www.thexverse.com/news/0155.shtml
Quote:
Zak Penn spoke with Wizard magazine about how he's written for the famous mutants in X3, including how the characters connect through the storyline. You can read what Zak had to say below:
Wizard: The worst kept secret in comic book movie history is that 'X-Men 3' will focus on Phoenix, the evolution of Jean Grey.
Zak Penn: Yeah, you can tell from the last movie that's where we were heading. Obviously, it won't be the same as it was in the comic book. No matter how you slice it, it's pretty important, but there's no simple way to do it. It can't just be a cameo; it'll be a big part of the movie.
Was there a character you really looked forward to adding to the X-Men movie franchise?
Definitely Phoenix. There's no question that reading the Phoenix saga was the thing that totally snatched me into the comic book world. It's my favorite X-Men story. It just seemed so much more real and dark than anything I'd read before that time. Colossus is also one of my favorite characters in the comics, so I was excited to do more with him in this movie.
Which X-Men were the toughest to write?
Professor Xavier, Magneto and Logan, because [Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Hugh Jackman] have made their voices so specific. Another challenge was Storm [Halle Berry]. She wasn't given much to do in the first two movies, so we started from scratch in terms of her character. And you know who was really hard to write dialogue for? Phoenix. You can't write what's in the comics. You can't say those kinds of lines on screen. When [Jean Grey] turns into Phoenix, you have to maintain the heightened reality of it without becoming silly.
How hard was it to be faithful to the comics?
We can't do the Sh'iar empire and battle cruiser and other galaxies [from the Phoenix saga] in this movie. It's not just that we can't afford to do it, but it would not fit with the tone of the first two movies in any way. That's difficult because you've got some fans who say, 'I want to see Empress Lilandra!' And I'm like, 'Well, you're not going to. Sorry!' As a comics fan myself, you have to know when it doesn't make sense to be slavishly devoted to the source material. But believe me, we hear it from the fans.
What's next for you?
I'm adapting a screenplay I was supposed to direct into a graphic novel. I don't want to give it away, but it's a science-fiction story I decided I wanted to turn into a graphic novel first before I made it into a movie. Also, part of my deal for 'X-Men 3' is that I'd write and direct one of the X-Men spin-offs. The one I had talked to [Marvel Studios] about doing was the young X-Men, the next generation. I'd love to do that.
The article is available in the November issue of Wizard, in stores now.
