My anticipation level for the stand alone Wolverine movie went up about 10 notches the day they announced that Gavin Hood would be directing it. That alone instantly told me the studio was quite serious about the project.
But while I’ve been excited to see the new Wolverine, the rumors about them aiming for a summer 2008 release date were puzzling. Don’t get me wrong… if they actually do start shooting the film in November like they said they are, then they have enough time to get the film properly made by then if they wanted to… but the summer of 2008 is already pretty packed up with Superhero movies. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Batman, Hellboy is in there somewhere too I think.
So it looks like the studio did the smart thing and moved the release date to May 2009. Our friends over at Firstshowing give us this:
Wolverine to return in 2009! The movie will explore Wolverine’s violent and romantic past, and his complex relationship with Victor Creed and the ominous Weapon X program, as well as his encounters with other mutants. The official reports state that it “is expected to feature many other mutants – some new to the film franchise and some from one or more of the three X-Men films.”
My favorite part of that statement was VICTOR CREED (aka Sabertooth). Now, some of you may object to that because they did a pretty bad job with Sabertooth in the first X-Men film. BUT… to the best of my recolection they never actually called Sabertooth “Victor Creed”. in essence… what they COULD DO (I’m not saying they will… just that they could) is redeem Creed by making him a different character than the Sabertooth in the original. It’s just a thought.
So there you have it. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (apparently the actual title of the movie) comes May 2009. I can’t wait!
May 2009 will be very longer period, we will even forget about this post. :)
Exit question, if this film is highly sucessful will we see more X-men one shot type flims like X-Men Origins: Cyclops or Jean Grey
Until wolverine is in CG and in his X-man suit I’m not interested and judging by the choice of director that won’t happen.
Well, I may not be the biggest Xmen fan, but I think that I’ll give this movie a shot.
A 2009 release gives me hope that they’re taking this movie seriously and not looking at it as a money maker (it will make money, crappy or not)capitalizing on Wolverine’s popularity. I always felt that a 2008 release would bring us some thing rushed and half assed. Kind of like X-Men: The Last Stand. I’m excitement has returned and I will patiently wait till ’09. ;D
I’m really not looking forward to it. I would have much rather seen a sequel than a prequel.
One of the strengths of the first 2 X-Men movies regarding Wolverine was that his past was dealt with in an abstract way. We were as clueless as he was about his past and going on the journey with him which created a sense of mystique about the character and added to his appeal. Also, didn’t Wolverine throw his tags away at the end of X2 suggesting that he didn’t care about his past anymore?
I guess i’m just very concerned that a Wolverine prequel would undermine the first 2 movies.
Really looking forward to this. Good news all around.
Melbye:
Liev Schreiber is a rumor at this point. Brian Cox has also expressed returning as Stryker. I happen to be for the latter, as Cox could pull off looking seventeen years younger. See Redeye -he was nearly back to his Hannibal Lector wieght.
(It should also be pointed out Cox was playing a slightly older character than himself in real life; in X2 Stryker says to Kelly [Mystique] -played by Bruce Davison- that he is 20 years his senior; in reality, both actors are only 27 days apart by age)
I actually thought the 2008 date was more between October and December…but 2009 is better. Not only because the comics hero films are abundant in 2008 (even Punisher 2) but this window gives them more time for post if needed.
As for characters from previous X-films, this is set 17 yrs (?) before the events in the first X-Men film. Of the possible mutants: obviously, a young “Jason” will show up at one point, and I think a cameo part by Professor X (seeing how Wolverine has a case of amnesia over Weapon X…this could also account for Creed/Sabretooth) is possible.
New characters: I would not hesitate to say Maverick/Agent Zero or even Deadpool; and “leftovers” from Xstand- Blob and especially Omega Red could be possible. In fact, I highlight the latter, because Red is namedropped on Stryker’s computer in X2. Anything on that desktop is fair game.
IGN is also reporting thatthe villain will be played by Liev Schreiber, and interestingly he will play Stryker who Bryan Cox played in X2
I am really happy that the movie won’t be released in 2008. So many superhero-movies might have buried eachother