Key Takeaways:
– James Cameron had plans for an X-Men film before the popular X-Men films made by Bryan Singer.
– Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow, Cameron’s ex-wife, was supposed to direct the film with Bob Hoskins as Wolverine and Angela Bassett as Storm.
– The film did not materialize due to a dispute over the rights of the Marvel character, Spider-Man.
– Despite the project’s failure, some of Cameron’s ideas were incorporated into Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films.
Before the X-Men franchise became a global sensation, acclaimed director James Cameron had intended to make a film adaptation of the popular Marvel comic series. Cameron had envisioned this project before his iconic work, Titanic. However, the ambitious project did not proceed beyond the planning phase due to Marvel’s complex character ownership issues.
James Cameron’s Dream Team for X-Men
Cameron had planned to collaborate with his ex-wife and Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow for this venture. The team had assembled a stellar cast, including Bob Hoskins and Angela Bassett, long before fans became acquainted with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
However, the X-Men writer Chris Claremont revealed in a 2012 interview with The Wrap that Cameron’s film never saw the light of day. Notably, a change of interest to the Spider-Man franchise had derailed the planned X-Men project. Claremont described this period as “fanboy heaven” as he passionately discussed Bob Hoskins’ suitability for the Wolverine role. Fans had loved Bassett and even wanted her to replace Halle Berry after the first X-Men film.
Brysinger’s X-Men Rekindles Audiences’ Love for Superhero Films
Bryan Singer’s X-Men films re-ignited audience interest in superhero movies, particularly those produced by Marvel. His film featured Jackman as Wolverine, a choice made at the last minute to replace Dougray Scott. Critics suggest that this casting choice set the stage for the Australian actor’s legacy as Wolverine.
The Curveball: Spider-Man Enters the Scene
The X-Men project lost momentum when Spider-Man caught James Cameron’s interest. Conversations between Stan Lee, Marvel’s iconic writer-editor, and Cameron began shifting towards Spider-Man, indicating that the X-Men project was off the table.
Kathryn Bigelow’s X-Men Screen Play Eaten Alive
In the midst of the Spider-Man discussions, Bigelow finished a screen treatment for X-Men. However, Claremont claims that it was lost in the ensuing tug-of-war over Spider-Man rights among multiple studios. What ensued was a complex conflict as Marvel sold off rights to several characters repeatedly to try and manage its financial crisis.
Impact of James Cameron’s X-Men Dreams
James Cameron’s unmade X-Men film would likely have changed the trajectory of the Marvel Studios if it had been produced in the ’90s. Despite the X-Men film not reaching production, Cameron’s concepts saw life in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. Singer’s X-Men films are now available for streaming on Disney+.
In retrospect, it is intriguing to envision what could have been had Cameron’s X-Men project taken off. Claremont put it aptly in his interview with The Wrap, stating, “Just think about this for a minute: James Cameron’s X-Men. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow. That’s what we were playing.” Alas, this vision remains unfulfilled, leaving Marvel fans to wonder what might have been.
