Now that Kick-Ass has been considered to be a financial success (even though it was still toppled by 3D Dragons), it’s inevitable that the film’s director and co-writer of the screenplay, Matthew Vaughn, would be considered a hot commodity and poached by other studios. In this instance, it could be for yet another superhero flick, as Fox is allegedly interested in Vaughn directing X-Men: First Class.
The screenplay comes from Chuck creator Josh Schwartz, who also wrote the comic series of the same title. In the book, the story takes us a few years back, as we follow the very first years of Professor Xavier’s students. This class includes a young Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Ice Man, and Angel.
This isn’t the first encounter that Vaughn has had with Fox and the franchise, as he was signed to direct X-Men 3: The Last Stand back in 2006 after Bryan Singer left the franchise to direct Superman Returns. Vaughn left the project soon after signing on due to family issues, but not before casting Kelsey Grammer as Beast and Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut (arguably two of the best cast roles in the film).
Now that Singer has been attached as hands-on producer of First Class alongside Lauren Shuler Donner, Fox has Schwartz and Jamie Moss writing a screenplay, and now possibly Vaughn as director, the film seems to be coming along quite well.
We expect 20th Century to make the official announcement about Vaughn and his role in production before the end of the week. Soon after that, information on casting should start rolling in, as the film is currently slated for a 2011 release.
