EDITORIAL: A Look At Joss Whedon Vs. Bryan Singer And The Battle For Quicksilver

EDITORIAL: A Look At Joss Whedon Vs. Bryan Singer And The Battle For Quicksilver

In the following editorial, I take an in-depth look at the recent news that 20th Century Fox and Bryan Singer's decision to add Quicksilver to the cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past and how this will ultimately impact Marvel Studios' plans for the character in The Avengers 2.

Editorial Opinion
By JoshWilding - May 24, 2013 11:05 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers

Let's be honest; at this point, we really don't know all that much about X-Men: Days of Future Past. On the one hand we have what we DO know (very little), and on the other we have what we THINK we know (a lot). However, the addition of Quicksilver to the already packed out cast of characters falls into the category of the former and it is this which has been met with an extremely negative reaction from fans over the past 24 hours. Why? Well, a lot of it is due to the fact that many believe that Marvel Studios will now scrap plans to use the character and his sister the Scarlet Witch because of the inevitable confusion and possible legal issues this could cause. While Marvel are seemingly well within their rights to still introduce the duo in The Avengers 2 - referring to them as "Pietro" and "Wanda" instead of their superhero codenames - the fact that Fox has now decided to use Quicksilver appears to be a spiteful last minute addition to the film to preempt Marvel's plans. Singer's Tweet (which has since been deleted) even seemed to confirm this fact.



Regardless of how you read into that, another argument could be made that as Singer apparently has one key action sequence in mind tailor made for the speedster, that Quicksilver was surely written into the script LONG before Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige revealed their plans for the character. However, if Fox and the director really had no ill will against Marvel, why not use Northstar? Singer has been praised for how he used homosexulaity as a parallel for what mutants go through in X-Men and X-2, so you would think that an openly gay character such as this one would have been an even better addition to this movie. A counter to that point could be that they're planning on exploring Quicksilver's complicated and complex relationship with his father, Magneto. However, after four films and not even a hint that the villain has any children, it seems odd that such a last-minute casting addition would play that large of a role.

The simple fact that sources close to the production have stated that Singer's main reason for wanting the character is for a single action sequence seems to put an end to that theory, and it seems far more likely that Evan Peters and Quicksilver will do about as much as the countless and entirely forgettable mutants who appeared in X-Men: The Last Stand or X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It's frustrating enough that Singer has dumped the entire Brotherhood formed by Magneto at the end of X-Men: First Class in preference of the characters from his two previous instalments (they'll seemingly just be written out with no explanation), but it is at least understandable why as they're needed in a film which deals with time travel. The point though is that this is one VERY crowded movie and Singer has so much to deal with, it's hard to imagine that Quicksilver's relationship with his father will be one of them.

Of course, it very well could be and those complaining will all be proved wrong by the time the movie comes out. We just do not know at this point. As brilliant a job as Joss Whedon will more than likely do with both Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, he can't reference the fact that they're mutants, he can't use their superhero names and he can't exploit their past as member sof the Brotherhood and their relationship with their father. If Fox don't do this in X-Men: Days of Future Past and Marvel Studios do change their plans to utilize the duo, fans are not going to be happy that two characters with so much potential have been so totally wasted (we have no idea whether Scarlet Witch will even be included at this point, although Quicksilver' relationship with Magneto is arguably far more interesting anyway).

We have a lot of time to wait until we get the answers to the questions raised in this article, but there's no getting around the fact that Singer and Fox have done themselves no favours by making this decision. Yes, there's no denying that it could be that Quicksilver was ALWAYS destined to be a part of this film - Singer actually wanted to include the character in X-Men: First Class - but the fact is that this is not how it looks and THAT is why a quick search on Twitter or in the comment section of this (or any other) site shows that fans are not happy. This casts a dark cloud over a movie which has already disappointed many with the fact that Matthew Vaughn isn't directing and more generic leather costumes...Singer promised the black ones wouldn't be returning, but brown versions are certainly coming out in full force. Regardless, Marvel Studios could still beat them to it by speeding up - no pun intended - their casting process for Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver and introducing them in the after-credits scene of Thor: The Dark World or Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Will it make a huge difference? No, but it will allow them to assert their dominance!

