X-Men: The Last Stand

X-Men 3
X-Men 3
	File:X3 teaser.jpg
Directed by	Brett Ratner
Written by	Simon Kinberg (written by); Zak Penn (screenplay)
Starring	Hugh Jackman; Patrick Stewart; Halle Berry; James Marsden; Famke Janssen; Kelsey Grammer; Anna Paquin; Ian McKellen
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release dates	May 26th, 2006
Language	English
Budget	$150,000,000

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X-Men 3 is the third film adaptation of the X-Men superhero comic books. The previous two movies were X-Men and X2: X-Men United. X-Men 3 is scheduled to be released May 26, 2006. Directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2, Red Dragon, After the Sunset). It has also been referred to as X3 and from the use as claws as roman numerals in promotional material can be seen literally as XIII, however that would be seen by most to represent 13.

Information

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Brett Ratner

The director of the first two movies, Bryan Singer, left the project during preproduction in order to helm the new film adaption of Superman - Superman Returns. He was also joined by X2 writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris. Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake) was hired to direct the film; he worked on the film for some time, but family issues led him to withdraw from directing before shooting began. He was replaced by Brett Ratner who was among those originally considered to direct the first X-Men film.

Although the detailed plot of the movie has not been publicly released, its trailer and Ain't It Cool News (AICN) indicate that a method of removing the powers of a mutant has been discovered, thereby allowing mutants to be "cured" and become normal humans. Alcatraz is also believed to be important to the plot. Jean Grey will return as Phoenix, as hinted by the ending of X2, and will join Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants. Juggernaut, Angel and Beast have all been confirmed as new characters, whilst Shadowcat, who appeared briefly in both of the previous movies, has been re-cast for a larger role.

X-Men 3 began shooting in August 2005. Simon Kinberg has been hired to pen the script for the film. Nearly every actor from the previous two movies is expected to return, the major exceptions being Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Kelly Hu (Lady Deathstrike) from X2, both of whom had signed two-film contracts. James Marsden (Cyclops) is confirmed for the cast, despite reported scheduling conflicts with the upcoming movie, Superman Returns. Kinberg confirmed that Cyclops will take part in the story, albeit in a smaller role. Ray Park (Toad) and Tyler Mane (Sabretooth) from the first film will not return, although the former has a two-film contract. Halle Berry, who, during interviews for X-Men 2 stated that she would not consider reprising her role as Storm due to personal conflicts concerning director Singer and her role in the movie Catwoman, had decided to reprise the role after Singer left the project as well as the dismal box office gross of Catwoman.

Additions to the cast include veteran TV actor Kelsey Grammer as Beast, former British football/soccer-player Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut, Ben Foster as Angel, and Ellen Page as Shadowcat. New members of the Brotherhood of Mutants include Eric Dane as Multiple Man, Dania Ramirez as Callisto, Omahyra Mota as Stacy X, and Juggernaut. The Sentinels, who were left out of X2, are reported to appear in the film. Dr. Kavita Rao will be included in the film, along with Dr. Moira MacTaggert. The role of Gambit, one of the most popular X-Men characters, has been dropped from the film. Producers were hesitant because they feared his personality and powers might seem too similar to Wolverine and Cyclops, respectively, although the character may appear in future installments of the film franchise.

On June 13, 2005 Moriarty from AICN posted a review of an incomplete early draft of the screenplay. As usual with the site, there are heavy spoilers, and it is important to remember that this is an early draft months before shooting starts, and therefore may significantly differ from the final released version.

The teaser trailer went live at Apple's movie trailer website on December 5 2005.

Plot speculation based on the teaser

Template:Spoilers After the launching of the teaser, it can be assumed that the base of X-Men 3 will be Joss Whedon's Gifted storyline of Astonishing X-Men, in which Doctor Kavita Rao invents a cure against the mutant strain. This has a strong social undercurrent, as this would be equivalent to seeing e.g. homosexuality or autism as a curable sickness.

In the teaser, it is also shown that mutant supremacist Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants - which has risen considerably in number - protest this "cure" and declare war on a government that wants to exterminate them. The X-Men - still reeling from the apparent loss of Jean Grey - are pulled into a war in which there are no clear fronts. Then, Jean mysteriously returns from the dead and joins the Brotherhood.

There is a funeral scene, in which Storm holds a speech. This strongly hints that one of the X-Men will die. However, it could just be a funeral being held after Jeans 'death' in the previous film. This scenario seems unlikely as Dr. McCoy (who had neither transformed nor had a significant part in the previous films) is shown attending the funeral in Beast form. As a counterpoint, Jean is not shown at the funeral either. Also absent from the funeral scene is Professor Charles Xavier.

It can be guessed that Doctor McCoy will entertain the idea of "the cure" as he did in the comic story arc with Doctor Rao in it.

In addition it is seen in the trailer that two people attempt to inject Angel with something (possibly "the cure"). This could have a outcome like the apocolypse's fake cure in the X-Men animated series or something along the lines of Angel's change into a metallic winged mutant, which seems to have been a trashed idea from X2 (based on a remark in the commentary and the concept art).

Controversy

After the departure of Singer, Dougherty, and Harris from the X-Men 3 project, fan reaction was apprehensive. Early rumors regarding a proposed screenplay by Kinberg created an uproar. Fans objected to the abandonment of Singer's planned Dark Phoenix Saga storyline, as well as a possible plot in which the characters Cyclops, Professor X and the newly-resurrected Jean Grey would be killed off, Mystique would lose her mutant powers, Storm and Wolverine would share a romance, and that Alan Cumming's character Nightcrawler would be omitted from the story. Brett Ratner's taking over the director's position was questioned by some fans concerned he would deviate greatly from the source material, as suggested he might have done with Superman Returns.

Former director Singer has said repeatedly that he wanted to direct the third X-Men film, but that Twentieth-Century Fox insisted on starting production before he was available. Among Singer's original plans was shooting of Superman Returns and two back-to-back sequels in a Matrix style. If that had been done, the third X-Men film would have been delayed until 2007.