDOCK (PSYLOCKE)

CLIVE OWEN AS MISTER SINISTER

Jane Goldman Talks X-Men First Class Sequel

The wheels are in motion for the sequel to X-Men First Class. Fox's Tom Rothman has confirmed the progress and screenwriter Simon Kenberg (Sherlock Holmes) has been hired to write a draft for the second film. Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy are expected to return as the conflicted best friends along with other supporting cast members. Writer/director Matthew Vaughn's involvement has been mentioned but hasn't been announced by the studio. However, Vaughn has shared ideas of an opening scene featuring Magneto for the sequel.

First Class co-writer Jane Goldman told MTV that she would be 100% on board for the sequel. That's of course if Matthew Vaughn returns and asks for her help. The story goes Vaughn and Goldman completely re-wrote the previous drafts of the first installment. It would make sense that if Vaughn returns to direct he'd rely on his writing partner to help put together another solid script. It's unknown when we could see First Class 2 hit theaters but I assume Fox is eager to move quickly. Fox currently has The Wolverine and Deadpool currently in development as well.

"James and Michael brought so much to them that I think it's entirely natural to be talking about where those characters would go next. It was inherent in their stories and their arcs. There are so many interesting places to go."


 "In terms of what's going on with that, again from my point of view, it's down to what Matthew [Vaughn] decides to do. If he decides he wants to direct the next one and if he wants me on board, I'm 100 percent there."

Simon Kinberg Writing Sequel To X-Men First Class

It didn't take long for the name of screenwriter of the X-Men First Class sequel to be revealed. Jason Flemyng had just stated 20th Century Fox was developing a script for the sequel. However, there was no official word from the studio or Matthew Vaughn.

SuperHeroHype now reports that Simon Kinberg is currently writing First Class 2. Kinberg's writing credits includes X3, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, This Means War and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. He's also producing Neill Blomkamp's next science fiction epic Elysium. There is no word if original screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz will be contributing. It's assumed if director Matthew Vaughn returns he and writing partner Jane Goldman would do their own re-writes.

Jason Flemyng Confirms Script For First Class Sequel In Development

While Jason Flemyng might be just one of the many cast members of X-Men First Class he is also a very good friend of writer/director Matthew Vaughn. Jason has starred in every single film that Vaughn has made [Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass] including films he's produced [Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch]. The actor who plays Russian mutant Azazel [father of Nightcrawler] gave an update to DigitalSpy. Jason states the box office success of First Class is the main reason the studio is moving forward with a script. Adding that it's DVD/BluRay sales will ultimately decide if the sequel will be made. It ended up making $353 million worldwide and another $30 million during the first week of the DVD/BluRay being released.

"There was a benchmark that they had to hit box office-wise before they could start writing the next one, which they've started. We'll just see how the DVD goes and then fingers crossed I'll be bright red again by next summer."

Actors James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender have stated they're on board for more films. There have been ideas tossed around for the sequel like Magneto guiding the magic bullet that killed JFK for an intro sequence. It's expected Azazel (Flemyng) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) could explore their characters' relation that leads to Nightcrawler being born. Along with the formation of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants. Jason also threw out the statement of production possibly starting in the summer.

"Me and Jen Lawrence have a kid, don't we? The world is a wide place and if my son turns out to be Alan Cumming then good for him, that's great. I love Alan Cumming."

"I am so in his gang [for the sequel]. There's one shot at the end of the film [with Magneto] and I was like, 'Please let me be in the shot!' And there I was. If there is a sequel, I have to be there." 

Hugh Jackman Talks Wolverine, First Class 2 & X-Men 4

Jackman still has a lot of love for Wolverine even though he's been playing him for ten plus years and soon to be five films. While talking to ThePlaylist he gives the impression he has a couple more films in him and wants to finally get the character right in The Wolverine. Unsurprisingly he states he doesn't believe we'll be seeing an X-Men 4 but doesn't count out showing up in X-Men First Class 2.

