The X-Men franchise will see a familiar name return to the director’s chair, as Bryan Singer has been confirmed to helm X-Men: Days of Future Past, the sequel to X-Men: First Class.
X-Men: First Class director Matthew Vaughn vacated the project last week, leaving the future of a sequel up in the air. Questions didn’t linger long, however, as Singer quickly filled the vacated seat. Deadline reported the news, noting Singer had much involvement with X-Men: First Class, as he wrote the treatment for the film in addition to producing.
Singer, who directed both X-Men and X2: X-Men United, was also a producer on X-Men: First Class.
The departure of Vaughn, who was able to breathe fresh life into the franchise after the subpar X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, was a major step back for the franchise, however the return of a director who championed the franchise’s best films is certainly a step in the right direction. Singer’s Jack the Giant Slayer is scheduled to hit theaters March 1, 2013, after a long delay from Warner Bros.
During Comic-Con, producer Simon Kinberg spoke about what to expect from the film, saying, “I can say that the things that we thought worked well in First Class were the characters. Especially the four or five lead characters. The Charles-Erik relationship was obviously incredibly resonant and James and Michael did such an amazing job as those characters. Jen Lawrence and Nick Hoult, that’s a really interesting relationship between Raven and Hank, so we’re really going to be focusing on character and personally I really liked the period aspect of ‘First Class’ so we may well do that. This comes as great news for fans of the originals’ brilliant cast, who have all gone on to have great success in their roles since last summers’ release.” Whether any of this will change now Singer is helming remains to be seen.
While Vaughn will not return, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence are all expected to return. X-Men: Days of Future Past is scheduled for a July 18, 2014 release date, and Fox still hopes to make that date.