X-Men is a
2000The year 2000 in film involved some significant events.-Top-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the United States and Canada in 2000...
superhero filmA superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is an action, fantasy or science fiction film that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person...
based on the fictional
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
characters of the same nameX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
. Directed by
Bryan SingerBryan Singer is an American film director and film producer. Singer won critical acclaim for his work on The Usual Suspects, and is especially popular among fans of the sci-fi and comic book genres, for his work on the first two X-Men films and Superman Returns.-Early life:Singer was born in New...
, the film stars
Hugh JackmanHugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre and television. He has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
,
Patrick StewartPatrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor. He has had a distinguished career in theatre for nearly fifty years, including performances as various characters in Shakespearean productions...
,
Ian McKellenSir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE , is an English actor of stage and screen. He has received a Tony Award and two Academy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
,
Anna PaquinAnna Helene Paquin is a New Zealand actress. Her breakthrough performance was in the New Zealand film The Piano, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1994, making her the second youngest winner in history at the age of 11...
,
Famke JanssenFamke Beumer Janssen is a Dutch actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles in GoldenEye, Nip/Tuck and as Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix in the X-Men movies. Janssen is also a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for Integrity.- Early life :Famke Beumer Janssen was born in Amstelveen, the...
,
Bruce DavisonBruce Davison is an American actor and director.-Early life:Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated in 1964 at Marple Newtown Senior High School, the son of Marian E. , a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers. His parents...
,
James MarsdenJames Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is best known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the three X-Men films, and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, and 27 Dresses.-Early life and...
,
Halle BerryHalle Berry is an American actress, former fashion model, and beauty queen. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was also nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in...
,
Rebecca RomijnRebecca Alie Romijn is an American actress and former model . She is best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men films, and for her role as Alexis Meade on the hit show Ugly Betty.-Early life:Romijn was born in Berkeley,...
,
Ray ParkRaymond Park is a British actor, stuntman and martial artist, best known for his portrayal of Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace , for playing Toad in X-Men, and for his recent role as Snake-Eyes in G.I...
and Tyler Mane. It introduces
WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
and
RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
into the conflict between
Professor XProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
avier's X-Men and the
Brotherhood of MutantsThe Brotherhood of Mutants, also known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is a fictional Marvel Comics supervillain team devoted to mutant superiority over normal humans. They are among the chief adversaries of the X-Men...
, led by
MagnetoMagneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a
United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace...
summit with a machine he has built to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Xavier realizes this forced mutation will only result in their deaths.
Development for
X-Men began as far back as 1989 with
James CameronJames Francis Cameron is a Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter. His writing and directing work includes The Terminator and Titanic. To date, his directorial efforts have grossed approximately US$1.1 billion domestically, unadjusted for inflation...
and
Carolco PicturesCarolco Pictures, Inc., Carolco International N.V., or Anabasis Investments was an independent production company, that within a decade went from producing such blockbuster successes as Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the first three movies of the Rambo series to being made bankrupt by bombs such...
. The
film rightsFilm rights are the rights under copyright law to make a derivative work -- in this case, a film -- derived from an item of intellectual property. Under U.S...
went to
20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation , also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox, is one of the six major American film studios...
in 1994. Scripts and
film treatmentA film treatment is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play...
s were commissioned from
Andrew Kevin WalkerAndrew Kevin Walker is an American BAFTA-nominated screenwriter. He is known for having written the Academy Award-nominated film Seven, for which he earned a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as several other films, including 8mm, Sleepy Hollow and many...
,
John LoganJohn David Logan is an American screenwriter and film producer.-Personal life:Logan was born in San Diego, growing up in California and New Jersey before moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern University, where he graduated in 1983. His parents immigrated to the US from Northern Ireland. The...
,
Joss WhedonJoseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American director, executive producer, occasional actor, and creator and head writer of the television programs Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse...
and
Michael ChabonMichael Chabon is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation," according to the The Virginia Quarterly Review. His first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh , was published when Chabon was 25 and catapulted him to literary celebrity...
. Singer signed to direct in 1996, with further rewrites by
Ed SolomonEd Solomon is an American writer/producer/director. After graduating from Saratoga High School and UCLA, Solomon came to fame as one half of the writing duo that created the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequel....
, Singer,
Tom DeSantoTom DeSanto is an American film producer and screenwriter. DeSanto is best known for his work with long time friend Bryan Singer, especially with his contributions to the first two X-Men movies.-Education:...
,
Christopher McQuarrieChristopher McQuarrie is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, producer and director.-Life:McQuarrie was born and raised in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, where he attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South with director Bryan Singer and actor Ethan Hawke...
and
David HayterDavid Bryan Hayter is a Canadian-American voice actor, actor, and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Naked Snake in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
.
Start dateThe start date of a film refers to the first day of principal photography.A film project which has been greenlit does not typically enter pre-production until it has been assigned a start date, and for this reason a film with a start date is generally regarded as more likely to proceed to...
s kept getting pushed back, while Fox decided to move
X-Mens release date from December to July 2000. Filming took place from September 22, 1999 to March 3, 2000, primarily in TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
. X-Men
was released to positive reviews and was a financial success, spawning the X-Men film series
The X-Men film series is a series of superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics team of the same name. The films star an ensemble cast, focusing on Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, as he is drawn into the conflict between Professor Xavier and Magneto, who have opposing views on humanity's...
and a reemergence of
superhero filmA superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is an action, fantasy or science fiction film that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person...
s.
Plot
During
The HolocaustThe Holocaust , also known as The Shoah is the term generally used to describe the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, a program of systematic state-sponsored extermination by Nazi Germany,...
in Poland, a young Jewish boy is separated from his parents in an extermination camp. In an attempt to re-unite with his parents, he starts bending the metal gate using his mind while Nazi soldiers unsuccessfully try to stop him, until one of them beats him with a rifle, making him fall unconscious. This boy is revealed to be Magneto. In the year 2000 in the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
, Senator
Robert KellyRobert Edward Kelly is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He most often appears in Marvel's X-Men and X-Men-related comic books. He is a prominent United States Senator who began his career on an anti-mutant platform, and as the X-Men team is made up entirely of mutants, his role...
attempts to pass a
"Mutant Registration Act"In Marvel Comics' fictional Marvel Universe, the Registration Acts—the Mutant Registration Act and Superhuman Registration Act —are controversial legislative bills which, when passed into law, enforce the mandatory registration of superpowered individuals with the government...
, which would force mutants to publicly reveal their identities and abilities.
MagnetoMagneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
begins his plans to level the playing field between mutants and humans. Meanwhile, a girl named Marie (a.k.a
RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
) runs away from her home in
Meridian, MississippiMeridian is a city in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. The city is the county seat of Lauderdale County, the sixth largest city in Mississippi, and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's 38,232 inhabitants, as reported in the 2008...
after accidentally absorbing her boyfriend's energy while kissing him. She meets
WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Suddenly, both of them are attacked by Sabretooth, a mutant and associate of Magneto.
CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
and Storm arrive and save Wolverine and Rogue and bring them to the
X-MansionIn the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
.
Professor Charles XavierProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
runs the facility, and leads a group of mutants who are trying to seek peace with the human race, educate young mutants in the responsible use of their powers, and stop Magneto from starting a war with humanity.
Abducted by
MystiqueMystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise, X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
and
ToadToad is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 ....
, Senator Kelly is brought to Magneto, who tests a machine on him that artificially induces mutation though Kelly manages to escape imprisonment with his new abilities. After an accident causes Rogue to use her powers on Wolverine, she is convinced by Mystique (disguised as
Bobby DrakeIceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #1, ....
) that Xavier is angry with her and that she should leave the school. Xavier uses
CerebroIn the Marvel Comics universe, Cerebro is a device that the X-Men use to detect mutants. It was created by Xavier, and was later enhanced by Dr. Henry McCoy. The current version of Cerebro is called Cerebra, to be distinguished from the character of the same name...
to locate Rogue at a train station. Mystique infiltrates Cerebro and sabotages the machine. At the train station, Wolverine convinces Rogue to stay with Xavier but a fight ensues when Magneto, Toad and Sabretooth arrive to take Rogue. Arriving at Xavier's school Kelly dissolves into a puddle of water when his mutation becomes unstable.
The X-Men learn that Magneto intends to combine Rogue's ability with his own to power his machine. Xavier attempts to use Cerebro to locate Rogue but falls into a
comaIn medicine, a coma is a profound state of unconsciousness. A comatose person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to pain or light, does not have sleep-wake cycles, and does not take voluntary actions....
. Jean fixes it and uses Cerebro to find Magneto's machine on
Liberty IslandLiberty Island, formerly called Bedloe's Island, is a small uninhabited island in New York Harbor in the United States, best known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. The name Liberty Island has been in use since the early 20th century, although the name was not officially changed until 1956...
, which Magneto intends to use on the world leaders who are meeting for a summit on nearby
Ellis IslandEllis Island, at the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor, is the location of what was from January 1, 1892, until November 12, 1954 the main entry facility for immigrants entering the United States; the facility replaced the state-run Castle Garden Immigration Depot in Manhattan...
. Just as the group arrives at the top of the statue and kills Toad, Magneto and Sabretooth incapacitate the group and continue with their plans. Magneto transfers his powers to Rogue who is forced to use them to start the machine. Wolverine breaks free and initiates a fight with Sabretooth but is thrown over the side of the statue.
Wolverine returns, and Cyclops, with Jean's help, blasts Sabretooth out of the statue. With Jean stabilizing him, Storm uses her abilities to send Wolverine to the top of Magneto's machine. With time running out, Wolverine attempts to stop the machine and save Rogue, but Magneto, now having regained some of his strength, halts Wolverine's claws. Cyclops manages to find a clean shot, wounding Magneto and allowing Wolverine to destroy the machine. Placing his hand to her face, Wolverine succeeds in transferring his regenerative abilities to a dying Rogue. Professor Xavier recovers from his coma and the group learns that Mystique is still alive (after Wolverine stabbed her at Liberty Island) when they see her impersonating Senator Kelly on a news broadcast. In an attempt to help Wolverine learn more about his past, Xavier sends him to a military base near Alkali Lake. Xavier visits Magneto in his plastic prison cell, and the two play
chessChess is a board game played between two players. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from a similar, much older game of Indian origin...
. Magneto warns his friend that he will continue his fight, to which Xavier promises that he (and the X-Men) will always be there to stop him.
Cast
- Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre and television. He has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
as Logan / WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
: A tough, rugged, belligerent loner who makes a living in cage fights. He has lived for fifteen years without memory of who he is, apart from his dog tags marked "Wolverine" and an adamantium-encased skeleton (as well as adamantium claws). He has the ability to heal rapidly from numerous injuries, including the surgery that bonded the metal to his skeleton, which makes his age impossible to determine.
- Patrick Stewart
Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor. He has had a distinguished career in theatre for nearly fifty years, including performances as various characters in Shakespearean productions...
as Professor Charles XavierProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
: Founder of the X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
and the Xavier School for Gifted YoungstersIn the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
, Xavier hopes for peaceful coexistence between mutantkind and mankind and is regarded as an authority on genetic mutation. Although he is restricted to a wheelchair, he is a powerful mutant with vast telepathic abilities. Along with MagnetoMagneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
, he is the inventor of the CerebroIn the Marvel Comics universe, Cerebro is a device that the X-Men use to detect mutants. It was created by Xavier, and was later enhanced by Dr. Henry McCoy. The current version of Cerebro is called Cerebra, to be distinguished from the character of the same name...
supercomputerA supercomputer is a computer that is at the frontline of current processing capacity, particularly speed of calculation. Supercomputers were introduced in the 1960s and were designed primarily by Seymour Cray at Control Data Corporation , and led the market into the 1970s until Cray left to form...
, which further amplifies his abilities.
- Sir Ian McKellen as Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
: A Holocaust survivor, he and Xavier were once allies, and they built Cerebro together. However, his belief that humans and mutants could never co-exist lead to their separation. He has powerful magnetic abilities and a sophisticated knowledge in matters of genetic manipulation, which he uses to plan a mutation of the world leaders to allow mutant prosperity.
- Anna Paquin
Anna Helene Paquin is a New Zealand actress. Her breakthrough performance was in the New Zealand film The Piano, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1994, making her the second youngest winner in history at the age of 11...
as RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
: A seventeen-year-old girl, forced to leave her family in MississippiMississippi is a state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi . The state is heavily forested outside of the...
after putting her boyfriend in a comaIn medicine, a coma is a profound state of unconsciousness. A comatose person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to pain or light, does not have sleep-wake cycles, and does not take voluntary actions....
by kissing him. If she touches anyone, she absorbs their strength, memories and abilities, potentially killing them. During her travels, she meets WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
, who becomes her closest friend. She begins to have a romance with Bobby Drake.
