It's official, folks! Fox has finalized their plans for the next X-Men-related sequel, X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX, and has also secured Simon Kinberg as the film's director. Additionally, Fox has set a release date of November 2, 2018 for the Jean Grey-centric cinematic tale. Returning to the franchise for more mutant-inspired madness will be stars Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, Alexandra Shipp, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, and Kodi Smit-McPhee for when production gets underway in Montreal.
It's also worth noting that actress Jessica Chastain is in currently in negotiations to set into the role of the film's lead villain, Lilandra, the empress of an alien empire called the Shi’ar, who leads the quest to imprison and execute Dark Phoenix, leading her into conflict with the X-Men.
The film will be based off of the Marvel comic book event entitled The Dark Phoenix Saga written by Chris Claremont with art by Dave Cockrum and John Byrne. According to the Marvel Wiki: The Phoenix Force consumes Jean Grey and with the manipulation of the Hellfire Club's Mastermind she is driven mad. The Phoenix Force becomes the Dark Phoenix and consumes the power of a star and destroys an entire solar system before sacrificing herself to save the universe from mass destruction.
I'm quite ashamed to admit that I've never actually read The Phoenix Saga. While the story is considered by many to be a classic, it's somehow eluded me in all the years that I've been reading comics. It ranks in the Top 5 on my Unread Comic Book List of Shame, along with several other titles that I wouldn't dare disclose here. For those of you who have read it, are you excited for this to be the next chapter in Fox's X-Men cinematic universe? Would you have rather seen an adaptation of The House of M, or is it too soon for something like that? Oh, there's also a matter of rights, I suppose. Geez, Marvel sure is confusing, sometimes.
X-MEN: THE DARK PHOENIX is expected to superhero land in theaters on November 2, 2018.
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