AVI ARAD TALKS X-MEN 4 POSSIBILITES, PLUS WOLVERINE & MAGNETO SPIN-OFFS
posted by: Serg source: iF Magazine
Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad has left his job last week to run his own production company, and iF Magazine caught up with him yesterday just before the announcement to talk about the future of the "X-Men" franchise.
First up, "Wolverine" - is it a prequel or sequel? "I don't want to call it a prequel nor a sequel. It is Wolverine's story and it is really concentrating on him. It's about his life, his mysteries, and his loves. It's not really a prequel or a sequel. It's just a story like in the comics where we have X-Men, Wolverine, and books dealing with the other X-Men".
"Magneto" is still in the works and will span many years of the character's life. And a fourth "X-Men"? "There's always a chance of an X-MEN sequel. It's more of an issue of what is the next X-Men story, and when to do it. There are an endless amount of stories and great sagas that can go into the future, the past, and the present. There are so many more characters that we didn't deal with yet. I would not preclude anything".
Finally, he confirmed that while they didn't cut anything from the film for time, they did have "things that we did specifically for the DVD" and said "Absolutely" to the chances of an extended edition DVD.
How Arad's new arrangements will affect his involvement is unsure right now, though he's still attached to produce projects like "Hulk 2" and "Iron Man".
As posted in iF Magazine on 05/31/06:
iF MAGAZINE: After the success of X-MEN: THE LAST STAND is WOLVERINE the movie going to be a sequel or a prequel?
AVI ARAD: I dont want to call it a prequel nor a sequel. It is Wolverines story and it is really concentrating on him. Its about his life, his mysteries, and his loves. Its not really a prequel or a sequel. Its just a story like in the comics where we have X-Men, Wolverine, and books dealing with the other X-Men. Obviously, Wolverine is the number one X-man, and deserves his own story. Hugh Jackman will make the story that much more compelling.
iF: Are you still planning a Magneto Movie?
ARAD: Starting with a younger version. Its the story of Magnetos life, and it will span some years.
iF: What are the chances of you and 20th Century Fox agreeing to do another X-MEN film?
ARAD: Theres always a chance of an X-MEN sequel. Its more of an issue of what is the next X-Men story, and when to do it. The X-Men universe is forever and ever, and its the number one comic book. There are an endless amount of stories and great sagas that can go into the future, the past, and the present. There are so many more characters that we didnt deal with yet. Its such a rich world. I would not preclude anything.
iF: Are the characters that died in LAST STAND really dead?
ARAD: You heard what was said in the classroom right? How things were explained to the students, whats possible. When you look at the way these people materialize when the Phoenix erupts, just reverse it and who knows?
iF: Was there anything cut from the film that will be on DVD?
ARAD: We didnt cut anything for time, but we had things that we did specifically for the DVD. There are always choices, and lots of coverage. When you shoot a movie like that, there are a lot of choices to make and certainly some of it will end up on the DVD.
iF: So there will be an extended edition DVD with added scenes then?
ARAD: Absolutely.
iF: What was the original script that you started with like?
ARAD: The original script was more or less what we shot. Most of the scenes and the direction dealing with the cure and Dark Phoenix were all in there. The bridge scene was the first scene we plucked from a panel in the comics. These kinds of scripts are written with a lot of outlines, so it always starts with a big idea. The basic idea and characters were all done up front.
