By Ryan Parsons | Image property of respective holders, Variety.
Wolverine
Fox is showing no sign of slowing from the oncoming strike. Though projects are either being fasttracked or delayed, the X-Men spinoff, now being called X-Men Origins: Wolverine, has a production schedule ready and, therefore, a theatrical release date.
In Theaters May 1, 2009: X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Wolverine will be sinking his claws into the 2009 summer competition by taking the popular opening weekend of May. Due to hit theaters on May 1, 2009, the Gavin Hood-directed spinoff is set to enter production later this year.
Just because the film is titled X-Men Origins: Wolverine, expect to see some other popular mutants including ones that have already appeared in the X-Men trilogy. One character with a history is William Stryker. Played by Brian Cox in X2 -- possibly the best multi-character comicbook film ever made -- the character could be making a return in younger form. Rumor suggests that Liev Schreiber is in final talks for the role.
Wolverine explores the claw-wielding character Wolverine's violent and romantic past, and his complex relationship with Victor Creed and the ominous Weapon X program, as well as his encounters with other mutants.
So far Wolverine is the only big tentpole to go for the very popular theatrical release date of early May (in 2009). This same date has been profitable for Marvel properties: X2 debuted in the same frame in 2003, grossing a record-breaking $86 million, and Sony's Spider-Man 3 grossed a record- breaking $151 million in early May this year.
Fox is looking to fill up the month of May, 2009, with other tentpoles including James Cameron's Avatar (May 22nd).
The studio is working on another X-Men spinoff about the origins of Magneto. Who want to bet that the film gets titled X-Men Origins: Magneto?
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