THE X BIG THING
Beyond Apocalypse, behold the future of the X- Men universe on the screen…
DEADPOOL
Director: Tim Miller Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin ETA: 5 February 2016
Okay, so technically he’s not a mutant but this smart- mouthed mercenary is a longstanding player in the X- Men universe, earning his accelerated healing power from the same Weapon X program that enhanced Wolverine. Look for appearances by genuine mutants Angel Dust and Copycat along with Andre Tricoteux as steel- skinned X- Man Colossus. We’re promised a faithfully flip, self- aware take on Marvel’s fourth wall- breaking icon, mixing adrenalinised action and postmodern hilarity.
THE WOLVERINE 3
Director: James Mangold Stars: Hugh Jackman ETA: 2 March 2017
Hugh Jackman vows that he will unsheath Wolvie’s claws one final time – never say never again, Hugh… – so there’s already a ton of fan expectation riding on ol’ mutton- chops’ third solo flick, not least the pressure to adapt classic comic book tale Old Man Logan. Jackman will only reveal that the screenplay takes elements from multiple Marvel issues. Patrick Stewart, meanwhile, hints that the movie may team Wolvie with Professor X…
GAMBIT
Director: Rupert Wyatt Stars: Channing Tatum ETA: 7 October 2016
The X- universe gets an injection of rascally, Southern- fried charm when fan favourite Gambit arrives in the form of Alabama- born screen hunk Channing Tatum. Armed with the mutant power to wield the kinetic energy of objects – turning his trademark pack of playing cards into 52 decidedly lethal objects – the “ragin’ Cajun” walks a twinklingly fine line between scoundrel and superhero. If the film capitalises on that Wolverine- style rogue appeal it’s a winner.
THE NEW MUTANTS
Director: Josh Boone Stars: Unknown ETA: Unknown
While Fox’s other films are set to spotlight solo acts in the X- pantheon, this entry will introduce a parallel team to the main troupe. It takes its cue from the ’ 80s Marvel title that resurrected the original premise of the X- Men, showcasing teen mutants in training at Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Given that the core franchise films are introducing an equally green set of heroes it’s hard to imagine this feeling as distinct as it might.
X- FORCE
Director: Jeff Wadlow Stars: Unknown ETA: Unknown
Originally announced as a go- project in July 2013, this one seems to have slipped out of Cerebro’s scanning range of late. Based on the definitive X- title of the steroidal, ultra- violent ’ 90s comics era, it’s another team- oriented spin- off, rumoured to unite Cable, Psylocke, Colossus, Domino and Deadpool – though whether the merc- with- the- mouth’s solo movie impacts on this plan remains to be seen. Comic creator Rob Liefeld has championed Tom Hardy for timehopping antihero Cable.
THE TV SERIES
Producers: Evan Katz, Manny Coto Stars: Unknown ETA: Unknown
Marvel has already started to colonise the small screen and now Fox is looking for a piece of TV action too. All that’s known about this one is that deposed Star Trek 3 screenwriters Patrick McKay and JD Payne are handling the writing while 24 veterans Evan Katz and Manny Coto will produce. Will the show transfer an established movie character? Or focus on an untapped team like Alpha Flight? We’d need an Xavier- style mind- probe to know…