James Mangold is feeling the pain of what happens when you have two high profile productions set to film right after each other. The director of THE WOLVERINE has been prepping the sequel to the Hugh Jackman-led superhero movie while also diving into the adaptation of mystery novel THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY with Christian Bale. Mangold was set to complete the Bale led film, eyed as a potential franchise by the studio, and then go right into the potential last film featuring Jackman as Wolverine. Now plans are being flipped.
According to Deadline, Christian Bale recently suffered a knee injury at his home that will impact the physically demanding nature of THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY. Bale is currently filming THE BIG SHORT in New Orleans with Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, and Steve Carell but that film will not be impacted by the injury. Since 20th Century Fox views THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY as a potential series, they don't want to take any chances. So, Mangold will instead delay production on THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY until next year after THE WOLVERINE sequel wraps production. With that film set to begin filming early in 2016, we may not see it hit theaters until late 2017 or possibly 2018.
THE DEEP BLUE GOOD-BY was adapted from the 21 novel series by John D. MacDonald. The screenplay was written by Dennis Lehane and set to star Bale and Rosamund Pike. It remains to be seen if Pike will remain attached for the long delay in production. THE WOLVERINE sequel will not be impacted at all. Hopefully both films still get to be made as thy seem interesting in their own ways. Here's also hoping we somehow get both Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in the same project again soon. It has been too long since THE PRESTIGE.
THE WOLVERINE sequel is slated to hit theaters on March 3, 2017.