Is the X-MEN ORIGINS: MAGNETO Movie Dead?

Ian McKellen was almost as much a shoe-in for the role of Magneto as Patrick Stewart was for Professor Xavier, both of whom helped to mold the first two X-MEN films into memorable comic book adaptations to the big screen. (Notice I left out #3, and for good reason.) So, when however many years ago I first heard that Magneto was going to get his own origin film, I was cautiously stoked.

Now, here we are so many years later and it seems the film, written by David S. Goyer, is no further along than it was on that first fateful day of revelation. Unfortunately, some news has surfaced putting that speculation a bit closer to reality. According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Bryan Singer has divulged an implication that the project is dead, implying that his recent attachment to the prequel X-MEN: FIRST CLASS may likely incorporate some of the story elements from the X-MEN ORIGINS: MAGNETO script.

“This story would probably utilize some of the Magneto story because it deals with a young Magneto, so it might supersede that because this would explore that relationship between a young energetic professor and a disenfranchised victim of the Holocaust,” the director tells The Hollywood Reporter. “But no, I don’t see an exhaustion [of the franchise]. The X-Men universe is boundless. These are great characters. And as young characters, they are quite different than the characters we have seen in the contemporary movies.”

This seems to be a pretty telling piece of information, both placing doubt in the solo Magneto project and faith in the future of the X-Men franchise as a whole. While I’m slightly disappointed with the potential loss of Ian McKellen as Magneto (for the time being) I am also excited for the Marvel movie universe, whereas the time and money can now be reassigned to more exciting projects. Silver Surfer, Iron Fist, or Doctor Strange… anyone?

Source: ComicBookMovie.com