- Famke Janssen
Famke Beumer Janssen is a Dutch actress and former fashion model. She is best known for her roles in GoldenEye, Nip/Tuck and as Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix in the X-Men movies. Janssen is also a UNODC Goodwill Ambassador for Integrity.- Early life :Famke Beumer Janssen was born in Amstelveen, the...
as Dr. Jean GreyJean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl and later, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with husband Cyclops,...
: She is in a relationship with CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
and works as the doctor of the X-Mansion. She has the powers of telekinesisThe term psychokinesis , also known as telekinesis , sometimes abbreviated PK and TK respectively, is a term coined by publisher Henry Holt to refer to the direct influence...
and telepathyTelepathy is supposed to be the transfer of information on thoughts or feelings between individuals by means other than the five senses . The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H...
.
- Bruce Davison
Bruce Davison is an American actor and director.-Early life:Davison was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated in 1964 at Marple Newtown Senior High School, the son of Marian E. , a secretary, and Clair W. Davison, a musician, architect, and draftsman for the Army Engineers. His parents...
as Senator Robert KellyRobert Edward Kelly is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He most often appears in Marvel's X-Men and X-Men-related comic books. He is a prominent United States Senator who began his career on an anti-mutant platform, and as the X-Men team is made up entirely of mutants, his role...
: An anti-mutant politician that supports a Mutant Registration Act and wishes to ban mutant children from schools. He is kidnapped by Magneto in a test of his mutation machine, which causes his body to turn into a liquid-like substance.
- James Marsden
James Paul Marsden is an American actor, singer and former Versace model. He is best known for playing the superhero Cyclops in the three X-Men films, and for his roles in other commercially successful films such as Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, and 27 Dresses.-Early life and...
as Scott Summers / CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
: He rescues WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
and RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
from a truck explosion, taking them to safety to the X-MansionIn the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
where they live. He is the second leader of the X-Men behind Xavier, and is the team's field leader when they are out on missions as well as an instructor at the Institute. He is in love with Jean Grey and has a relationship with her. He produces a strong red beam of force from his eyes, which is only held in check by specialized ruby-quartz goggles and sunglassesSunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye pupil in order to prevent strong light, ultraviolet rays, and increasingly, blue light from penetrating...
.
- Halle Berry
Halle Berry is an American actress, former fashion model, and beauty queen. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was also nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in...
as Ororo Munroe / Storm: She works as a teacher at the X-Mansion and has the ability to manipulate the weather. Ororo has become bitter with other people's hatred for mutants, and while comforting a dying Senator KellyRobert Edward Kelly is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He most often appears in Marvel's X-Men and X-Men-related comic books. He is a prominent United States Senator who began his career on an anti-mutant platform, and as the X-Men team is made up entirely of mutants, his role...
says that she sometimes hates humans.
- Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
Rebecca Alie Romijn is an American actress and former model . She is best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men films, and for her role as Alexis Meade on the hit show Ugly Betty.-Early life:Romijn was born in Berkeley,...
as MystiqueMystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise, X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
: Magneto's loyal second-in-command, her mutant ability to alter her shape and mimic any human being is almost secondary to her role as "the perfect soldier". She is an agile fighter, expert martial artist, and seems completely facile with modern technology. It is unknown whether her blue, scaly skin is her normal physical expression or if it is a choice which sets herself apart from "normal" humans.
- Ray Park
Raymond Park is a British actor, stuntman and martial artist, best known for his portrayal of Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace , for playing Toad in X-Men, and for his recent role as Snake-Eyes in G.I...
as ToadToad is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 ....
: A very agile fighter with a menacing streak and a long, prehensile tongue, who can also spit a slimy substance onto others.
- Tyler Mane as Sabretooth
Sabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14 . Sabretooth is a mutant who possesses bestial superhuman abilities, most notably a rapid healing factor, razor-sharp...
: A ferocious, feline-like fighter who attacks WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
and RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
in Canada before being stopped by Storm and CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
. He is a brutal and sadistic henchman of Magneto, and wields claws extending past each finger. It is revealed in X-Men Origins: WolverineX-Men Origins: Wolverine is a 2009 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics' fictional character Wolverine. It was released worldwide on May 1, 2009. The film is directed by Gavin Hood and stars Hugh Jackman as the title character, along with Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, will.i.am, Lynn...
that Sabretooh is Wolverine's brother
- Shawn Ashmore
Shawn Robert Ashmore is a Canadian film and television actor, most famously known in his role as Jake in the Animorphs. He is easily confused with his twin brother Aaron Ashmore.-Early life:...
as Bobby Drake / IcemanIceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #1, ....
: A student at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters who takes a liking to Rogue. He can change temperatures to subzero degrees and use the moisture in the air to create ice.
David HayterDavid Bryan Hayter is a Canadian-American voice actor, actor, and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Naked Snake in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
,
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, and
Tom DeSantoTom DeSanto is an American film producer and screenwriter. DeSanto is best known for his work with long time friend Bryan Singer, especially with his contributions to the first two X-Men movies.-Education:...
make
cameo appearanceA cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television. Short appearances by film directors, politicians, athletes, musicians, and other celebrities are common. These roles are generally small, and...
s.
George BuzaGeorge Buza is an actor who is best known for voicing Beast on the X-Men Animated Series.- Biography :Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Canada as a young man and became a Canadian citizen in 1998. He appeared as Chief Jake McKenna multiple times in the TV series Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV...
, the voice of
BeastBeast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
in X-Men: The Animated Series, appeared as the truck driver who drops Rogue off at the bar at which Wolverine works.
GambitGambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
was considered for one of the students at the X-Mansion. Singer remembered, "We thought about Gambit as the young boy on the basketball field, but the feeling was that if he has the basketball and then releases it and it exploded, [then] people would be like 'What's wrong with those basketballs?'" A young
ColossusColossus is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Len Wein and illustrator Dave Cockrum, he first appeared in Giant-Size X-Men #1 . A Russian mutant, the character is a member of the X-Men, and is by far the physically strongest X-Man...
appears sketching a picture in one scene.
