Today, our own Eric Walkuski sat down with Producer's Simon Kinberg and Hutch Parker to talk LOGAN, the future of the X-Men franchise, more X-23, and whether or not we'll see a "new" Wolverine take Hugh Jackman's place at some point. With the reviews of LOGAN through-the-roof postive (read ours HERE) and the buzz getting hotter by the minute (and trust me, it's worthwhile buzz), the film is poised to give fans everything they've wanted in a Wolverine film and a whole lot that they didn't expect. Still, the void left by Jackman's departure from the role will certainly be felt and after a lukewarm reception to X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, all eyes are on where the X-franchise goes from here. With the recent rumor that Kinberg would be directing the next X-MEN film, the excitement over Dafne Keen's portrayal of X-23, and the rumblings of James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence returning to the series, we hit the guys up for some answers to those burning questions. Check out some tidbits from our full interview with Kinberg and Parker (look for the full interviews next week, as well as our TV junket interviews).
On if the character of Wolverine is finished on the big screen or if he might be rebooted down the line
Kinberg: We haven't started talking about that. The truth is, we really approached this as, this is really the end of Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine and it very well be the end of Wolverine in the movies. Beyond that, we'll figure out if there is some other version of him. We haven't gone down that road. We really approached this as if it were the end.
On if a solo X-23 movie is in the works
Parker: We have been talking a little bit about that and the possibility certainly exists. She's a remarkable actress, I think she did an amazing job, and a lot of the credit for that goes to Jim [Mangold]. It's certainly a rich opportunity, we haven't gotten specific in any way, but I'd love to see more with that character.
On the rumor Kinberg is directing the next X-Men
Kinberg: I can tell you that the stories of me directing it are premature, but I can also tell you that we are in prep on what the next X-Men movie will be. – On if they plan on re-telling the Dark Phoenix storyline: Kinberg: We can't confirm what the next movie will be, but I can talk a little about, frankly, what I would do differently if I were to make X-Men: The Last Stand again, which had the Dark Phoenix storyline. I think the big mistake we made with that movie – and if anybody is to blame for it it's the writer, and I was one of them – it's that we made the Dark Phoenix the subplot of that film, instead of making it the main plot. The Dark Phoenix story is the biggest, and in many ways the most epic, saga of the X-Men comics, so you can't make that the B-plot of the movie. If we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to re-tell that story – and certainly, what we did with the end of Days of Future Past gave us the opportunity to re-tell it – I think we all would want to give it the justice and the space to breath that it deserves.
On whether James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence will be back in the next X-Men movie
Kinberg: I can tell you as a fan, I would love to see them again. In terms of the specifics and mechanics of it, we can't talk about it.
So, there you have it. Some cryptic, but interesting tidbits on the current state of the X-franchises and a tease at what we may well be seeing down the line. After DEADPOOL and most likely LOGAN, I think Fox will have renewed its faith in fans with their handling of these films. If they continue to pursue these kinds of stories, then they are poised to give their counterpart, Marvel, a hell of a run for their money and have already proven to that they're not afraid to take risks by going down a more bold path than a standard cookie-cutter formula. Let's hope for more of that going forward.
LOGAN slices into theaters on March 3rd.