Why Matthew Vaughn Turned Down Directing ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’
Matthew Vaughn, known for directing the critically acclaimed X-Men prequel, “First Class,” was once on the cusp of taking the helm for the third installment in the original X-Men trilogy, which eventually became “X-Men: The Last Stand.” While his initial reason for refusing the project was attributed to insufficient prep time, Vaughn recently delved deeper into his decision during a panel at the New York Comic-Con. In this candid conversation with FilmSweep’s Maggie Lovitt, Vaughn not only shed light on his career but also spilled some industry tea.
The pivotal moment that led Vaughn to walk away from “X-Men: The Last Stand” was a shocking interaction with a studio executive during pre-production. It revolved around the treatment of Halle Berry, who portrayed the iconic character Storm. Vaughn was taken aback by the blatant disrespect Berry was about to face.
In that fateful meeting, Vaughn stumbled upon a version of the script that he had never seen before. When he inquired about it, an executive dismissively informed him that it was essentially a decoy to entice the Academy Award-winning actress to sign on to the project. Vaughn, determined to protect the integrity of the character and the actress, couldn’t let this slide.
In his own words, Vaughn recounts the moment of revelation: “I went into one of the executive’s office, and I saw an X3 script, and I immediately knew it was a lot fatter. I was like, ‘What the hell is this draft?’ He went, ‘Don’t worry about it,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no. I’m the director. I’m worrying about this draft.’ He wouldn’t tell me, so I grabbed it literally — it was like a crazy moment — opened the first page, and it said, ‘Africa. Storm. Kids dying of no water. She creates a thunderstorm and saves all these children.'”
The executive’s nonchalant response, revealing the plan to discard this version once Berry had signed on, was a turning point for Vaughn. He couldn’t fathom the idea of undermining an Oscar-winning actress who portrayed such an essential character. In that moment, he made a definitive choice: “Wow, you’re going to do that to an Oscar-winning actress who plays Storm? I’m outta here.” With that, Vaughn decided to step away from the project.
His departure led to Brett Ratner taking the reins of “X-Men: The Last Stand,” a film later marred by controversy surrounding Ratner and series creator Bryan Singer’s alleged misconduct. The X-Men franchise is currently undergoing a reboot as it integrates into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with “Deadpool 3” poised to usher in a new era of mutant storytelling. For further updates on the evolving X-Men universe, stay tuned to FilmSweep.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Matthew Vaughn X-Men Decision
Why did Matthew Vaughn refuse to direct ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’?
Matthew Vaughn declined to direct ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ due to a startling discovery during pre-production. He found an alternative script designed to deceive Halle Berry, the actress playing Storm, and was appalled by the disrespect towards an Oscar-winning actress.
Who replaced Matthew Vaughn as the director of ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’?
Brett Ratner took over as the director of ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ after Matthew Vaughn’s departure.
What has happened to the X-Men franchise since ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’?
The X-Men franchise is being rebooted and integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Deadpool 3” is set to kickstart this new era.
What controversy surrounded ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’?
The film, directed by Brett Ratner, faced controversy due to allegations of sexual misconduct involving both Ratner and the series’ creator, Bryan Singer.
Where can I find more updates on the evolving X-Men universe?
For further updates on the X-Men franchise’s transition into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can stay tuned to FilmSweep, the source of this information.
More about Matthew Vaughn X-Men Decision
- [Matthew Vaughn on Why He Walked Away From Directing X-Men 3](Reference Link)
- [Brett Ratner Replaces Matthew Vaughn as X-Men: The Last Stand Director](Reference Link)
- [X-Men Franchise Rebooted and Integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe](Reference Link)
- [Controversies Surrounding X-Men: The Last Stand](Reference Link)
- [FilmSweep for Ongoing Updates on the X-Men Universe](Reference Link)
