With the X-MEN 3 debacle still fresh in our collective memories, we all breathed a huge sigh of relief earlier this year when director Matthew Vaughn (KICK-ASS) signed on to return for the sequel to his 2011 smash hit, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. But today comes some worrying news as Deadline reports that Vaughn has now stepped down from his position and will only continue in a producing role.

The site is also reporting that the man who launched the successful franchise, Bryan Singer, is rumoured to be Fox’s first choice as Vaughn’s replacement, a decision that should delight X-MEN 2 fans everywhere.

Expect the studio to make a definitive announcement very soon.

In other X-Men news, it’s been revealed that Hugh Jackman’s upcoming solo adventure THE WOLVERINE will not, as previously thought, be a prequel. Instead the film will take place after the aforementioned stinkfest X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND. Given his (wonderful) cameo appearance in psuedo-reboot X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, a movie which contradicted much of the original trilogy, the franchise now has what must be the messiest canon of any series. Maybe the DAYS OF FUTURE PAST time-travel plot can somehow tie it together…

X-MEN: THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST opens July 18th 2014; THE WOLVERINE July 25th 2013.

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