What this isn't leading to is an Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover. The relationship between Marvel and Fox isn't supposed to be a very good one and the monetary and rights issues make such a movie impossible. However, perhaps we should be grateful for the fact that we're getting to see two surely very different versions of the same character on the big screen? No matter how confusing it is to the general audience, it could be that we end up getting two brilliant interpretations of Quicksilver! More likely though is that one will be superior, and if the past has taught us anything, it will be Whedon's. Ultimately, Marvel probably aren't even that bothered by this. The Avengers 2 will more than likely once again gross upwards of $1.5 billion, while X-Men: Days of Future Past will be lucky to surpass $500 million if the past performance of the franchise is anything to go by. Again, we're just going to have to wait and see. For now, here are some of the reactions I received on Twitter when I said I would be posting this editorial...



























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GuardianAngel
GuardianAngel - 5/24/2013, 11:43 AM
Hmm. That last guy sounds laid back and cool. I bet he's a real smart one.
Reasonnnn
Reasonnnn - 5/24/2013, 11:45 AM
Singer likes to pee on our souls
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 5/24/2013, 11:49 AM
I posted this on the other thread!

LMAO! to any Marvelites who thought there would be a cross over anytime soon. FOX is going to milk their rights dry until powder is squirting out of that cow!

And freakin Marvel you loose you made the deal (which sucks for us now) with Fox so just let them have their mutants. Give us freakin Giant Man, Wasp, and Black Panther instead of a couple of mutants!
siggisuperman
siggisuperman - 5/24/2013, 11:51 AM
This is bullshit. Key secquence ? There is gonna be like a thousand mutants in that flick... Where was Quicksilver is Days of future past ??? They just had to use him because of speed ? What about that speedster chick in x men 3 why wasn't that quicksilver then ?

Burn to the ground please fox
DrBoring
DrBoring - 5/24/2013, 11:51 AM
You know, the more I think about it, Tom Hiddleston would've made a pretty good Quicksilver...

...'Cept, you know, the whole Loki thing.
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 11:53 AM
This i prank by Joss and Fox for that WB [frick]s up Flash when they bring him on screen.
macfint
macfint - 5/24/2013, 11:54 AM
I have an idea....F* Singer.
I'm boycotting that Xmen bullshit.He shit all over iceman. looks terrible.
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 11:55 AM
And Fox is just going to make Wolverine and The X-Men movie that is going to bomb so why crowd it with Mutants.
ruadh
ruadh - 5/24/2013, 11:57 AM
"Quicksilver was surely written into the script LONG before Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige revealed their plans for the character."

There's absolutely NOTHING to back this up. As I pointed out in the other thread, many films have had major changes in the story/casting/everything from the "final draft" of the script and the final cut of the film. Godfather, Lord of the Rings, and Avengers are three that leap to mind. The story isn't even locked down after shooting is done.

So, while he MAY have been in the script long before Whedon announced his use of the character, you don't know that for sure.
ATrueHero1987
ATrueHero1987 - 5/24/2013, 11:57 AM
@Josh you and @Mark wrote great editorials. Well done. I hope FOX or Singer see these( I doubt it though)
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 11:58 AM
POOR FLASH :D BWAHAHAHA

HE IS NOT YET ON SCREEN AND THEIR ARE TWO SPEEDSTERS ALREADY RUNNING BEFORE THAT
gambgel
gambgel - 5/24/2013, 11:58 AM
Negative reaction from who, Josh?

Avengers fans, yeah.

But X-Men fans are really happy with this news.

So lets put things into perspective.
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 5/24/2013, 11:58 AM
Why are you guys getting mad at FOX and Singer? They paid for the rights for these characters etc... You need to point your finger at Marvel and the stupid move they made for money many years ago. I think it was $hitty move on Marvel to try to use QuickSilver and Scarlett Witch in the Avengers when they have so many characters use!
DefcoN
DefcoN - 5/24/2013, 11:59 AM
Excellent article Josh. That's what I said earlier, Marvel can introduce them in the after-credits of any of those movies, they still have the upper hand.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/24/2013, 12:00 PM
I hope people realize we are fighting over Quicksilver. In Avengers 2, his role and Scarlet Witch will be no bigger than Black Widow and Hakweye. Quicksilver will not be that big considering you have Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, and Hulk who are bigger and better characters.

Quicksilver's role in DOFP may be a quick one but we don't fully know if it's just that one scene. After all the dude who played Killian said his role was a cameo and that was false.

