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[Dan]

Source: Variety
December 13, 2004

20th Century Fox has set Sheldon Turner (The Longest Yard) to write Magneto, an action-thriller based on the villainous character played in the first two "X-Men" films by Ian McKellen, reports Variety.

The project marks the second extension of the studio's "X-Men" comic book franchise. The move follows a Fox deal with Troy screenwriter David Benioff to write Wolverine, who is played by Hugh Jackman in the films.

The studio is developing the spin-offs as they separately develop X-Men 3. Simon Kinberg is writing the third installment. Magneto will likely be produced by the "X-Men" duo of Lauren Shuler Donner and Marvel Studios' Avi Arad.

The original "X-Men" film began with a prologue that showed Magneto as a child being led to a concentration camp by Nazis, and that is the period in which the new film will take place. Since the character will be seen almost exclusively in his formative years, it is not clear whether McKellen will be in the film at all, says the trade.

"I pitched a film that is almost 'The Pianist' meets 'X-Men,' about a guy who, after watching his family slaughtered, has an awakening of his powers and seeks revenge," Turner said.

The storyline will heavily involve Professor X (played by Patrick Stewart in the films). That character was a soldier in the allied force that liberated the concentration camps. The professor meets Magneto after the war, and while they bond over the realization that they are alike in their special powers, their differences soon turn them into enemies.

So now there's X-Men 3, Wolverine and Magneto being written. I don't know about this at all...

I'm sure some people out there will have thoughts on this...

 

[hXc_thugg]

A Magneto movie would be great, and this sounds like a pretty good idea. They are kind of spreading the franchise a bit thin, though.

 

[EekTheKat]

This could be kinda cool.

I still loved that old X-men 90's cartoon episode where Magento and Professor X both lost their powers and had to work together briefly to get off some dinosaur infested island or something (it was something like Magento's old base).

 

[hXc_thugg]

This could be kinda cool.

I still loved that old X-men 90's cartoon episode where Magento and Professor X both lost their powers and had to work together briefly to get off some dinosaur infested island or something (it was something like Magento's old base).

The Savage Land!

 

[Willco]

Quite frankly, I don't think X-Men 3 will ever happen. Bryan Singer took himself out of the equation and a good part of the creative team with him. He was the center of that franchise, a rallying point and an arbitrator that injected credibility in comic book movies. With players like Jackman, McKellen, Stamos, etc. all progressing in their own careers, the likelihood of getting a script, a new producer, a new director, the same cast and all the puzzle pieces together before the window of opportunity closes is probably next to zero. That's the only problem with ensemble films, it's hard to get everyone to keep doing them unless you have some idea of a series, trilogy or what have and contractual obligations to go along with that.

I'm not too keen on a Magneto spinoff. Why? It's just unnecessary.

 

[Chesapeake Silt]

'The Pianist' meets 'X-Men,'

:lol

That sounds like a bad parody of dumb high-concept movie pitches.... only somebody's actually using it as a legitimate idea for an actual movie.

 

[DMczaf]

This could be kinda cool.

I still loved that old X-men 90's cartoon episode where Magento and Professor X both lost their powers and had to work together briefly to get off some dinosaur infested island or something (it was something like Magento's old base).

My favorite part was the end of the Savage Land series when they break the machine that takes away their mutant powers and Prof. X goes back to being handicap and yells "My legs!" while falling down :lol

 

[sc0la]

:lol

That sounds like a bad parody of dumb high-concept movie pitches.... only somebody's actually using it as a legitimate idea for an actual movie.

Werewolves on the Moon!!

 

[Dan]

Werewolves on the Moon!!

:lol

Oh wait, it's actually being done.

 

[Solid]

I approve IF McKellen plays Magneto!

 

[karasu]

Wow. What a horrible idea.

A Magneto movie would be great, and this sounds like a pretty good idea. They are kind of spreading the franchise a bit thin, though.

you dislike action movies but support this tripe?? @_@

 

[Fresh Prince]

Anybody got a list of up and coming comic book movies?

