Rumors have been swirling the last few weeks that X-Men 1 and 2 director will in fact not be directing X-Men: First Class, like he agreed to last December and Deadline confirms. We reported last week that Fox is interested in Bryan Singer not only for First Class, but possibly X-Men 4 and Wolverine 2.
When it comes to First Class, “Singer and 20th Century Fox have formalized his move from director to producer”. The reason for his departure is because “Fox liked the script that Jamie Moss wrote from Singer’s treatment so much that the studio wants the film right away, envisioning it as the first leg of a trilogy.” They want to shoot as soon as this fall for a 2011 release.
Singer won’t be able to start production so quickly because it is completely locked down to shoot Jack the Giant Killer for Warner Bros and Legendary this summer. Deadline reports casting will begin shortly and for such a big CG project they are “likely to either shoot 3D or convert it later.”
Moss is currently “honing the origin story that focuses on Xavier and Magneto” while Fox is searching for directors, some of whom they have already talked to.
Who would you want to see direct X-Men: First Class?