Ever sinceX-Men: Apocalypsehit theaters last summer, fans have been kept largely in the dark about 20th Century Fox’s plans for continuing the mainX-Menfranchise. The studio has announced a number of spin-offs, such asThe New Mutants,X-ForceandGambit, but there is practically nothing known about how the studio intends to continue the flagship series. One of the more persistent rumors is that the studio will reboot theDark Phoenixstory line, which was told over the original trilogy. While that still hasn’t been confirmed, a new production listing may have the most damning evidence yet that the studio is rebooting the Dark Phoenix saga.
The Dark Phoenix saga was largely told through 2003’sX-2: X-Men Unitedand 2006’sX-Men: The Last Stand. However, the events of 2014’sX-Men: Days of Future Pastessentially eliminated that entire timeline, creating a brand new timeline where Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) was still alive in present day.X-Men: First Classwas set in the 1960s, withX-Men: Days of Future Pasttaking place in the 1970s (and parts of the movie are set in present day), whileX-Men: Apocalypsecloses out the trilogy in the 1980s. ProducerSimon Kinberghad teased that the nextX-Men moviewas set in the 1990s, presumably with the cast members from the prequel trilogy. A production listing went up today at My Entertainment World for a new movie entitledX-Men: Supernova, which is scheduled to start production this May in Montreal, and which many believe is proof that the Dark Phoenix reboot is happening.
Last month, a report surfaced that claimed a newX-Menmovie willstart productionthis summer in Montreal, the same place whereBryan SingerdirectedX-Men: Days of Future PastandX-Men: Apocalypse.Michel Trudelof MELS Studios in Montreal confirmed that the production will film on two of their stages for several months, but it was never confirmed which project this may be. What’s interesting is that the My Entertainment World listing forThe New Mutantswas updated yesterday, revealing that production will actually take place this coming April in Montreal. While it could be a simple mix-up, it could also mean that both of these movies will be essentially shot at the same time
Rumors surfaced in November thatBryan Singerwill return to direct this newX-Menmovie, but nothing was ever confirmed by the studio. As for who may actually star in this movie, it is believed that young stars such asSophie Turner(Jean Grey) andTye Sheridan(Cyclops) will return, but the entire cast from the prequels may not return. That report claimed that the contracts for starsJennifer Lawrence,Michael Fassbender,Nicholas HoultandJames McAvoyexpired afterX-Men: Apocalypse. While it’s certainly possible that the actors could renew thier contracts, it may cost the studio quite the pretty penny, since they’re all so in demand these days.
It’s also worth noting that, back in May, directorBryan Singerrevealed in an interview that he eventually wants to set anX-Menmovie in outer space, which was another indication that the Dark Phoenix saga was ripe for a reboot. In the original trilogy, a number of story elements involving aliens and outer space were discarded, but now that the whole timeline has been reset, and the franchise is more popular than ever, perhaps the studio is interested in a more definitive and thorough adaptation of the Dark Phoenix story. While nothing is confirmed yet, hopefully 20th Century Fox will finally clear the air about whatX-Men 7really is.
