Fox has pressed the “all systems are go” button on X-Men: First Class, a prequel to the X-Men Trilogy that Brian Singer began.
According to Variety, X-Men: First Class will arrive in theaters on June 3, 2011, a little over a year from now. Already Marvel’s Thor is set for release in May, DC Comics’ The Green Lantern in June and Marvel’s The First Avenger: Captain America in July.
Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn will direct the pic that will focus on the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr before they became Professor X and Magneto, and what drove them apart. Brian Singer originated the story and was originally been attached to direct but was forced to move into a producing role due to an obligation to Warner Bros. for Giant Killer.
“I’ve been a fan of Matthew’s since Layer Cake,” said Singer. “He has a deft hand with multiple characters and storylines, and a great love of the X-Men universe. I feel the combination of this story and his vision will make for an exciting and original X-Men film.”
With only 13 months until release, casting for X-Men: First Class is expected to begin in the very near future.
