Jane Goldman Talks X-Men First Class Sequel

The wheels are in motion for the sequel to X-Men First Class. Fox's Tom Rothman has confirmed the progress and screenwriter Simon Kenberg (Sherlock Holmes) has been hired to write a draft for the second film. Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy are expected to return as the conflicted best friends along with other supporting cast members. Writer/director Matthew Vaughn's involvement has been mentioned but hasn't been announced by the studio. However, Vaughn has shared ideas of an opening scene featuring Magneto for the sequel.

First Class co-writer Jane Goldman told MTV that she would be 100% on board for the sequel. That's of course if Matthew Vaughn returns and asks for her help. The story goes Vaughn and Goldman completely re-wrote the previous drafts of the first installment. It would make sense that if Vaughn returns to direct he'd rely on his writing partner to help put together another solid script. It's unknown when we could see First Class 2 hit theaters but I assume Fox is eager to move quickly. Fox currently has The Wolverine and Deadpool currently in development as well.

"James and Michael brought so much to them that I think it's entirely natural to be talking about where those characters would go next. It was inherent in their stories and their arcs. There are so many interesting places to go."


 "In terms of what's going on with that, again from my point of view, it's down to what Matthew [Vaughn] decides to do. If he decides he wants to direct the next one and if he wants me on board, I'm 100 percent there."

Simon Kinberg Writing Sequel To X-Men First Class

It didn't take long for the name of screenwriter of the X-Men First Class sequel to be revealed. Jason Flemyng had just stated 20th Century Fox was developing a script for the sequel. However, there was no official word from the studio or Matthew Vaughn.

SuperHeroHype now reports that Simon Kinberg is currently writing First Class 2. Kinberg's writing credits includes X3, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. And Mrs. Smith, This Means War and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. He's also producing Neill Blomkamp's next science fiction epic Elysium. There is no word if original screenwriters Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz will be contributing. It's assumed if director Matthew Vaughn returns he and writing partner Jane Goldman would do their own re-writes.

Jason Flemyng Confirms Script For First Class Sequel In Development

While Jason Flemyng might be just one of the many cast members of X-Men First Class he is also a very good friend of writer/director Matthew Vaughn. Jason has starred in every single film that Vaughn has made [Layer Cake, Stardust, Kick-Ass] including films he's produced [Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch]. The actor who plays Russian mutant Azazel [father of Nightcrawler] gave an update to DigitalSpy. Jason states the box office success of First Class is the main reason the studio is moving forward with a script. Adding that it's DVD/BluRay sales will ultimately decide if the sequel will be made. It ended up making $353 million worldwide and another $30 million during the first week of the DVD/BluRay being released.

"There was a benchmark that they had to hit box office-wise before they could start writing the next one, which they've started. We'll just see how the DVD goes and then fingers crossed I'll be bright red again by next summer."

Actors James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender have stated they're on board for more films. There have been ideas tossed around for the sequel like Magneto guiding the magic bullet that killed JFK for an intro sequence. It's expected Azazel (Flemyng) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) could explore their characters' relation that leads to Nightcrawler being born. Along with the formation of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants. Jason also threw out the statement of production possibly starting in the summer.

"Me and Jen Lawrence have a kid, don't we? The world is a wide place and if my son turns out to be Alan Cumming then good for him, that's great. I love Alan Cumming."

"I am so in his gang [for the sequel]. There's one shot at the end of the film [with Magneto] and I was like, 'Please let me be in the shot!' And there I was. If there is a sequel, I have to be there." 

UPDATE: Michael Fassbender Playing Magneto

EW is confirming ShowBiz411's previous rumor that Fox is talks with Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) to play a young Magneto in X-Men First Class.

Michael Fassbender In X-Men First Class & Spider-Man?

ShowBiz411 is reporting that actor Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) is rumored for roles in both X-Men First Class and the Spider-Man reboot. While they name the role for the X-Men prequel a young Magneto which I assumed would go to Aaron Johnson (who I believe now could be playing Gambit). They only know the Spider-Man role will be a villain. The biggest issue would be that Fassbender has other possible projects like The Women In Black written by First Class writer Jane Goldman. He's also in talks for the spy thriller Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. So Michael will have to pick one or the other to be able to commit to his other films.


It might be a Spider-Man villain we haven't seen yet. Possibly it could be Mysterio, Kraven The Hunter or even Electro. I figure it would be someone we hven't seen on screen before but they could always recycle previous villains.

Could Aaron Johnson Be Magneto In X-Men First Class?

Filmonic has picked up on this image of the new Professor X played by James McAvoy, director Matthew Vaughn and actor Aaron Johnson together. Johnson was just recently linked with meeting Bryan Singer for Jack The Giant Killer. Singer has previously stated he would be simultaneously casting for Jack The Giant Killer and X-Men First Class. Johnson worked with Vaughn on Kick-Ass and has done some peroid work playing a young John Lennon in Nowhere Boy.


My assumption is that Aaron could be up for the role of Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) since it's the only other high profile role known to us. After surviving the holocust as a child he bonds with fellow mutant Charles Xavier (McAvoy). The only other role I can think he could be playing is a young Hank McCoy (Beast).