When Bryan Singer ("X-Men: Days of Future Past") left
X-Men: The Last Stand to go off and direct
Superman Returns, Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour") was had the keys to 20th Century Fox's
X-Men franchise. The film is not well liked by
X-Men fans, as several characters are killed off. The most controversial death scene would have to go to James Marsden's Cyclops who is unceremoniously killed off-screen near the beginning of the film. One scene that I thought was handled actually quite well, was the death of Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Xavier goes to confront Jean at her childhood home. He tries to re-establish the mental blocks he used to suppress her powers, but Jean's alter-ego, The Phoenix, is too strong. She unleashes her powers upon Xaviere by lifting him off his wheelchair and disintegrating him. Well, apparently at one time, The Phoenix was supposed to vaporize Magneto (Ian Mckellen) as well, as seen in Michael Anthony Jackson's storyboards below. Which is much different than the theatrical version, which had Beast (Kelsey Grammer) sneaking up behind Magneto during the final battle at Alcatraz and injecting him with "the cure."
Experience the awesome power of the X-Men's epic, final battle as the mutant revolution is upon them and it is time to take a stand. Join well known mutant heroes and villains and meet a host of all-new warriors - including Angel, Beast, Juggernaut and Colossus in this explosive adventure! After a controversial "cure" is discovered, mutants can hoose to retain their superhuman abilities or give up their unique gifts and become "normal." When peaceful mutant leader Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) clashes with his militant counterpart, Magneto (Ian McKellen), the battle lines are drawn for the war to end all wars. Bursting with non-stop action, spectacular special effects and exclusive special features, X-MEN THE LAST STAND is a force of nature that will blow you away!
X-Men: The Last Stand was directed by Brett Ratner, from a screenplay written by Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn. The cast included: Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine, Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe / Storm, Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, Anna Paquin as Marie / Rogue, Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Henry "Hank" McCoy / Beast, James Marsden as Scott Summers / Cyclops, Shawn Ashmore as Bobby Drake / Iceman, and Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde. The film earned $459 million at the world wide box office, against a budget of $210 million.