Development
Throughout 1989 and 1990,
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and
Chris ClaremontChris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer...
were in discussions with
James CameronJames Francis Cameron is a Canadian film director, producer and screenwriter. His writing and directing work includes The Terminator and Titanic. To date, his directorial efforts have grossed approximately US$1.1 billion domestically, unadjusted for inflation...
and
Carolco PicturesCarolco Pictures, Inc., Carolco International N.V., or Anabasis Investments was an independent production company, that within a decade went from producing such blockbuster successes as Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the first three movies of the Rambo series to being made bankrupt by bombs such...
for an
X-MenX-Men is a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 . Under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier creates a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the...
film adaptation. The deal fell apart when Cameron went to work on Spider-Man
, Carolco went bankrupt, and the film rightsFilm rights are the rights under copyright law to make a derivative work -- in this case, a film -- derived from an item of intellectual property. Under U.S...
reverted to Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios is an American television and motion picture studio based in Beverly Hills, California.-Background:Marvel Studios was formed in the late 1990s following Revlon CEO Ronald Perelman's acquisition of parent company Marvel Entertainment...
. In December 1992, Marvel discussed selling the property to Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
to no avail. Meanwhile, Avi AradAvi Arad is an Israeli-American businessman. He became the CEO of the company Toy Biz in the 1990s, and soon afterward became the chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment, a Marvel director, and chairman, CEO and the founder of Marvel Studios....
produced the animated X-Men TV series
X-Men, also known as X-Men: The Animated Series, is an American animated television series which debuted on October 31, 1992 in the United States on the Fox Network as part of its Fox Kids Saturday morning lineup ....
for
Fox KidsFox Kids was the Fox Broadcasting Company's American children's programming division and brand name from September 8, 1990 until September 7, 2002...
.
20th Century FoxTwentieth Century Fox Film Corporation , also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox, is one of the six major American film studios...
was impressed by the success of the TV show, and producer
Lauren Shuler DonnerLauren Shuler Donner is an American movie producer who specializes in mainstream in youth and family-oriented entertainment.-Early life and career:...
purchased the film rights for them in 1994.
Andrew Kevin WalkerAndrew Kevin Walker is an American BAFTA-nominated screenwriter. He is known for having written the Academy Award-nominated film Seven, for which he earned a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, as well as several other films, including 8mm, Sleepy Hollow and many...
was hired to write the script in early 1994. Walker's draft involved
Professor XProfessor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
avier hiring
WolverineWolverine is a fictional Canadian superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Incredible Hulk #180 and was created by writer Len Wein and Marvel art director John Romita Sr., who designed the character, and was first drawn for publication by...
into the X-Men, which consists of
CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
,
Jean GreyJean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl and later, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with husband Cyclops,...
,
IcemanIceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #1, ....
,
BeastBeast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
, and Angel. The
Brotherhood of MutantsThe Brotherhood of Mutants, also known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is a fictional Marvel Comics supervillain team devoted to mutant superiority over normal humans. They are among the chief adversaries of the X-Men...
, which consisted of
MagnetoMagneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
,
SabretoothSabretooth is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne. The character first appeared in Iron Fist #14 . Sabretooth is a mutant who possesses bestial superhuman abilities, most notably a rapid healing factor, razor-sharp...
,
ToadToad is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #4 ....
, and the
BlobThe Blob is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #3 ....
, try to conquer
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
, while
Henry Peter GyrichHenry Peter Gyrich is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers Vol. 1 #165 and was created by Jim Shooter and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
and
Bolivar TraskBolivar Trask is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #14 . He is the creator of the Sentinels.-Fictional character biography:...
attack the X-Men with three tall
SentinelsThe Sentinels are a fictional type of robot in the , most often appearing as enemies of the X-Men. They were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in The X-Men #14 ....
. The script focused on the rivalry between Wolverine and Cyclops, as well as the latter's self-doubt as a field leader. Part of the backstory invented for Magneto made him the cause of the
Chernobyl disasterThe Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear reactor accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine . It is considered to be the worst nuclear power plant disaster in history and the only level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale...
. The script also featured the X-Copter and the
Danger RoomThe Danger Room is a fictional training facility built for the X-Men of Marvel Comics as part of the various incarnations of the X-Mansion.-Early designs:...
. Walker turned in his second draft in June 1994.
More scripts were written by John Logan,
James SchamusJames Allan Schamus is an American film producer and screenwriter, noted for his work on critically acclaimed independent films such as Safe, The Brothers McMullen and the Academy Award winning film Brokeback Mountain...
, and
Joss WhedonJoseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American director, executive producer, occasional actor, and creator and head writer of the television programs Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse...
. Whedon claimed his script was rejected because of its "quick-witted pop culture-referencing tone". Only two dialogue exchanges from his draft appeared in the finished film. One of these scripts kept the idea of Magneto turning Manhattan into a "mutant homeland", while another hinged on a romance between Wolverine and Storm. In 1996, Fox approached
Michael ChabonMichael Chabon is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation," according to the The Virginia Quarterly Review. His first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh , was published when Chabon was 25 and catapulted him to literary celebrity...
to write a script. Chabon's six-page
film treatmentA film treatment is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play...
focused heavily on character development between Wolverine and
JubileeJubilation "Jubilee" Lee is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superheroine associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #244...
. It also included Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey,
NightcrawlerNightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in graphic novels published by Marvel Comics...
, Beast, Iceman, and Storm. Under Chabon's plan, the villains would not have been introduced until the second film.
Robert RodriguezRobert Anthony Rodríguez is an American filmmaker, writer, producer, cinematographer, editor and musician. He is perhaps best known for making profitable, crowd-pleasing independent and studio films with fairly low budgets and fast schedules by Hollywood standards. He shoots and produces many of...
was approached to direct, but turned down the offer.
Bryan SingerBryan Singer is an American film director and film producer. Singer won critical acclaim for his work on The Usual Suspects, and is especially popular among fans of the sci-fi and comic book genres, for his work on the first two X-Men films and Superman Returns.-Early life:Singer was born in New...
was looking to do a
science fiction filmScience fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that aren't necessarily accepted by mainstream science. such as extra-terrestrial life forms, alien worlds, and time travel, often along with technological elements such as futuristic...
after the release of
The Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects is a 1995 American neo-noir film written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. The film tells the story of Roger "Verbal" Kint , a small-time con man who is the subject of a police interrogation. He tells his interrogator, U.S...
. Fox approached Singer for Alien Resurrection
, but producer Tom DeSantoTom DeSanto is an American film producer and screenwriter. DeSanto is best known for his work with long time friend Bryan Singer, especially with his contributions to the first two X-Men movies.-Education:...
felt X-Men
would be a better opportunity as he was impressed with how Singer directed an ensemble castAn ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production. This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows flexibility for writers to focus on different characters in different episodes...
in The Usual SuspectsThe Usual Suspects is a 1995 American neo-noir film written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. The film tells the story of Roger "Verbal" Kint , a small-time con man who is the subject of a police interrogation. He tells his interrogator, U.S...
