We were given the opportunity to ask a few questions of Lauren Shuler Donner, who has had a hand in producing all three of the X-Men films so far, about the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand. Lauren discusses her high hopes for the film, favorite characters, how she would cope with being offered a cure, and an interesting note on who Channing Tatum actually might have played if the script had retained some of its cajun influence.
TheXverse: What do you think of the movie footage that you've seen so far? How much of the completed film have you seen?
Lauren Shuler Donner: At this point I have seen what is very close to the final film. What do I think of it? I think it is amazing, the best of the X-Men movies. The story is complex and our characters go on unexpected journeys. I am hoping the fans will be pleased.
TXV: Nightcrawler was one of the most popular newly-introduced characters from X2. Without playing favorites, which of the new recruits for X-Men: The Last Stand do you think audiences might be most endeared to, and why?
LSD: I think Beast will be the most endearing new character of X-Men: The Last Stand because of his situation. He represents the mutants in our Government, but because of the Cure, he must decide what action to take and which side on which to stand. Like Nightcrawler, he is not one of the beautiful X-Men, and does not easily fit into society, and therefore has a different perspective on the world than the X-Men we know thus far. And Kelsey Grammer does such a great job of conveying Beast's intelligence and grace that he has become one of my personal favorites.
TXV: As X-Men: The Last Stand is entering the final phases of production before its premiere, what's the status of the Wolverine project and your involvement with it?
LSD: I am producing the Wolverine project along with Avi Arad and Marvel's Kevin Feige and John Palermo and Hugh Jackman's company. We have a script that we all like very much and we will be deciding soon if and when we will film it.
TXV: The idea of a "cure for mutancy" has sparked a lot of debate already. What do you make of the idea that mutants who give up their powers are 'traitors' to their fellow mutants? And if you were in the movie universe, would you choose to take the cure?
LSD: We, the filmmakers, actually had a lot of debate among ourselves about who, if any character, should take the cure. Some felt that certain characters' lives were too difficult to live and that they should take the cure, while others felt that mutancy is not a disease and therefore, there is nothing to "cure". If I were in the movie universe I would not take the cure because I 'd like to believe that I would accept myself for who I am and not want to make such a radical change. Of course, I'd have a great mutant power, since this is all hypothetical.
TXV: Finally, Channing Tatum said recently that you asked him to come to Vancouver and he read twice for a role in the third film that was ultimately cut. Can you tell us who you had him read for?
LSD: Channing actually read in Los Angeles, not in Vancouver, during our casting process. And he read for Gambit when we thought Gambit might be in the movie.
We were given the opportunity to ask a few questions of Lauren Shuler Donner, who has had a hand in producing all three of the X-Men films so far, about the upcoming X-Men: The Last Stand. Lauren discusses her high hopes for the film, favorite characters, how she would cope with being offered a cure, and an interesting note on who Channing Tatum actually might have played if the script had retained some of its cajun influence.