At the end of the day, this character will not have a big, major, or important role in either movie so in the GA's eyes, he won't be all that big. They will have to switch the character up in Avengers 2 to say that DOFP isn't canon to Avengers 2.
Shara184
Shara184 - 5/24/2013, 12:01 PM
I bet its going to be one scene where there is an explosion or something and Wolverine or another other member of the team tells a random mutant to save some people. That random mutant will be quicksilver and you'll see him use his powers and that's about it.
SageMode
SageMode - 5/24/2013, 12:02 PM
Looks like that James Reinhardt guy does know the characters history.

Anyhow, this will further cement Fox's shitty presentation of Marvel's characters. Good job [frick]s, I mean Fux, I mean Fox.
valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 5/24/2013, 12:03 PM
Lets not forget the the 2 X-Men movies that Singer did direct were the best of the bunch. Also, i'm going ot say that Singers been in his mutant universe longer then Whedon has been in the MCU, he could have had plans for quicksilver all along and we just didn't know about. Give the XMU QS and SW, that is where they belong, there are many more interesting Avengers they can put in A2. Being Magneto's kids they belong there. Give us Antman and wasp or Black Panther and Ms Marvel.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 5/24/2013, 12:03 PM
JoeMomma has it right.

Marvel sold X-Men. They chose money over having the complete rights over their characters.

Yet you people claim they have more respect for them than Fox?

Whedon knows full well he can't even show the backstories for Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, yet he wanted to put them in anyway.

Everyone is to blame here.
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 12:04 PM
X-Men Fanboys?


There is no such thing
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 12:05 PM
People who love X-Men movies also used those shitty deodorants thinking it will really get them laid
LFANCH
LFANCH - 5/24/2013, 12:05 PM
With being added this late, what do you want to bet that they won't even make quicksilver magneto's son? Thus depriving fans of the ONE reason they may want pietro to remain with fox.
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 12:05 PM
An ant has no quarrel with the boot

Ant = Fox


Boot = YouKnowWho
beane2099
beane2099 - 5/24/2013, 12:06 PM
I'm not sure why everyone thinks that the whole cast is going to be in the whole movie. DOFP the comic had two very distinct settings: future and present. Never did the future X Men meet the past X Men. Most of the action took place in the present as well. All the folks coming back will likely be reprising their role in a very limited capacity for a couple future scenes while the majority of the action takes place in the 70's. That being said, "Quicksilver's" part is most likely just one, maybe two scenes. This ain't something to get all worked up about.
terminatorlives
terminatorlives - 5/24/2013, 12:08 PM
DC Should start working on a Flash movie ASAP
PsyGuy
PsyGuy - 5/24/2013, 12:09 PM
It's like watching children fight over a toy.
ruadh
ruadh - 5/24/2013, 12:10 PM
@AlexanderLykins
"So could Marvel Studios use the characters in a post-credit scene and actually get them that way?"

If you're talking about Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch....they can use them how ever they want, without referencing mutants etc. if you're talking about mutant characters, then no. Post credits is still part of the film.
NBAfanaddict
NBAfanaddict - 5/24/2013, 12:11 PM
The thing I'm not big on is how he seems to be needed for only "one sequence". Seems to be continuing the trend of marginalizing well known X-Verse characters. It seemed like Joss meant for Pietro to play a much bigger role, so I would prefer to see him utilized more than just as a cameo.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/24/2013, 12:12 PM
And to the people saying shit about Flash, this doesn't hurt Flash at all.

Quicksilver's role in DOFP and Avengers 2 will be small. He won't have a spin off movie at all. He will be like Hawkeye.

Flash is a big character who will have a spin off. The GA doesn't give 2 shits who came out in theaters first. Sif was in a movie before Wonder Woman and if there's a Justice League movie no one in the GA will say "Wonder Woman is just like Sif in those Thor movies" because no one cares for Sif in the GA just like no one will care for Quicksilver. It doesn't hurt Flash at all.
bagadoosh
bagadoosh - 5/24/2013, 12:13 PM
gambgel
gambgel - 5/24/2013, 12:13 PM
@MrMartinMarvel

that site didnt say its for just one action scene.

And on other hand, do they have ALL the info about the movie? highly doubt it.

I dont believe all the sites that post supposed info and rumours about movies in production. If some of you guys believe it, good to you, lol.

Ill wait for the actual movie to judge.
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