X-Men - The Series (general; ALL the movies)

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

{JO's note: I have EDITED this post to include more details and impressions)


Dilemma over Bryan Singer -- erratic behavior vs brilliant filmmaking.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/bryan-singers-traumatic-x-men-set-movie-created-a-monster-1305081


I wonder how much of all this is true, especially this incident --

Singer's behavior grew erratic and destructive, culminating in a fight between the director and DeSanto that shut down production. Sources who were present say DeSanto attempted to halt shooting when he learned that Singer was incapacitated after taking a narcotic. Some crewmembers had taken the same drug, and DeSanto became fearful that someone on set could be injured. All of the main cast, with the exception of McKellen, were in the scene that day, which takes place in the X Jet and comes near the end of the movie. But Singer was defiant and continued shooting, leading to a botched stunt that left Jackman bleeding on camera (no stunt coordinator was present because the scene was supposed to be shot the following day). Winter, the X-Men producer who had the authority to stop production, did so. But the next day, the studio appeared to side with Singer and told DeSanto to return to Los Angeles. That prompted the main castmembers, minus McKellen and Romijn — all dressed in their full X-Men costumes — to converge in Singer's trailer and confront him, threatening to quit if DeSanto left. That's when Berry famously said to Singer, "You can kiss my Black ass," a line that has been oft-reported in the years since but never with the correct backstory. DeSanto declined to comment about the fight. A rep for Singer says that "nothing like that ever happened."

I remember the scene inside the jet -- but what action stunt did Hugh do inside the jet? What I remember was that Wolverine was carrying the injured Prof Xavier and put him safely into the jet...then what followed was when they began to miss Jean ( who turned out was going to sacrifice herself for the sake of the others).

Was there a scene that was cut out?

But maybe outside the jet, involving Hugh? The scene with Brian Cox?

Also, it wasn't Rothman who picked Hugh to become Wolverine. It was Dougray Scott who was first cast and according to David Hayter's THR earlier story, it was Rothman who wanted to stick with him...But when Dougray could not make it to filming due to an accident, Lauren Shuler Donner ( who saw Hugh in Oklahoma!) suggested that Hugh be brought in for an audition ( also according to Hayter in the THR earlier report)...and his casting presumably was approved by Rothman. Who to believe -- someone who was never involved in it...or someone who was there during that time?

I wonder how much of article are fully supported by facts?

I wonder if this article was written to further crucify Bryan Singer for his many personal misdeeds? But why would this story be written as the lead background story to remember the success of the first 2 XMen movies and how those 2 movies set the groundbreaking template for superhero/comicbook movies ?


What I find interesting was that Bryan was asked to come back to direct the most successful movie in the franchise ( XMEN:Days of Future Past) after Matt Vaughn supposedly bailed out ( who directed the reset XMen franchise with FIRST CLASS)...Also interesting was the debacle about APOCALYPSE. There was a famous incident at the parking basement when Hugh and Bryan met accidentally. Hugh was likely miffed that he was originally expecting a role in the movie ( not a cameo) but Simon Kinberg rewrote the script to give the leadership role to Mystique( Jennifer Lawrence). I wonder if Bryan was in his full faculties when he agreed to that? It seemed he did eventually apologized to Hugh and even created an extended cameo in APOCALYPSE for Hugh. But it was notable that Hugh did not help publicize that movie with entries on social media except when there was an allusion to his cameo and the release of the movie.

Long story short --

Hugh did eventually acknowledge what Bryan has done for his career with a parting gift (especially commissioned artwork from Joe Quesada, famous for this comicbook work on the XMen) and a note of appreciation so generously expressed!


Jo

[jo]

And this is the account of David Hayter, also via The Hollywood Reporter ( March 2, 2017) --

www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/x-men-screenwriter-hugh-jackmans-wolverine-casting-drama-982045

Excerpts --

Hugh Jackman replaced Dougray Scott as Wolverine several weeks into production. What's the story there?

[Then-Fox executive] Tom Rothman really wanted Dougray Scott to play Wolverine and he was shooting Mission: Impossible 2 and Tom Cruise kept calling Byran and saying, "We just need him a little while longer, a little while longer." We were starting to shoot and Wolverine was the lead and we didn't have him. Bryan suspected something was hinky, and so he sent the costume designer down to Australia, ostensibly to get wardrobe shots, but really it was to find out what was going on. What we found out was Dougray had been in a motorcycle accident filming the climax of MI2. He was pretty messed up. It was a real shame he couldn't do it. And Hugh had been somebody who had been in the mix earlier and it was [executive producer] Lauren Shuler Donner who said, "Why don't we bring him?"

[jo]

Hugh is good at improvising -- he thinks he is on stage breaking the fourth wall everytime

[hughmanity]

A recent overview of a scene I could still watch repeatedly!

[jo]

That competes very well with another excellent character intro as the film opens --

PT Barnum -- This is The Greatest Show!

[jo]

There are rumors that Marvel Chief Kevin Feige wants to get Hugh Jackman for a role as Wolverine in a new franchise series?