. Singer turned down the offer, believing that comic books were unintelligent literature. By July 1996, Singer had further turned down the film another two times, and finally accepted after reading the comics and watching the animated series. The themes of prejudice in the comic resonated with Singer.
By December 1996, Singer was in the director's position, while
Ed SolomonEd Solomon is an American writer/producer/director. After graduating from Saratoga High School and UCLA, Solomon came to fame as one half of the writing duo that created the 1989 film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequel....
was hired to write the script in April 1997, and Singer went to film
Apt PupilApt Pupil is a 1998 American drama film based on the novella of the same name by Stephen King. The film was directed by Bryan Singer and stars Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro. In the 1980s in southern California, high school student Todd Bowden discovers fugitive Nazi war criminal Kurt Dussander ...
. Fox then announced a Christmas 1998 release date. In late 1997, the budget was projected at $60 million. In late 1998, Singer and DeSanto sent a treatment to Fox, which they believed was "perfect" because it took "seriously" the themes and the comparisons between Xavier and Magneto and Martin Luther King and
Malcolm XMalcolm X , also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African-American Muslim minister, public speaker, and human rights activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against...
, unlike the other scripts. They made
RogueRogue is a fictional character in most of the Marvel Comics award-winning X-Men related titles. She was created by author Chris Claremont and artist Michael Golden, and debuted in Avengers Annual #10 as a villain. Rogue was born as a mutant...
an important character because Singer recognized that her mutation, which renders her unable to touch anyone, was the most symbolic of alienation. Singer merged attributes of
Kitty PrydeKatherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 and was created by writer-artist John Byrne....
and Jubilee into the film's depiction of Rogue. Magneto's plot to mutate the world leaders into accepting his people is reminiscent of how
Constantine ICaesar Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus Augustus , commonly known in English as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine , was Roman emperor from 306, and the sole holder of that office from 324 until his death in...
's conversion to Christianity ended the
persecution of early Christians in the Roman EmpireIn its first three centuries, the Christian church endured periods of persecution at the hands of Roman authorities. Christians were persecuted by local authorities on an intermittent and ad-hoc basis...
; the analogy was emphasized in a deleted scene in which Storm teaches history.
Senator KellyRobert Edward Kelly is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He most often appears in Marvel's X-Men and X-Men-related comic books. He is a prominent United States Senator who began his career on an anti-mutant platform, and as the X-Men team is made up entirely of mutants, his role...
's claim that he has a list of mutants living in the United States recalls
Joseph McCarthyJoseph Raymond McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
's similar claim regarding communists.
Fox, who had projected the budget at $75 million, rejected the treatment, which they estimated it would have cost $5 million more. Beast, Nightcrawler,
PyroPyro is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
, and the
Danger RoomThe Danger Room is a fictional training facility built for the X-Men of Marvel Comics as part of the various incarnations of the X-Mansion.-Early designs:...
had to be deleted before the studio
greenlightTo greenlight a project is to give permission or a go ahead to move forward with a project. In the context of the movie and TV businesses, to greenlight something is to formally approve its production finance, thereby allowing the project to move forward from the development phase to pre-production...
ed X-Men
. Fox head Thomas RothmanThomas "Tom" Edgar Rothman is an American film executive.Rothman is co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment with Jim Gianopulos. He is a graduate of Brown University and Columbia Law School, and is married to former actress Jessica Harper...
argued that this would enhance the story, and Singer concurred that removing the Danger Room allowed him to focus on other scenes he preferred. Elements of Beast, particularly his medical expertise, were transferred to Jean GreyJean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl and later, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with husband Cyclops,...
. Singer and DeSanto brought Christopher McQuarrieChristopher McQuarrie is an Academy Award-winning American screenwriter, producer and director.-Life:McQuarrie was born and raised in Princeton Junction, New Jersey, where he attended West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South with director Bryan Singer and actor Ethan Hawke...
from The Usual Suspects, and together did another rewrite.
David HayterDavid Bryan Hayter is a Canadian-American voice actor, actor, and screenwriter. He is best known for providing the English voices of Solid Snake and Naked Snake in the Metal Gear video game series, and for writing the screenplay for X-Men and co-writing the screenplay for The Scorpion King and X2...
simultaneously rewrote the screenplay, receiving solo screenplay credit from the
Writers Guild of AmericaThe Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers around New York City....
, while Singer and DeSanto were given story credit. The WGA offered McQuarrie a credit, but he voluntarily took his name off when the final version was more in line with Hayter's script than his.
Casting
Many actors were considered for roles in the film particularly Wolverine and Cyclops.
Patrick StewartPatrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor. He has had a distinguished career in theatre for nearly fifty years, including performances as various characters in Shakespearean productions...
was the first and only choice for the role of Charles Xavier since his debut in
Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is a science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Created about 21 years after the original Star Trek, and set in the 24th century about 80 years after the orginal series, the program features a new crew and a new...
. Terrence Stamp was in the running for the role of Magneto before Sir Ian McKellen was cast.
For the role of Wolverine,
Gary SiniseGary Alan Sinise is an American actor and film director. During his career, Sinise has won an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for Palme d'Or and an Academy Award. In 1992, Sinise directed the film and played the role of George Milton in the movie adaption of Of Mice and Men...
,
Mel GibsonMel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American Australian actor, film director and producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in the Mad...
,
Russell CroweRussell Ira Crowe is an Australian actor and musician. His acting career began in the early 1990s with roles in Australian TV series such as Police Rescue and films such as Romper Stomper. In the late 1990s, he began appearing in US films such as the 1997 movie L.A. Confidential...
,
Viggo MortensenViggo Peter Mortensen, Jr. is a Danish-American actor, poet, musician, photographer, and painter.His film roles include Aragorn in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Frank T...
,
Aaron EckhartAaron Edward Eckhart is an American film and stage actor. Born in California, he moved to England at 13 when his father relocated the family. Several years later, he began his acting career performing in school plays...
