So lets get down to brass tacks shall we...
ORIGINS
We’ve already seen Wolverine and even those who liked it can’t deny it wasn’t as good as it should have been. They had the same problems here as they would with a continuation. Fox didn’t think long term when including and handling some of the characters. I think Wolverine is a good example of what a continuation is likely to be like and I know a few of us on here who hated that movie but still want a continuation. If Fox can’t iron out the problems I previously raised in a prequel how can they do it in X4?
Don’t get me wrong, Wolverine was at least entertaining and the “Origins” franchise is a good one to have. What I think could happen is this, keep Wolverine but as a reboot, not a sequel. I know, you all think I’m mad! But let me explain…
I previously mentioned that I think X-Men should be handled like the Avengers (catching on?). Yes. Keep the “Origins” going and work them into a whole new X-Men (First Class or not). Wolverine can be kept because there weren’t that many things wrong in respect to making this work. OK, Deadpool got screwed, or did he? Really? If you think yes then just head over to Marvel Universe Online and read his biography. He was subjected to numerous torturous experiments. In Wolverine he was the result of an experiment to combine mutants powers. Is that so different? The only way he was screwed was for screen time and anything done to him can be undone easily. I can imagine the comments I’ll be getting for that! To be honest, it goes against the grain saying it but in truth, it’s right! Another argument could be Gambit fitting in to the time frame. He’s seen in Wolverine at the sort of age he would be in X-Men. Well that’s not a problem, there has been significant evidence to suggest that he ages slowly. I will leave TheMyth to go into detail on that in the comments if needed, I’m sure he can do it more justice than me!
To carry on with prequels will only add to the tangled knot of characters Fox has given us. So, we could keep the “Origins” going but as a reboot. That way, for those who think a reboot is too soon, we won’t actually be seeing X-Men for a while and when we do we will have well established characters with the right dynamic for the group.
X-MEN : FIRST CLASS
This has been mentioned as a strong possibility and brings with it an equality of both hopes and fears. So what is the “First Class”? The first class is a group of Xavier’s… erm, first class. This is traditionally comprised of Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), Cyclops, Angel, Beast and Ice Man. Like Wolverines latest outing this would be a prequel to X-Men and this is where the issue comes to light. Would we accept a different line up? Not really. Sure, one or two liberties can be taken but we need at least four, if not all of these originals for a credible film (yes I know it’s Fox).
Jean and Cyclops are a shoe-in and easily incorporated in either a reboot or prequel, so we can skip past them.
Ice Man cannot work in the time scale set by the X-Men movies. Ice Man would be far too young to be part of the first class as he was only just starting to come into the right age frame and into power at the end of X3. Could this Bobby be a different Ice Man? It certainly can’t be a father/son thing. The ages won’t add up and we’ve already seen Bobby’s dad in X2. Would it be too far fetched to have the Bobby we know and for him to cryogenically freeze himself for some reason?! Not sure I like that!
Angel has a problem and it is again X3 that throws a spanner in the works. At the end of the movie Angel walks into the Xavier school for what is clearly the first time. The best way round this I can see is for the First Class to have a different location. I don’t like that idea but it could happen.
This leaves Beast. If this movie is to happen then he needs to be done right. In the First Class, Beast is not yet the big blue fluff ball everyone knows. As I’m sure most of us are aware, he has all his abilities but looks pretty much normal with the exception of his feet and hands. Even if Fox decide to stay true at the beginning it will be all too easy for them to think “The general public know Beast as the blue guy and will want to see this at some stage.” You may be asking yourself “what’s the problem? Just make him turn blue and hairy at some point.” You may even say “Just make him Blue to start with!”. Well that can’t work. Our first look at Beast in the movies was not in X3. He appeared on screen in X2 looking fully human. If you’re wondering where, it was during a bar scene with Mystique and the prison guard (if memory serves me right). On a TV news programme in the background there is a man being interviewed about the mutant situation with the name “Dr Henry McCoy”. So Beast can be in the movie but MUST STAY HUMAN.
So do we want to see a “First Class” movie? I know one or two people on here dying for it and a couple not keen at all. If the comic fans are split like this I would have to guess that the general public will be far from enthusiastic about the idea. To most of the world the X-Men are the group seen in the 90’s cartoon and I think Fox, as stupid as they can be, know that. They know Wolverine means big money. Throw Gambit in there too and it wouldn’t matter how many holes are in the plot, the film will sell. I’m sure they’ll try that sometime! ;).
So can a First Class movie work? It could, but probably won’t. To do it the Fox way is easy, to do it well will need very careful handling, to do it right will have to be a reboot and why risk that on an un-established group? No, this will just give Fox more reason to take massive liberties with a great team and “First Class” will become “Second Rate”.
CONCLUSION
So, over these two articles I’ve outlined the four most obvious choices for the X-Men, some issues with making them work and how to get around them. I love X-Men, they pulled me back into this genre after my parents stopped buying me Batman, Superman and Spiderman comics as a kid. This is why I want a no compromise series from these guys. Whilst writing both articles my opinions have constantly swayed as I have envisaged the possibilities I’ve been outlining. In truth, I believe any one of these options can work and work well. But whether it is Magneto, Sinister or Apocalypse the X-Men face, their greatest demon to over come will always be the creative rights of Fox. Slay this beast and the X-Men will rule the box office in any form for years to come.