As was the case with The Matrix 2 and 3, the third and fourth X-Men films may be shot at the same time and then released in rapid succession.
German fan Web site Movie-Infos says this is being done to save money and fans shouldn't mind as long as the quality of the films doesn't suffer.
The site also says there's an unsubstantiated rumor that James Marsden won't be returning in either X-Men 3 or 4 as Scott Summers/Cyclops due to scheduling conflicts.
And, Dawn of the Dead remake director Zack Snyder is rumored to be at the top of a list of four or five directors now being considered by 20th Century Fox to replace Bryan Singer. Singer left the franchise to direct the Superman movie for Warner Bros. The studio expected to make an announcement soon.
Meanwhile, two scripts for X3 are reportedly running parallel tracks at the studio; one by Zak Penn (Elektra, Behind Enemy Lines) and the other by Simon Kindberg (Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Fantastic Four).