,
Edward NortonEdward Harrison Norton is an American film actor, screenwriter and director. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. A year later, his lead role as a reformed white power skinhead in American History...
and Jean Claude Van Damme were all considered for the role. At one point in the 1990s,
Glenn DanzigGlenn Danzig is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and entrepreneur, and a progenitor of the horror punk subgenre of music. He is the founder of bands the Misfits, Samhain, and Danzig...
was approached to play Wolverine in ad hoc committee X-Men film, because he bore an uncanny resemblance to the character, as well as being the same height as Wolverine, and very muscular. However, he had to decline, due to the fact that the shooting for the film would force him to put a halt to touring with
his bandDanzig is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1987 in Lodi, New Jersey. The band serves as a musical outlet for singer/composer Glenn Danzig. Danzig can be seen as the third stage in Glenn Danzig's musical career, preceded by the horror punk bands The Misfits and Samhain...
for nine months.. Dougray Scott was originally cast as Wolverine. But he was forced to pull out the project due to scheduling conflicts with Mission:Impossible II. Fox on the other hand wanted
Keanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Lebanese-born Canadian-American actor, best known for his portrayals of a spaced-out metalhead in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and in two action films that were both financial and critical successes: the "ticking time bomb" thriller...
for the part.
For the role of Cyclops,
Thomas JaneThomas Jane is an American actor, known for his roles in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea, the 2004 film The Punisher and the 2007 Stephen King adaptation The Mist...
, Johnny Lee Miller,
Eric MabiusEric Harry Timothy Mabius is an American actor, currently appearing as Daniel Meade on the ABC television series Ugly Betty. He is also known for his work on the Showtime series The L Word and in the films Resident Evil and Cruel Intentions.-Personal life:Mabius was born in Harrisburg,...
,
Owen WilsonOwen Cunningham Wilson is an American actor, comedian and writer.-Early life:Wilson was born in Dallas, Texas, to photographer Laura Cunningham Wilson and Robert Andrew Wilson, an advertising executive and operator of a public television station. He has an older brother, Andrew and a younger...
,
Edward BurnsEdward J. Burns, Jr. is an American actor, film producer, writer and director.-Early life:Burns was born in Woodside, Queens, New York, the son of Molly , a federal agency manager, and Edward J. Burns, Sr., a public relations spokesman and police officer. He is the second of three children in an...
,
Edward NortonEdward Harrison Norton is an American film actor, screenwriter and director. In 1996, his supporting role in the courtroom drama Primal Fear garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. A year later, his lead role as a reformed white power skinhead in American History...
and
Jude LawDavid Jude Heyworth Law is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
were considered.
Michael BiehnMichael Connell Biehn is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in James Cameron's science fiction-action films The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss. He has also acted in other genres in such films as Tombstone, The Rock, and Planet Terror...
was at one point considered for the role back in 1989 when James Cameron was developing it.
James CaviezelJames Patrick Caviezel, Jr. is an American film actor, sometimes credited as Jim Caviezel. He is perhaps best known for playing the part of Bobby Jones in Bobby Jones: A Stroke of Genius and as Jesus Christ in the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ as well as Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte...
was originally cast but pulled out before filming began. Wrestler Kevin Nash was offered the role of Sabretooth but he turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts. Sarah Michelle Geller,
Natalie PortmanNatalie Portman is an Israeli American actress. Her first role came in the 1994 independent film Léon . She achieved wider fame after playing Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy...
and
Katharine IsabelleKatherine Isobel Murray better known by her stage name Katharine Isabelle is a Canadian actress, best known for her portrayal of Ginger in Ginger Snaps.-Career:Isabelle's career began in 1988, in the movie Cousins , starring...
were considered for the role of Rogue.
Angela BassettAngela Evelyn Bassett is an American actress. She has become well-known for her biographical film roles portraying real life women in African American culture, perhaps most prominently as singer Tina Turner in the motion picture What's Love Got to Do with It, as well as her portrayal of Michael...
was offered the role of Storm but she turned it down. Jada Pinkett Smith and Rachel Luttrell were considered for the role.
Jeri RyanJeri Lynn Ryan is a German-born American actress, best known for her role as the ex-Borg Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager and as Ronnie Cooke on Boston Public...
and
Maria BelloMaria Elena Bello is an American actress best known for her appearances in the movies Coyote Ugly, The Jane Austen Book Club and A History of Violence.-Early life:...
were considered for the role of Jean Gray.
Filming
The original
start dateThe start date of a film refers to the first day of principal photography.A film project which has been greenlit does not typically enter pre-production until it has been assigned a start date, and for this reason a film with a start date is generally regarded as more likely to proceed to...
was mid-1999, with the release date set for Christmas 2000, but Fox moved X-Men
to June. Steven SpielbergSteven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, and film producer. In a career of over four decades, Spielberg's films have touched on many themes and genres. Spielberg's early sci-fi and adventure films, sometimes centering on children, were seen as an archetype of modern...
had been scheduled to film Minority ReportMinority Report is a science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia in the year 2054, where "Precrime", a specialized police department, apprehends...
for release in June 2000, but he had chosen to film A.I. Artificial Intelligence
, and Fox needed a film to fill the void. This meant that Singer had to finish X-Men six months ahead of schedule, although filming had been pushed back. The release date was then moved to July 14.
Filming took place from September 22, 1999 to March 3, 2000 in
TorontoToronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America...
and in
Hamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. Locations included
Central Commerce CollegiateCentral Commerce Collegiate is a public, semestered secondary school located in the Palmerston-Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
,
Distillery DistrictThe Distillery District is an historic and entertainment precinct located east of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It contains numerous cafes, restaurants and shops housed within heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The 13-acre The Distillery District is an historic...
and
Canadian Warplane Heritage MuseumThe Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is a major Canadian aviation museum. It is located at the John C. Munro International Airport on the outskirts of Hamilton, Ontario....
.
Casa LomaCasa Loma is now a museum and landmark in uptown Toronto, constructed from many different styles of architecture. It was originally a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Casa Loma was constructed over a three-year period from 1911-1914. The architect of the mansion was E. J...
,
Roy Thomson HallRoy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located at 60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Opened in 1982, its circular architectural design exhibits a sloping and curvilinear glass exterior. It was designed by Canadian...
and
Metro HallMetro Hall is a 27-storey postmodern office tower at the corner of Wellington and John Streets in Toronto, Canada. Part of the three-tower Metro Centre complex, the building was completed in 1992 to house the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and its employees...
were used for
X-MansionIn the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
interiors, while
Parkwood EstateThe Parkwood Estate, located in Oshawa, Ontario Canada was the home of Samuel McLaughlin and was home to the McLaughlins from 1917 until 1972. Construction began in 1916 by the Toronto architectural firm of Pearson and Darling...
was chosen for exteriors. For the train station scenes,
Toronto Union StationUnion Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto.The station is located on Front Street West and occupies the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district...
and Hamilton GO Centre were set.