They do go back a long way -- from the very first XMen movie!

www.digitalspy.com/movies/a33322198/x-men-kevin-feige-marvel-hugh-jackman/

[jo]

What an acknowledgement of how Hugh Jackman's characterization of Wolverine made the superhero/comicbook genre a much-respected and much-admired way of telling cinematic stories. He gave the character the dramatic underpinning needed to give it XMen franchise gravitas. Auteurs like Chris Nolan ( with his Dark Knight) and others further strengthened the newly found respect for the genre. But it was those first few moments in the ring and at the bar of the first XMen movie...and that first encounter with Rogue...which made people sit up and become aware that this comicbook-based character will become a central focus of the cinematic storytelling.

I think Hugh's dramatic theatre training had much to do with how he made that introduction to Wolverine remarkable and memorable!

That was why that cameo in XMEN:First Class became arguably the most famous cameo in the superhero genre. Hugh delivered it in all deadpan seriousness!


And to think that producer Lauren Shuler Donner picked Hugh Jackman's cinematic potential as a film hero...from his musical portrayal of Curly in Oklahoma!. Even there - he made this once-considered an almost-boring work of Rodgers and Hammerstein an exciting theatrical portrayal!

Jo

[jo]

Oct 7, 2020 18:27:03 GMT -5 jo said:

There are rumors that Marvel Chief Kevin Feige wants to get Hugh Jackman for a role as Wolverine in a new franchise series?

They do go back a long way -- from the very first XMen movie!

www.digitalspy.com/movies/a33322198/x-men-kevin-feige-marvel-hugh-jackman/

Rumors are getting stronger --

[njr]

He might do it if the role is only a small part of the movie. I’d love to see him and Benedict Cumberbatch together on the screen!

www.digitalspy.com/movies/a859994/doctor-strange-2-release-date-cast-trailer-plot-villain/

Nancy

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

Fans can't still forget about Wolverine

[jo]

And for many comic book fanboys --

"It's him... it's Wolverine!"


Btw, David Hayter wrote the screenplay for the first XMen movie!

[jo]

From the same Twitter exchange --

[jo]

"And a star was born!"



Not a fake movie one ( as in Bradley Cooper's movie )

But a true talent in the acting firmament!


Jo

[jo]

Comment from a YouTube upload of the bar scene.
Chris Claremont is one of the best-known comic book writer for the XMen series.

Fun fact: Chris Claremont yelled "Yes! Yes yes yes!!" out loud in the movie theater when he saw Wolverine first in this movie until his wife calmed him down.

[jo]

Re the second part of Ryan's twitter message --

Jan 28, 2021 16:27:07 GMT -5 jo said:

The pandemic has exacerbated the mental health problem...as the problems it has brought on further provoke mentally-challenging conditions. Gus Worland and Hugh Jackman have also organized GOTCHA FOR LIFE to address this issue among male friends/acquaintances or any male needing attention ( although maybe I am wrong and it is also meant to reach women with similar issues).

PS: Not sure I can relate to the last part of Ryan's message as it relates to the health conditions at hand. Unless he is saying that a male bonding story could have helped address the issue? And maybe the Rashomon style ( same story being told by different people but from different viewpoints) could add to the interest.


Jo

*First, did Hugh really agree to this project, given that he seems to have meant LOGAN ( the movie) to be the valedictory movie in the Wolverine saga? At least as portrayed by him?

*Will Disney or Marvel Studio allow Deadpool 3 to come on stream?


JO

[jo]

Kids still love their comicbook hero

[njr]

Will they ever recast Wolverine?

www.cinemablend.com/news/2562818/the-russo-brothers-on-difficulty-of-recasting-hugh-jackmans-wolverine-for-the-mcu

Nancy

[jo]

Hugh Jackman sometimes makes it hard for his previous roles to be recast because he usually gives a "definitive" performance ( in the words of the Russo brothers quoted in the Cinemablend article). This brings to mind the decision not to extend THE BOY FROM OZ because despite many names being considered for the role of Peter, nobody seemed to be a good choice to reprise the role that Hugh has put his personal stamp on.

Maybe this is also true for KATE AND LEOPOLD? It would not be a matter of simply finding a British actor ( like Hugh Grant or Colin Firth) but he should be able to show the same definitive portrayal that Hugh embued into the man from another time. Even in a movie like BAD EDUCATION, how many can portray the gifted educator who hid behind a life of crime but who was such a beloved figure in the community? Like The GREATEST SHOWMAN, Hugh did not look at all like Frank Tassone or PTBarnum, yet he has become synonymous for those public figures because of the strength of his portrayal/performance.

Moral of the story -- Hugh Jackman is hard to duplicate

Kidding aside - Hugh has been perceived to be able to portray the many sides of a character. There was an article in the past which compared how his image is presented in 2 different markets because his appeal can be suited to each kind. One was his image as the rough Wolverine for Men's Health ... and for the same period, he was also on the cover for a Women's Magazine showing him as the Perfect Gentleman and Husband. And now that people have become aware of what a strong musicals performer he is ( because of The Greatest Showman), people are noting the versatility that he can summon when tackling different roles.


Jo

[jo]

[jo]

"and look at how Hugh Jackman’s tiny appearances in FIRST CLASS and APOCALYPSE helped cement all the X-MEN movies together"

Very astute observation!

Jo

[jo]

Presumably doing camera work for the first 2 XMen movies --