Bryan Singer Set To Direct X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
UPDATE: After Matthew Vaughn dropped out of the X-Men: First Class sequel's production, Bryan Singer (who previously helmed X-Men and X2) has signed on to return to the franchise for Days Of Future Past. Read on for more details.
Last week, X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn left production on the film's highly anticipated sequel, Days Of Future Past. We also heard that Bryan Singer - who launched the X-Men film franchise with 2000's X-Men and 2003's X2: X-Men United - was the studio's top choice to take over directing duties for the film. Now, Deadline confirms that Singer will helm X-Men: Days Of Future Past, which is described as "apocalyptic" by creative consultant Mark Millar. Additionally, Vaughn is near a deal to produce, alongside writer Simon Kinberg and Lauren Shuler Donner. Singer's next film, Warner Bros.' Jack The Giant Slayer, has been slated for a March 1st, 2013 release.
Most of the cast members from First Class - which includes James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence - is set to return for the sequel. 20th Century Fox hope that they can make the film's July 18th, 2014 release date. Filming is said to be commencing in early 2013, after Lawrence wraps up Lionsgate's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
UPDATE: In their article reporting the news, Bleeding Cool say that they've heard that there is a "meaningful number" of cast members from the original X-Men film who will be present in Days Of Future Past. Patrick Stewart (Professor X) and Famke Janssen (Jean Grey) previously teased their possible involvement with a future X-Men movie, while Shawn Ashmore (Iceman) and Daniel Cudmore (Colossus) recently expressed interest in reprising their roles in Days Of Future Past.