Spencer Smith ParkSpencer Smith Park is a park in downtown Burlington, Ontario right on the shore of Lake Ontario. It is home to the Sound of Music Festival as well as Canada's Largest Ribfest. It has a small beach and plenty of walking paths along Lake Ontario....
doubled for
Liberty IslandLiberty Island, formerly called Bedloe's Island, is a small uninhabited island in New York Harbor in the United States, best known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. The name Liberty Island has been in use since the early 20th century, although the name was not officially changed until 1956...
. A
scale modelA scale model is a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object . Very often the scale model is smaller than the original and used as a guide to making the object in full size...
was used for the
Statue of LibertyThe Statue of Liberty , officially titled Liberty Enlightening the World , dedicated on October 28, 1886, is a monument commemorating the centennial of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence, given to the United States by the people of France to represent the friendship...
.
Design and effects
The filmmakers decided not to replicate the X-Men costumes as seen in the comic book.
Stan LeeStan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and
Chris ClaremontChris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer...
supported this decision. Claremont joked, "you can do that on a drawing, but when you put it on people it's disturbing!" Producer/co-writer
Tom DeSantoTom DeSanto is an American film producer and screenwriter. DeSanto is best known for his work with long time friend Bryan Singer, especially with his contributions to the first two X-Men movies.-Education:...
had been supportive of using the blue and yellow color scheme of the comics, but once he saw tests of them, he declared, "No, that just doesn't work." Despite receiving positive feedback from various associates at
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
for the black costume design, fans on the internet still had negative emotions when X-Men was filming. To acknowledge the fan complaints, Singer added
CyclopsCyclops is a fictional character, a superhero that is the field leader of the X-Men in the . Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #1 and was originally dubbed Slim Summers. By #3, his name was changed to Scott and Slim was referred as a...
' line "What would you prefer, yellow spandex?" – when Wolverine complains about wearing their uniforms – during filming. Singer noted that durable black leather made more sense for the X-Men to wear as protective clothing.
Wolverine's claws required a full silicone cast of Hugh Jackman's arm, and 700 versions for Jackman and his stunt doubles. It took nine hours to apply
Rebecca RomijnRebecca Alie Romijn is an American actress and former model . She is best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men films, and for her role as Alexis Meade on the hit show Ugly Betty.-Early life:Romijn was born in Berkeley,...
's prosthetic makeup. She could not drink wine, use skin creams, or fly the day before filming, because it could have caused her body chemistry to change slightly, causing the 110 prosthetics applied to her skin fall off. Between takes, the makeup department kept Romijn isolated in a windowless room to ensure secrecy. Romijn reflected, "I had almost no contact with the rest of the cast; it was like I was making a different movie from everyone else. It was hell."
In the late 1990s,
computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
was becoming more commonly used. Singer visited the sets of
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom MenaceStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is a 1999 space opera film written and directed by George Lucas. It was the fourth film to be released in the Star Wars saga and the first in terms of internal chronology. It was also Lucas' first film as a director in 22 years, and only his fourth overall...
and TitanicTitanic is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed, written, co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater, two members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the...
to understand practical and digital effects. Filming had started without a special effects company hired. Digital DomainDigital Domain is a visual effects and animation company based in Venice, Los Angeles, California. The company is known for creating state-of-the-art digital imagery for feature films, television advertising, interactive visual media and the video game industry...
, CinesiteCinesite Ltd is a digital visual effects and post-production facility in London and one of the largest such companies in Europe...
, Kleiser-Walczak Construction, Hammerhead Production, Matte World DigitalMatte World Digital is a visual effects company based in Novato, California that specializes in realistic matte painting effects and digital environments for feature films, television, electronic games and IMAX large-format productions.-History:...
, CORE and POP were all hired in December 1999. Visual effects supervisorIn the context of film and television production, a visual effects supervisor is responsible for achieving the creative aims of the director and/or producers through the use of visual effects...
Mike Fink admitted to have been dissatisfied with his work on X-Men in 2003, despite nearly being nominated for an
Academy AwardThe Academy Award for Visual Effects is an Oscar given to one film each year that shows highest achievement in visual effects.The category was called Best Special Effects when it was created in 1939. In 1963, the category was split into two: Best Special Visual Effects and Best Sound Effects...
.
Digital DomainDigital Domain is a visual effects and animation company based in Venice, Los Angeles, California. The company is known for creating state-of-the-art digital imagery for feature films, television advertising, interactive visual media and the video game industry...
's
technical directorThe Technical Director or Technical Manager is usually a senior technical person within a Software Company, Theatrical company, or Film/Television Studio or agency...
Sean C. Cunningham and lead
compositorCompositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called “blue screen,” “green screen,” “chroma key,” and other names. Today,...
Claas Henke
morphedMorphing is a special effect in motion pictures and animations that changes one image into another through a seamless transition. Most often it is used to depict one person turning into another through technological means or as part of a fantasy or surreal sequence. Traditionally such a depiction...
Bruce Davison into a liquid figure for Kelly's mutation scene. Cunningham said, "There were many digital layers: water without refraction, water with murkiness, skin with and without highlights, skin with goo in it. When rendered together, it took 39 hours per frame." They considered showing Kelly's internal organs during the transformation, "but that seemed too gruesome", according to Cunningham.
Music
Singer approached
John WilliamsJohn Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career that spans six decades, Williams has composed many of the most famous film scores in Hollywood history, including Star Wars, Superman, Home Alone, the first three Harry Potter movies and all but two of Steven...
to compose the
film scoreA film score is an alternative word used for the background music of a film . The term soundtrack is often confused with film score, though a soundtrack may also include songs featured in the film as well as previously released music by other artists, while the score does not...
, but Williams turned down the offer because of scheduling conflicts.
John OttmanJohn Ottman is an American film editor, composer and director.He is best known for his collaborations with film director Bryan Singer, editing and composing the scores for The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X2: X-Men United, Superman Returns and most recently Valkyrie...
was originally set as composer.
Michael KamenMichael Kamen was an American composer , orchestral arranger, orchestral conductor, song writer, and session musician.- Background :Kamen was born in New York City, USA...
was eventually hired.
