X-Men trilogy plans were in place with ‘First Class’
Before working on the Kingsmen films, director Matthew Vaughn explained his plans for an X-Men trilogy that piggybacked off First Class.
Dark Phoenix will close Fox’s series of X-Men movies, following Disney’s groundbreaking merger earlier this year. It welcomes the X-Men, Deadpool and the Fantastic Four into the fold, so come June 7, the end will arrive for a cinematic universe longer than the MCU.
The X-Men timeline is convoluted; however, the earliest part of its history dates to 2011’s First Class — a prequel to the characters known in the modern-day films, including Professor X and Magneto.
Three prequel films were released. Dark Phoenix is the fourth. First Class set a high bar for each of them, with Matthew Vaughn helming just that, but not the rest. Instead, moving to the Kingsmen movies.
Vaughn had plans for more than one X-Men production. In an interview with Coming Soon, the 48-year-old director wanted to complete a trilogy, but with a twist:
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"That’s one of the reasons I didn’t continue, because they didn’t listen to me. My plan was “First Class,” then second film was new young Wolverine in the 70’s to continue those characters, my version of the X-Men. So you’d really get to know all of them, and my finale was gonna be “Days of Future Past.” That was gonna be my number three where you bring them all… because what’s bigger than bringing in McKellen and Michael and Stewart and James and bringing them all together?"
Wolverine was only played by Hugh Jackman from 2000-17, not receiving a prequel actor like the others, so a new face would have made for an interesting conversation. Perhaps, that happens whenever Marvel Studios introduces its own clawed hero in the next decade.
Bringing all the characters together could have offered a unique look at the X-Men universe. Unfortunately for anyone hoping this happens, that window is no more, unless Marvel Studios has something up its sleeves that shocks the moviegoers.
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A trilogy from Vaughn had the potential to excite when a film like Apocalypse disappointed in 2016, although Days of Future Past was a critical success two years prior. Either way, attention will turn towards the finale of 19 years of film, to see how it closes.