Lauren Shuler Donner Reveals Hints About Future of X-Men Movie Universe

If you’re curious about what producer Lauren Shuler Donner has up her sleeve with respect to future big screen Marvel fare, then you’ll want to read on…
With X-Men: First Class (arguably the best of this past summer’s big-screen superhero releases) arriving on DVD and Blu-ray tomorrow, Donner has been talking to the press and revealing a few hints here and there about a potential sequel to First Class, along with the status of The Wolverine andDeadpool.
Beginning with a sequel to First Class, Donner told Hitfix that discussions have begun and the plan is to see Matthew Vaughn return as director. Asked by Home Media magazine if fan-favorites like Cyclops or Jean might appear in the film, Donner would only say, “Maybe. Let’s just say, I hope so.”
Regarding The Wolverine, Donner told HitFix that the film isn’t planned as a sequel to 2009′s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. “It’s much more of a standalone [movie],” she said. “…[We want] to distinguish it from the other one… I’m not sure when we’ll start. Maybe summer 2012 we’ll start shooting. It’s based on Hugh [Jackman]‘s schedule, frankly. When he’s available, we’ll film. … He’s doing ‘Les Miserables’, and then he has to come and train for us. So it’s all dependent on him.”
At the same time, Deadpool is being planned simultaneously, she told HitFix.
“We’re working on getting it ready,” she continued, “and presenting some things to the studio, cause we’re gonna give it a little bit of a different look. It’s a different kind of movie. If you know ‘Deadpool’ …it’s true to ‘Deadpool’. So you know, it’ll be violent, and outrageous, and funny, and all that.”
Donner also confirmed to I Am Rogue that Ryan Reynolds would reprise the title character. “With Ryan absolutely,” she said.
Meanwhile, Total Film has confirmed that director Tim Miller is still attached and that audiences can expect to see a film in which the character departs significantly from the way in which he was portrayed inX-Men Origins.
“[H]e was treated totally wrong in the Wolverine film and yes we will redeem him,” Donner said, “…We have a few more things to do and then it’s up to the studio to decide whether we’re going to go forward or not.”