“I don’t see it. I can only see one movie ahead,” he said deflating hopes of a 4th “X-Men” film, despite talk in recent years by the producers of making one more. “I’m pretty sure I’m well into the second half of this match. I don’t know exactly when the end is, but I only go one at a time. If this is the last one, fingers crossed, man, I just hope we finally get that hole in one.” 

  So might Jackman pop up in a ‘First Class’ sequel? “If they come up with as good of an idea as last time,” Jackman says with a big smile, “Yeah, I could see it.”

I'm a bit skeptical about how the The Wolverine will turn out without Darren Aronofsky. It's odd that both Lauren Shuler Donner and Hugh Jackman producers on the last film have said they were unhappy with it's outcome. Odd since they made the creative decisions and allowed Fox executives to mettle with the production. I'll wait for the trailer before I start condemning but they have a lot making up to do for Wolverine fans. I'm all for more Wolverine but if they mess up Frank Miller's story they really will have lost me. On the other hand I'd rather see Jackman show up in First Class 2 as a pre-Weapon X Wolverine than watch a mess that X-Men 4 would certainly be. They could erase that magic bullet nonsense with Xavier just wiping his mind. Since the studio has established that First Class has it's own X-Men canon.

Matthew Vaughn Gives An Update On Bloodshot & A Rundown Of His Other Projects

During an interview with SuperHeroHype director Matthew Vaughn gave a small update on a project he had been linked to with writer Jane Goldman. He told the site that Bloodshot has at least a first draft completed but hasn't decided if it will be his next film.

I'm getting a new draft of it next week. Yeah, there are not many things. I'm so exhausted I'm going to take at least a couple months off now and then… it's very weird but if I have to make a movie, it's 'cause I see the whole thing in my head and I know it's going to be effortless in a sense of engaging my mind. That hasn't happened yet on what my next project is going to be.

FIRST CLASS 2 & KICK-ASS 2: While Vaughn seems unlikely to make Kick-Ass 2 as he's stated previously he loved the first film so much he didn't want to make a sequel just for a "cash grab".  Yet doesn't say it's out of the question. On the other hand he's been very vocal on returning to the First Class world he's created with more films. There has been talk of an exciting intro for the sequel involving Mangeto and JFK.


Yeah, if the film's a hit, I'd be very interested in doing a sequel. I really, really enjoyed… the team I had on it were great, and the hard thing is creating a new franchise, so if it works, it would be fun. My ideas are much bigger for the next one. I've got some really big … I'm surprised everyone is calling this a really big epic movie, and I'm thinking, "Wait until you view the next one if you think this is epic, the next one you won't believe what happens."

GOLDEN AGE: A yet unreleased comic book concept from Jonathan Ross the husband of Jane Goldman. Features retired superheroes who team up with their grandchildren after the parents screw things up threatening the destruction of the world. Matthew has said that he'd like to see Clint Eastwood in the lead along with Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. With the success of RED it doesn't sound of the question to see older actors cast in a superhero film.

TURF: Another exciting comic book from Jonathan Ross this time features prohibition era bootlegging gangster vampires and aliens. I personally think this project is different enough from all the other things in development it could be ripe for the screen. Even more so considering how popular Boardwalk Empire and vampires are at the moment.

Bryan Singer Hints Again At First Class Sequel

In a recent interview with HeroComplex producer Bryan Singer quickly mentions the possibility of more X-Men First Class films. It's been mentioned before that Singer wouldn't direct a sequel and stated First Class was very much Matthew Vaughn's thing. This time Singer gives the impression Cyclops was not included in the first film but could be in the second one.

This also raises the question will Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) be playing Scott Summers? He had been rumored for the role but the character ultimately didn't make the film because of conflicting timelines. Also since Cyclops is such a popular character he would have been overshadowed by Magneto since this film mostly focuses on him. If they set the next film in the 70's or early 80's it could be a little more believable and we could also see the return of Jean Grey.