Promotion and gross
On June 1, 2000, Marvel published a comic book
prequelA prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel .-History:Though the word "Prequel" is of...
to X-Men
, entitled X-Men: Beginnings
, revealing the backstories of Magneto, Rogue and Wolverine. There was also a comic book adaptation based on the film. Marvel StudiosMarvel Studios is an American television and motion picture studio based in Beverly Hills, California.-Background:Marvel Studios was formed in the late 1990s following Revlon CEO Ronald Perelman's acquisition of parent company Marvel Entertainment...
was depending on X-Mens success to ignite other franchise properties (
Spider-ManThe Spider-Man film series consists of three superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name, portrayed by Tobey Maguire...
,
Fantastic FourFantastic Four is a film series consisting of two superhero films based on the fictional Marvel Comics team Fantastic Four. The series includes Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , both released by 20th Century Fox.The films are based around four main characters, known...
,
HulkHulk is a 2003 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Nick Nolte and Josh Lucas...
and
DaredevilDaredevil is a American superhero film written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, the film stars Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights for justice in the courtroom and out of the courtroom as the masked vigilante Daredevil...
).
X-Men was released in 3,025 theaters in North America on July 14, 2000, earning $54,471,475 in its opening weekend. The film eventually grossed $157,299,717 and made $139,039,810 in other countries, coming to a worldwide total of $296,339,527.
X-Men was the ninth highest-grossing film of 2000. The film made over $50 million in home video sales. The success of
X-Men (alongside
BladeBlade is a 1998 vampire action film starring Wesley Snipes and Stephen Dorff, loosely based on the published stories of the fictional Marvel Comics character Blade. It was directed by Stephen Norrington and written by David S. Goyer. Snipes plays the titular character, a vampire hunter who is...
) started a reemergence
for the
comic book and
superhero filmA superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is an action, fantasy or science fiction film that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person...
genre.
Reviews
Based on 143 reviews collected by
Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films. The name derives from the historical cliché of throwing tomatoes and other produce at stage performers if a performance was particularly bad.- History :...
, 80% were positive, with the consensus that the "story [is] faithful to the comic books and, while the movie may be too Wolverine-centered, it packs a freaky punch that is sure to excite the average summer moviegoer". 60% of 30 selected popular reviewers gave it positive reviews. By comparison
MetacriticMetacritic is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
collected an average score of 64/100 from 33 reviews.
Kenneth TuranKenneth Turan is an American film critic and Lecturer in the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California.-Background:...
found "so much is happening you feel the immediate need of a sequel just as a reward for absorbing it all. While
X-Men doesn't take your breath away wire-to-wire the way
The MatrixThe Matrix is a science fiction-action film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski and starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving...
did, it's an accomplished piece of work with considerable pulp watchability to it." ReelReviews.net's
James BerardinelliJames Berardinelli is an American online film critic.-Biography:Berardinelli was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and spent his early childhood in Morristown. At the age of nine, he moved to Cherry Hill. He attended the University of Pennsylvania from 1985 through 1990, obtaining both a BS and...
, an
X-Men comic book fan, believed, "the film is effectively paced with a good balance of exposition, character development, and special effects-enhanced action. Neither the plot nor the character relationships are difficult to follow, and the movie avoids the trap of spending too much time explaining things that don't need to be explained. X-Men fandom is likely to be divided over whether the picture is a success or a failure".
Desson ThomsonDesson Patrick Thomson is a speaker, movie reviewer and cultural commentator who wrote film reviews for 21 years as a critic for The Washington Post. Based in Washington DC, he speaks professionally at conventions, seminars, Sunday movie chats, and other events. He also blogs and reviews movies on...
of
The Washington PostThe Washington Post is the newspaper with the largest circulation in Washington, D.C. and is the city's oldest paper, founded in 1877. Being located in the nation's capital, it has a particular emphasis on national politics and international affairs...
commented, "[T]he movie's enjoyable on the surface, but I suspect many people, even die-hards, will be less enthusiastic about what lies, or doesn't, underneath".
Roger EbertRoger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter.He is known for his film review column and for two television programs Sneak Previews and Siskel & Ebert at the Movies, which he co-hosted for a combined 23 years with Gene Siskel...
of the
Chicago Sun-TimesThe Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by the Sun-Times Media Group, which filed for bankruptcy protection on March 31, 2009.-History:...
said he "started out liking this movie, while waiting for something really interesting to happen. When nothing did, I still didn't dislike it; I assume the X-Men will further develop their personalities if there is a sequel, and maybe find time to get involved in a story. No doubt fans of the comics will understand subtle allusions and fine points of behavior; they should linger in the lobby after each screening to answer questions."
Peter TraversPeter Travers is an American film critic, who has written for, in turn, People and Rolling Stone. Travers also hosts a celebrity interview show called Popcorn on ABC News Now and ABCNews.com.-Career:...
of
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.The magazine was named after the 1948 Muddy Waters song of the same...
noted, "Since it's Wolverine's movie, any X-Men or Women who don't hinge directly on his story get short shrift. As Storm, Halle Berry can do neat tricks with weather, but her role is gone with the wind. It sucks that Stewart and McKellen, two superb actors, are underused."
Awards
The film was nominated the
Hugo Award for Best Dramatic PresentationThe Hugo Awards are given annually by members of the World Science Fiction Convention for the best science fiction or fantasy works. The awards are named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and given in various categories.Winners for the...
, but lost to
Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a Chinese-language film in the wuxia style, released in 2000. A China-Hong Kong-Taiwan-United States co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and...
.
X-Men was successful at the
Saturn AwardThe Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
s. It won categories for
Best Science Fiction FilmThe following are a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Science Fiction Film:...
,
directionThe following is a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Direction:...
(Singer),
writingThe following is a list of people who have won the Saturn Award for Best Writing....
,
costume designThe following are a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Costume:...
,
Best ActorThe Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed, who felt that films within those genres...
(
Hugh JackmanHugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre and television. He has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
) and Supporting Actress (
Rebecca RomijnRebecca Alie Romijn is an American actress and former model . She is best known for her role as Mystique in the X-Men films, and for her role as Alexis Meade on the hit show Ugly Betty.-Early life:Romijn was born in Berkeley,...
). Nominations included
Performance by a Younger ActorThe following are a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Performance by a Younger Actor:...
(
Anna PaquinAnna Helene Paquin is a New Zealand actress. Her breakthrough performance was in the New Zealand film The Piano, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1994, making her the second youngest winner in history at the age of 11...
), Supporting Actor (
Patrick StewartPatrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor. He has had a distinguished career in theatre for nearly fifty years, including performances as various characters in Shakespearean productions...
),
Special EffectsThe following are a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Special Effects:...
and
Make-upThe following is a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Make-up:...
.
EmpireEmpire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
readers voted Singer Best Director.
External links