X-Men Release & Director Set

20th Century Fox has finally landed themselves a director along with a release date for the much talked of "X-Men: First Class." For the longest time we thought Bryan Singer could be returning to the franchise to direct, but now it is clear that Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn will be behind the camera. News broke yesterday along with a set release date of June 11th, 2011. Read the full details after the break...


Bryan Singer who is producing "X-Men: First Class" along with Laura Shuler Donner told Mike Flemming a little about his excitement in landing Vaughn to direct. He said, "He has a deft hand with multiple characters and storylines, and a great love of the X-MEN universe. I feel the combination of this story and his vision will make for an exciting and original X-MEN film."

I have to agree with Singer's comments about Vaughn. Matthew Vaughn has proved his worth with multiple story arcs and the X-Men universe seems right up his alley. My reservations about the selection is where does this leave a sequel to Kick-Ass? The short answer to that is possibly right after "X-Men: First Class" is wrapped Vaughn can begin directing "Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall."

With "X-Men: First Class" on a set path now, Vaughn could very well begin production on a second Kick-Ass in 2011 for a 2012 release date as announced earlier today on Forces of Geek an Entertainment blog.

Another big aspect to hiring Matthew Vaughn for a new X-Men movie, is restoring faith in the X-Men fanbase. 20th Century Fox hasn't been to kind to the fans or at least fans haven't been too happy with them since Bryan Singer left the franchise after X2. Hopefully Fox will allow Vaughn some breathing room so he and Singer can get the X-Men franchise back to its glory days or at the very least better than the last two efforts.

Here's the official synopsis to "X-Men: First Class": X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-MEN saga.  Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

Stay tuned for further developments on both "X-Men: First Class" and "Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Wall"

Source: Deadline