On May 23, X-Men: Days of Future Past will be in theaters, and it’s sure to cause mixed reactions. Before touching on any potential negatives, it’s better to state the facts of the film itself. This popcorn film with an edge has a star-studded cast from both trilogies and the original director Bryan Singer, at the helm. It’s written by Simon Kinberg, Mathew Vaughn, and Jane Goldman. Kinberg, who wrote the screenplay, is known for writing the 2009 blockbuster Sherlock Holmes, as well as X-Men: The Last Stand.
The “Days of Future Past” story arch is a favorite among fans. In order to prevent an apocalyptic future, the X-Men must change the past. How they managed to do that in the comics and how they will in the movie will certainly be a bit different.
Mild spoilers ahead. Stop reading if you don’t want spoilers. Still reading? Good. You should be. In the comics, Kitty Pride, obviously not quite enjoying a dystopia, transfers her mind into her past self so that she can attempt to prevent it. However, in the film, Wolverine, portrayed by Hugh Jackman, will be the time traveler. Kinberg said this was because “…he’s the protagonist of the franchise, and probably the most beloved character to a mass audience.” So, there’s a bit of bad news for Pride fans.
Many people argue that now that the actress who plays Pride in the films, Ellen Page, is openly gay, perhaps it would be a bit more meaningful film if she’s leading it, since X-Men is currently a metaphor for homosexuality and the prejudice and fear it faces. In the end, it doesn’t matter who the lead is in that regard, as long as the message is there.
But what about our comic book purists who want the story they love to be seen on the silver screen in all its original, untainted glory? What about the people who have noticed discrepancies between the events of the films and the comics that make certain moments in the original story impossible to take place in the film due to continuity issues? Well, just check out Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube on May 24 for the answer. Marvel and DC must learn to keep better balance on this reader versus viewer tightrope act. Some foresight when planning a franchise is always welcome.