And yes a Magneto movie would most probably suck.

 

[firex]

they need a plot where he has to escape from a gigantic fortress built out of wood.

 

[Mairu]

Quite frankly, I don't think X-Men 3 will ever happen. Bryan Singer took himself out of the equation and a good part of the creative team with him. He was the center of that franchise, a rallying point and an arbitrator that injected credibility in comic book movies. With players like Jackman, McKellen, Stamos, etc. all progressing in their own careers, the likelihood of getting a script, a new producer, a new director, the same cast and all the puzzle pieces together before the window of opportunity closes is probably next to zero. That's the only problem with ensemble films, it's hard to get everyone to keep doing them unless you have some idea of a series, trilogy or what have and contractual obligations to go along with that.

I'm not too keen on a Magneto spinoff. Why? It's just unnecessary.

Fucking Bryan Singer. FUCKING SUPERMAN. FUCK YOU SUPERMAN I WANT MY X3

Why did he go for such a generic superhero after creating two wonderful x-men films

 

[karasu]

dude, it is plain wrong to call a character that's arguably the first superhero, generic. If anyone is generic it's Cyclops.

 

[explodet]

I want to see "The English Patient" meets "Deadpool".
Or "Bridget Jones' Diary" meets "Wonder Woman".

 

[Tabris]

Magneto was always my favorite X-Men character.

So while I frowned on the Wolverine spin-off news, I definitely have a smile over this.

I also quite liked Troy, so this will hopefully be solid.

 

[sc0la]

Or "Bridget Jones' Diary" meets "Wonder Woman".

lol

 

[Dan]

Magneto was always my favorite X-Men character.

So while I frowned on the Wolverine spin-off news, I definitely have a smile over this.

I also quite liked Troy, so this will hopefully be solid.

Umm, the guy that wrote Troy is writing Wolverine, not Magneto.

Sheldon Turner, who is writing this project, doesn't seem to have any scripts that have been made, but has a bunch coming up, like The Longest Yard remake, the new Amityville Horror flick, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel and a couple other horror/thrillers.

 

[impirius]

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking.

*walks to whiteboard*

Citizen Kane meets XXX. Think about it, people! Instead of a sled, he has a snowboard... ON FIRE

 

[={<SMOKE>}=]

perhaps these spin-offs are a way to keep the franchise alive while delaying x3 until singer is available?

 

[cybamerc]

The market is becoming saturated with super hero films. I'd be wary of greenlighting such a concept.

 

[Willco]

perhaps these spin-offs are a way to keep the franchise alive while delaying x3 until singer is available?

Bryan Singer will probably never be available. He's contractually obligated to Superman, because Warner Bros. wants at least two sequels. He's also working on Logan's Run and such. He alienated quite a few people at FOX who felt like he blew them off after they gave him so much.

The likelihood is that X-Men as we know it will end with X2. I would not be surprised after a few of these spinoffs if FOX tries to relaunch the series.

The market is becoming saturated with super hero films. I'd be wary of greenlighting such a concept.

Not really. I mean, they make money. If it's a good flick, people will see it. Plus, Magneto is not really a "superhero".

What it boils down to is greenlighting a good or bad project, but since I'm not involved, I can't tell you how good or bad it may be.

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking.

*walks to whiteboard*

Citizen Kane meets XXX. Think about it, people! Instead of a sled, he has a snowboard... ON FIRE

:lol

... That's the funniest damn thing I've read on the forums in the past six months!

 

[Azih]

But what would you name the snowboard?

Rose-slut?

 

[OmniGamer]

On one hand I don't care one way or the other as long as Jean Grey's storyline doesn't get canned or royally screwed in X3. On the other, it could be interesting, if they do their homework, which i highly doubt. Claremont's Magneto was very multi-layered. Too bad they can't reference anything about Magneto actually leading the X-Men for a time in Xavier's absence, since in X1 it was the first time they met pretty much.