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Added by G-Man on Jan. 9, 2009

Ian McKellen told Sci Fi Wire that while pre-production for Guillermo del Toro's The Hobbit, he has been promised that he will be involved.

As for "X-Men Origins: Magneto," Fox has stated before that they are putting the movie on hold and want to see how "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" does first.  It seems that David Goyer has written a script but McKellen still hasn't seen it.
"I haven't read a script, no," McKellan said. "It's not come my way. I'm here and ready and waiting, but I think if they do do a spinoff of Magneto, it'll be about the young man, the young Magneto."

The success of the upcoming prequel film X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which stars Hugh Jackman, could determine Magneto's prospects.

"If the Wolverine movie does well, well, probably they'll just make another Wolverine movie, won't they?" McKellan mused. "I was told that there would be a Magneto spinoff, and anything else I'd say would just be guessing. That was a long time ago."
I suppose the question is, if they do make another Wolverine movie, would they make a Magneto movie at the same time or would it get pushed back further?  Would the movie just feature a young Magneto or would they span his entire life?  That could prevent future spin-offs if they tell his whole story.  Plus he is a complex character and it'd be a shame to squeeze it all into one movie.  Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens after Wolverine storms the theatres.

Filed under : David S. Goyer, Magneto

28 Comments

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
I really hope Ian McKellen isnt too old when the actually get started on the film production on this movie..

Marvel Knight
on Jan. 9, 2009
Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor.

xerox-kitty
on Jan. 9, 2009
He sounds keen to be Magneto again :)  
But I think he's right, it would probably be based on earlier episodes of his life like the concentration camp or meeting Xavier for the first time.  The best that I would hope for is that they don't rewrite his history too much... like making Mystique the mother of Polaris and/or Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch.

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
True... but they could have it like Ian McKellen as Magneto looking back on his life reflecting on his earlier days or something...

Marvel Knight
on Jan. 9, 2009
King Saturn said:
"Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
True... but they could have it like Ian McKellen as Magneto looking back on his life reflecting on his earlier days or something..."
He would still only have a small part though.

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
Marvel Knight said:
"King Saturn said:
"Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
True... but they could have it like Ian McKellen as Magneto looking back on his life reflecting on his earlier days or something..."
He would still only have a small part though."
Yeah... but its possible he may not even be alive when the film goes into production....  God Forbid

Marvel Knight
on Jan. 9, 2009
He doesn't have a health condition does he?

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
Marvel Knight said:
"He doesn't have a health condition does he?"
Not that I know of... but he is nearly 70 years old... ( I thought he was older than that though actually )

Marvel Knight
on Jan. 9, 2009
There are some really healthy guys that are 70, and alot of people live way past 100. He has just a good chance of dying as Jackman does before Wolverine comes out *knocks on wood*

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
Marvel Knight said:
"There are some really healthy guys that are 70, and alot of people live way past 100. He has just a good chance of dying as Jackman does before Wolverine comes out *knocks on wood*"
But not a lot of actors live way past 100... and I thought McKellen was at least near 80 years old... hell Clint Eastwood is... and they look like they are around the same age...

lol

Fable.
on Jan. 9, 2009
McKellen for life :)

King Saturn
on Jan. 9, 2009
Fable. said:
"McKellen for life :)"
LOL

NiteFly
on Jan. 9, 2009
No McKellen in an upcoming Hobbit movie seems like a bad omen.

Meteorite
on Jan. 9, 2009
Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
I think I heard they would use digital stuff to make him look younger.

mrenb
on Jan. 9, 2009
A Magneto movie.  Not feeling it.  I think audiences will feel the same.  Doubtful it will happen.  Why do it?  Not a good idea.  They will let this Wolverine movie be, and after another year or two,  whoever is responsible, will spurt out some "young X-Men" type movies, featuring characters along the New Mutants line. 

Matches
on Jan. 9, 2009
mrenb said:
"A Magneto movie.  Not feeling it.  I think audiences will feel the same.  Doubtful it will happen.  Why do it?  Not a good idea.  They will let this Wolverine movie be, and after another year or two,  whoever is responsible, will spurt out some "young X-Men" type movies, featuring characters along the New Mutants line. "
Magnet has a very fascinating power, it would not be hard to make a wildly entertaining movie about him and his life. Probably wouldn't have the same feel as the X-men movies, probably be more like "Heroes" and show him in his struggles, discovering his powers, overcoming them and then eventually using his powers for bad.
as for that fact he hasn 't read the script, Ian McKellen could just rock up on the day and do the movie flawlessly, he is a "super saiyan" actor

Pania
on Jan. 10, 2009
Meteorite said:
"Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
I think I heard they would use digital stuff to make him look younger."
While that was o.k. to de-age a 60 year old man to his forties for a five minute scene in X3, de-aging a 70 year old man to his teens and early twenties for an entire two hours is just not economically feasible. It was send the cost of the film sky high.

They are going to use a younger actor.

White Mage
on Jan. 10, 2009
Pania said:
"Meteorite said:
"Marvel Knight said:
"Isn't it supposed to be his origins? He should be a younger magneto then, younger actor."
I think I heard they would use digital stuff to make him look younger."
While that was o.k. to de-age a 60 year old man to his forties for a five minute scene in X3, de-aging a 70 year old man to his teens and early twenties for an entire two hours is just not economically feasible. It was send the cost of the film sky high.

They are going to use a younger actor."

Agreed.  Ian McKellen played him nicely in the X-films.  But sooner or later, he needs to learn that Magneto wasn't always old. 

Korg
on Jan. 11, 2009
NiteFly said:
"No McKellen in an upcoming Hobbit movie seems like a bad omen."
Where did you hear this?

Pania
on Jan. 11, 2009
Once again, I wish I could say I had good feeling about this movie. But everything I have heard about it from Fox and Goyer says it's going to be crap. They simply do not understand what they are dealing with and are going the "big special effects vehicle" route. I would LOVE it if they went the "V for Vendetta"/"Munich" route with this, but they aren't. The thought provoking drama inherent in the character is being chucked out the window in favor of a "Anakin Skywalker (Yes, Goyer has compared the character to being like Anakin Skywalker)/Hannibal Lecter" style characterization. "He always was a dick, he is a dick, and he becomes a dick." (Why does Hollywood think this is entertaining, or even vaguely interesting?)

Unfortunately, McKellen not hearing anything doesn't make me feel any better about the production. At this stage it is my sincere hope that it is shelved until Marvel can buy the rights back.


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