Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Magneto
4/22/09 – SCI FI Wire reported that producer Lauren Shuler Donner said she's still eager to do a Magneto prequel film, though that will depend in part on how X-Men Origins: Wolverine performs.  About a potential Magneto film, she said, “We have a great script. Honestly, we have all been just so focused on getting Wolverine out that we didn't take the time to sit down and explore ‘What are the movies we're going to do next within the genre?’  We will do that. We will do that. We all want to. Magneto is a fantastic script, and hopefully we'll make it.”

1/9/09 - Ian McKellan said he was meeting with The Hobbit director Guillermo del Toro on Thursday to discuss reprising his Lord of the Rings role of Gandalf the wizard in the prequel, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's book.  Preproduction on The Hobbit is underway. "I've been promised I am going to be involved," McKellan said. "And as Guillermo del Toro's directing it, I should be so lucky. And in New Zealand, a place I love, so it's almost an ideal job for me."  Meanwhile, McKellan said that he has not seen a script yet for the proposed X-Men spinoff film featuring his character, Magneto. David Goyer has written a script, but it has not made it to the actor yet.  "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.

05/15/08 – There’s been a recent report of a picture depicting a young Beast in the upcoming X-Men spinoff film Magneto.  The report stated that the figure in the picture had a tail, leading readers to suspect that it might have been Nightcrawler and not the Beast, but a representative from a creature development shop is on record identifying the character as the Beast and confirming that he will be in Magneto.

12/31/06 - David Goyer will direct the X-Men spinoff movie that will center on the villain Magneto.  Magneto comes to grips with his mutant ability to manipulate metal objects as he and his parents try to survive in Auschwitz. Magneto meets Professor Xavier when the latter is a soldier liberating the concentration camp.  Magneto hones his powers by hunting down and killing Nazi war criminals who tortured him, and his lust for vengeance turns Xavier and Magneto into enemies. Both characters will be played by actors in their 20s.

AlienAlmanac.com     2009