You’d think when a movie makes 85 million on opening weekend, studio executives would be begging the director to return for another go-round. Most figured the commercial and critical success of X2: X-Men United would mean that Bryan Singer’s involvement in a third film would be a lock. But alas, 20th Century Fox, in their infinite stupidity, left him hanging for about a year, undecided on whether or not to renew his contract. Singer eventually found himself approached by Warner Bros., and we all know why! He had always maintained that he’d love to do X3, if 20th Century Fox would simply wait a year until he finished Superman Returns. For Fox, it seemed clear that they wanted nothing to do with him, but figured, if he’s doing Superman, they needed to fast-track another X-Men film, and get it out in theaters first.

First of all, people need to stop blaming Bret Ratner, and realize that this film was off to a bad start the moment Singer left. Not that I’m saying that it was a guarantee that Singer would have delivered a better film, but you’d think that as good X2 turned out, you’d want everyone involved with the success of that film back for number three. But when Singer left, he took the entire crew from X2, including the screenwriters! Leaving Fox to entrust the continuation of the franchise to Simon Kinsberg and Zak Penn, whose credits include XXX: State of the Union and Elektra, respectively. When their alleged “six-day draft” got leaked on the net, fans were pissed. British director Matthew Vaughn eventually signed on, but quickly left the project, because apparently, he didn’t want to be away from his family for an extended period of time. Although, he now admits to there being creative differences between him and Fox. Bret Ratner, who ironically had been considered for the first film, then stepped in, and fans become even more enraged. But Fox assured fans that they’d love the end result. True, the film would ultimately go on to make over 235 million dollars in the states alone, but a lot of fans were disappointed, and the reviews were marginal at best. Mind you, I bet casual moviegoers with no real affinity for the actual comic book even cared one way or another.

If I did X-Men: The Last Stand?

Looking at The Last Stand, there are some good concepts, but they needed to be separated. So I feel a two-film scenario works best. With the cure, I’d have a proper introduction of the Morlocks. Flesh out at least three or four of them, including Callisto, and I’d make sure she was a butch, one-eyed white chick (not that I didn’t appreciate the sumptuous eye candy that is Dania Ramirez). They’d be sabotaging cure clinics and causing a general commotion. As for a major villain, if anyone’s really going to take offense to the idea of a mutant cure, I’d think it’d be Mr. Sinister. Mind you, I’d just refer to him by his last name, Essex. As someone trying to explore the potential for mutation, he’d hate the idea of losing guinea pigs. To which he’d manipulate the Morlocks, helping them with their crusade, while ultimately intending to slaughter them later. He’s only interested in preserving the higher-end mutants.

After pretty much getting the shaft in the second film, this would be where we see Cyclops as the leader he should be. I’d keep all the weepy “I miss Jean” crap initially, but I’d ultimately build him up from there. We’d see him working the new X-Men to the bone, and maybe even being a little TOO hard on them. This, coupled with a desire to take the cure would force Rogue to quit. This would be a good excuse to keep Wolverine in the background, and he goes off to keep tabs on her, just to make sure she’s alright. Storm and Xavier would work to reign Cyclops in, while still dealing with the cure situation and the Morlock attacks. Initially, Beast can still serve the same purpose, working with the Department of Mutant Affairs, but also joining the X-Men in their investigation of the Morlocks. After a minor confrontation, they’ll discover that the Morlocks aren’t just offended by the cure, but they’re also trying to find the source, which will still be Leech. They’re trying to get him back. Given Beast’s position with the government, he’s already privy to this information, leading Sinister to persuade the Morlocks to kidnap him. This is what finally forces Cyclops to get his stuff together, in addition to calling back Wolverine for an assist in the rescue mission. Rogue, realizing what’s at stake will come back as well.

The final act would essentially be a twist on the original final act of the film; the Morlocks, instead of the Brotherhood, making their way to the facility where they’re holding Leech (which I’d make on the East Coast, as to not force the Morlocks to travel cross-country to San Francisco) to free him, as opposed to killing him. With the younger X-Men volunteering, Cyclops decides to split the team in two, thus giving us X-Men Blue and X-Men Gold. One team will search the sewers for the Morlock lair in hopes of finding Beast, while the other team works to minimize any casualties between the Morlocks trying to get back Leech, and the military. Unbeknownst to the Morlocks, their raid on the facility ultimately ends up being a diversion, as Sinister entrusts a certain thieving Cajun with breaking in and getting Leech. When the dust settles, everyone will realize they’ve been had. As for rescuing Beast, the other X-Men team will discover a vast majority of the non-combatant Morlocks dead. Beast isn’t among the dead, but he’s nowhere to be found.

With everything that’s happened, the political climate for mutants starts to take a step back. The cure is discontinued, but the actions of the Morlocks have re-instilled many people’s fear of mutants. Cyclops, putting all of his personal baggage aside, assures the others that they can get through this, and that they’ll find Beast. The film would end with Sinister in his lab, observing three subjects he has hooked up to monitors and breathing devices while in water tanks. The first would be Leech, the second would be Beast, and the third would be Jean. I’d even have the “to be continued” music playing, like at the end of The Matrix Reloaded, to really piss people off!