Bryan Singer has announced he will return to the X-Men series to direct 'X-Men: First Class'.Speaking at the US premiere for 'Avatar', Singer revealed:
"I'm ramping up to do a movie called Jack The Giant Killer at Warner Bros, and I just yesterday signed a deal to do an X-Men: First Class origins picture, which is kind of cool. I'm very excited,".
Josh Schwartz (OC, Gossip Girl) was hired last year to pen a prequel script centered around a trio of young students Scott Summers (Cyclops) , Jean Grey and Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy (Beast), who all have special abilities.
Schwartz's script looks to have been discarded, as THR are reporting Jamie Moss (Street Kings) is to now write the screenplay which goes back to the drawing board.
The story is still in the early stages of development but will deal with the first meeting of Charles Xavier and Magneto and involve the creation of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, the school masquerading as the headquarters of the X-Men and it will also introduce new characters.
Singer told Variety that: "This is the formative years of Xavier and Magneto, and the formation of the school and where there relationship took a wrong turn," Singer said. "There is a romantic element, and some of the mutants from 'X-Men' will figure into the plot, though I don't want to say which ones. There will be a lot of new mutants and a great villain."
"Whether it's 'Batman,' 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Star Trek,' if the characters are good, you want to see them on their journey even if you know their destiny," Singer said. "I put myself in the fan's position, and I think this story is something I would want to see, and so will they."
Singer helmed the first two X-Men films before departing to make 'Superman Returns', Brett Ratner directed 'X-Men: The Last Stand'.
