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X-Men: The Last Stand

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X-Men: The Last Stand
File:X3 teaser.jpg
Directed byBrett Ratner
Written bySimon Kinberg
Zak Penn
Produced byLauren Schuler-Donner
Ralph Winter
StarringHugh Jackman
Patrick Stewart
Halle Berry
James Marsden
Famke Janssen
Kelsey Grammer
Anna Paquin
Ian McKellen
Music byJohn Powell
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release dates
May 26th, 2006
LanguageEnglish
Budget$150,000,000

X-Men: The Last Stand (also known as 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: The Last Stand is scheduled to be released May 26, 2006. The film was directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2, Red Dragon, After the Sunset). It was confirmed by a 20th Century Fox publicist that the film will be called X-Men: The Last Stand, though they did the same to its predecessor insisting it be called X2: X-Men United; its director, Bryan Singer, insisted it was simply X2.

Plot summary

In X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, the final chapter in the "X-Men" motion picture trilogy, a "cure" for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants have a choice: retain their uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their powers and become human. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test - triggering the war to end all wars.

Project background

File:Hugh jackman1.jpg
From left: Storm, Xavier, Wolverine, Magneto

The director of the first two movies, Bryan Singer, left the project during preproduction in order to helm the film Superman Returns. 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 film.

Jean Grey will return as Phoenix, as hinted by the ending of X2, and will join Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants.

X-Men: The Last Stand began shooting in August 2005 and ended in December 2005. Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn were hired to pen the script for the film. On June 13, 2005, a review of an incomplete early draft of the screenplay posted by Drew McWeeny from Ain't It Cool News spurred controversy and outrage from fans due to several storylines involving some of the main characters. The teaser trailer went live at Apple's movie trailer website on December 5 2005. A full trailer will be broadcast on Fox Television on March 6, 2006, during a two-hour event of the hit series 24.

The novelization of the film is due to be released on Thursday, May 16, 2006.

Patrick Stewart has also publicly stated some information that is sure to have fans speculating. In one article he says "It's very intense, it's very emotional, it's very personal about the individuals that we've already got to know in the first two movies. It has some astonishing set-piece sequences. It has a number of quite significant deaths. [From] what I've seen so far, I think, it's likely to be extraordinary." [1]

Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairman Tom Rothman said The Last Stand is just the end of a trilogy, not necessarily the end of the X-Men film series: "These three movies work as a trilogy. These characters in this relationship, it's the culmination of that saga. It's the culmination and the resolution of those relationships laid out in the first two movies." In a recent interview, Brett Ratner echoed Rothman's comments, saying that "We wanted to make sure the audiences knew that this was a trilogy. Even though they weren't made together like 'Lord of the Rings,' this is really closure for the X-Men series. ... This is the last stand for sure." [2]

Teaser

In December 2005, the official teaser was launched. Doctor Kavita Rao invents a "cure" for the mutant strain. Among others, the following scenes were seen:

  • Cyclops mourning at Alkali Lake
  • Angel resisting an injection with a "mutant cure"
  • Juggernaut in a stasis cell
  • Magneto and his Brotherhood declaring war on a government that wants to exterminate them
  • Iceman and Kitty having an intimate moment
  • Jean Grey lying on a stretcher, Wolverine standing next to her
  • Jean Grey breaking out of the X-Mansion, joining the Brotherhood with main members Magneto, Juggernaut, Callisto, Arclight, and Pyro
  • A funeral, in which Storm holds a speech
  • A Danger Room fight scene, in which Storm saves Wolverine
  • A scene in San Francisco, with the Golden Gate Bridge swaying back and forth.

The conjectured idea of X-Men: The Last Stand alludes to Joss Whedon's Gifted storyline of Astonishing X-Men.

Cast

Nearly every actor from the previous two movies returned, 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 originally stated during interviews for X-Men 2 that she would not consider reprising her role as Storm due to personal conflicts concerning director Singer and her role in the movie Catwoman. However she decided to reprise the role after Singer left the project as well as the dismal box office gross of Catwoman, with the promise that she would be given a more significant role in this film (it is rumored that her character Storm will now act as the leader of the X-Men as in the comics).

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, Meiling Melançon as Psylocke, and Omahyra Mota as Arclight. The Sentinels and the Danger Room, both of which have not yet appeared in the movies, 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, was to appear in the film but has been dropped as have rumours that light-powered pop diva Dazzler will cameo.

Casting roles

File:X3cast16.jpg
The cast of X-Men 3
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