With X-Men: First Class hitting DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, producer Lauren Shuler Donner has been making the press rounds and has dropped a number of hints to various outlets about her upcoming Marvel projects that include The Wolverine, Deadpool and a potential sequel to First Class.
“It’s much more of a standalone [movie],” Donner told HitFix about The Wolverine‘s connection to 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, “…[We want] to distinguish it from the other one… I’m not sure when we’ll start. Maybe summer 2012 we’ll start shooting. It’s based on Hugh [Jackman]’s schedule, frankly. When he’s available, we’ll film. …He’s doing ‘Les Miserables’, and then he has to come and train for us. So it’s all dependent on him.”
Deadpool, meanwhile, is being prepared in tandem.
“We’re working on getting it ready,” she continued, “and presenting some things to the studio, cause we’re gonna give it a little bit of a different look. It’s a different kind of movie. If you know ‘Deadpool’ …it’s true to ‘Deadpool’. So you know, it’ll be violent, and outrageous, and funny, and all that.”
Donner also confirmed to I Am Rogue that Ryan Reynolds would reprise his role as the title character.
“With Ryan absolutely,” she said, “Can you see anybody else in it?”
Also confirmed (to Total Film) is that director Tim Miller is still attached and that the tone of the project will be something very different from the character’s first on-screen appearance in X-Men Origins.
“[H]e was treated totally wrong in the Wolverine film and yes we will redeem him,” Donner said, “…We have a few more things to do and then it’s up to the studio to decide whether we’re going to go forward or not.?
As for a First Class followup, Donner told Hitfix that discussions have begun and the hope is to have Matthew Vaughn return as director. When Home Media Magazine asked whether or not fan-favorites like Cyclops or Jean might make an appearance, Donner offered only an optimistic tease.
“Maybe,” she said, “Let’s just say, I hope so.”
