Matthew Vaughn Left The ‘X-Men’ Franchise After Fox Rejected His Trilogy Idea That Would Have Had Tom Hardy As A Young Wolverine In An Unmade Second Film and ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ Ending The Trilogy

Director Matthew Vaughn is making the interview rounds as he produced the Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John biopic Rocketman starring Taron Egerton and Richard Madden.

While speaking with ComingSoon, Vaughn talked about his experience working on the X-Men franchise and revealed 20th Century Fox didn’t want to listen to his trilogy ideas which led to his exit of the franchise. He wanted to make a film that took place between X-Men: First Class and X-Men: Days of Future Past that would have introduced a younger Wolverine during the 1970s. Instead of using Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine he wanted to cast a pre-superstar Tom Hardy (Inception, Mad Max Fury Road) in the part (this might have something to do why Jackman suggested Tom Hardy as his replacement).

The studio read his script for Days of Future Past and didn’t want to hear about this young Wolverine movie wanting to make Days first.

VAUGHN: “That’s one of the reasons I didn’t continue because they didn’t listen to me. My plan was First Class, then the second film was new young Wolverine in the 70s to continue those characters, my version of the X-Men. So you’d really get to know all of them, and my finale was gonna be Days of Future Past. That was gonna be my number three where you bring them all… because what’s bigger than bringing in McKellen and Michael and Stewart and James and bringing them all together?”

“When I finished the Days of Future Past script with it ready to go I looked at it and said, “I really think it would be fun to cast Tom Hardy or someone as the young Wolverine and then bring it all together at the end.” Fox read Days of Future Past and went “Oh, this is too good! We’re doing it now!” And I said, “Well what do you do next? Trust me you’ve got nowhere to go.” Then they did Apocalypse and it’s like… If you flip that ’round even it would have been better. Hollywood doesn’t understand pacing. Their executives are driving 100 miles-per-hour looking in the rear-view mirror and not understanding why they crash.”

It’s curious what a Matthew Vaughn X-Men trilogy would have looked at. This wouldn’t be terribly shocking that producers and 20th Century Fox didn’t know what they were doing letting Vaughn walk. Then again, they might have been very scared at the idea of recasting Hugh Jackman even if they possibly would have brought the two actors together in a third film.

Considering Disney’s Bob Iger and Alan Horn’s public comments to continue Vaughn’s Kingsman franchise, I wonder if he’ll be looked at to direct something within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Matthew had been linked to being in the mix for other superhero projects recently.  Something like a 1960s-set Fantastic Four movie could be a project he’d be perfect for, but they might want to keep him working on future Kingsman films and shows instead.

SOURCE: COMING SOON